Response of Growth, Yield and Oil of Rapeseed to Sowing Method and Seeding Rate

Abstract

An experiment was conducted at Karda-Rasha /College of Agriculture-Erbil to evaluate the effect of different seeding rates using drill-row and broadcasting sowing methods on growth, seed and oil yields of rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) cv. Pactol. The results showed that drill-row sowing method produced seed and oil yields more than broadcasting method, particularly, at low seeding rates i.e.4 kg ha -1 seeding rate. Seeds grown by drill-row produced the highest number of plants m-2 , the highest plants height and took the longest period for their flowering and seed formation; and produced a greater number of siliques plant-1 and greater weight of seed and then, higher seeds and oil yields. Seeds grown at higher seeding rates gave the higher number of plants m-2 and higher silique surface area, with longest period for seed formation, the highest plants height bearing higher number of primary branches, higher harvest index and high oil percentage. However, seeds grown at low seeding rates, the period from sowing to flowering and flowering period were the longest. At 4 kg ha-1 seeding rate produced higher number of siliques plant-1 , greater weight of seed and higher seeds and oil yields. In this study, there was significant and positive correlation between number of siliques plant-1 and seed weight with total Yield. While there was a significant and negative correlation between harvest index and total yield. Also, positive and highly significant correlation between oil yield and total yield