Abstract Detail

Recent Topics Posters

May , William (Bill) [1], Woodruff, Matthew [2], Zhou, Richard [3].

The Effect of Nitrogen and Seeding Depth on Niger .

Niger (Guizotia_abyssinica (L.f.) Cass.) is an oil crop that originated in Ethiopia and used as a bird feed in North America. Cultivars adapted to North America’s climate have been selected. The basic agronomy for growing niger has to be developed for a no till cropping system.  In response, two experiments were initiated to test the effect of nitrogen (N) fertilizer rate and seeding depth on the development and yield of Niger. Both experiments were single factor experiments set up as a randomized complete block design.  The N rates used were 10, 35, 60, 85 and 110 kg N ha^-1 and the seeding depth was surface, 0.5, 1.5 and 2.5 cm.  The seeding depth experiment was conducted in 2011, 2013, 2014 and 2015 while the N fertilizer rate experiment was conducted in in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015.  In both, trials only plant density could be collected in 2013.  In the other years, plant height, flowering, grain yield, and kernel weight were measured in both trials. An analysis of variance was used to determine if the treatments had any significant effects.  As the N fertilizer rate was increased the grain yield was increased in 2014 but not in 2012.  One benefit that was observed but not measured from increased N fertilizer rates was the increase in the competiveness of niger with weeds.  As the seed was placed deeper in the soil at seeding the effect on the niger varied.  In 2014 and 2015, the surface and 0.5 cm seeding depth had a higher plant density than the 2.5 cm seeding depth.  In 2013 the trend was similar but not statistically significant and in 2011 the surface treatment had the lowest plant density and lowest grain yield.  In the other years seeding depth did not affect grain yield but the deepest seeding depth did have the numerically lowest yield in 2013 and 2014.  This suggest that the 0.5cm seeding depth may be the most consistent seeding depth for niger when seeded in a no-till cropping system.

1 - Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Science and Technology, P.O. Box 760, Indian Head, SK, S0G 2K0, Canada
2 - University of Guelph, Environmental Science, Guelph, ON, Canada
3 - University of Guelph, Engineering, Guelph, ON, Canada

Keywords:
Guizotia abyssinica
bird feed
no-till
nitrogen
seeding depth.

Presentation Type: Recent Topics Poster
Session: P
Location: Hall D/The Shaw Conference Centre
Date: Monday, July 27th, 2015
Time: 5:30 PM
Number: PRT055
Abstract ID:1841
Candidate for Awards:None