Seed Yield and Water Productivity of Irrigated Winter Canola (Brassica napus L.) under Semiarid Climate and High Elevation
Koffi Djaman,
Michael O’Neill,
Curtis Owen,
Daniel Smeal,
Margaret West,
Dallen Begay,
Sangamesh V. Angadi,
Komlan Koudahe,
Samuel Allen,
Kevin Lombard
Affiliations
Koffi Djaman
Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, New Mexico State University, Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, P.O. Box 1018, Farmington, NM 87499, USA
Michael O’Neill
Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, New Mexico State University, Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, P.O. Box 1018, Farmington, NM 87499, USA
Curtis Owen
Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, New Mexico State University, Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, P.O. Box 1018, Farmington, NM 87499, USA
Daniel Smeal
Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, New Mexico State University, Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, P.O. Box 1018, Farmington, NM 87499, USA
Margaret West
Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, New Mexico State University, Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, P.O. Box 1018, Farmington, NM 87499, USA
Dallen Begay
Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, New Mexico State University, Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, P.O. Box 1018, Farmington, NM 87499, USA
Sangamesh V. Angadi
Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, New Mexico State University, Agricultural Science Center at Clovis, Clovis, NM 88101, USA
Komlan Koudahe
ADA Consulting Africa, 07 BP 14284 Lomé, Togo
Samuel Allen
Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, New Mexico State University, Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, P.O. Box 1018, Farmington, NM 87499, USA
Kevin Lombard
Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, New Mexico State University, Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, P.O. Box 1018, Farmington, NM 87499, USA
Canola is a cash crop produced for its highly-valued seed, and as a protein source for animal feed. While winter canola is produced mainly in the high plains, it is expanding to new environments, and is greatly incorporated into crop systems with advantages in terms of increasing crop yield and improving soil health. The objectives of this study were to evaluate eight winter canola genotypes for seed yield, and to determine their water productivity under semiarid climates and high elevations in the Four Corners region at Farmington, New Mexico. A field experiment was conducted at the New Mexico State Agricultural Science Center at Farmington for five growing seasons. Eight genotypes of winter canola (Baldur, Flash, Safran, Sitro, Virginia, Visby, Wichita, and Sumner) were arranged into the randomized complete block design. The field was fully irrigated with a center pivot irrigation system. Results showed that winter canola seed yield was dependent on genotype, varying from 2393 to 5717 kg/ha. The highest yield was achieved by Sitro, and the lowest yield by Sumner. There was inter-annual variation in canola nitrogen-use efficiency (NUE), irrigation water-use efficiency (IWUE), and crop water-use efficiency (CWUE). NUE varied from 12.9 to 50.4 kg seed/kg N, with the highest NUE achieved by Sitro, and the lowest by Sumner. IWUE varied from 0.34 to 0.80 kg/m3, and canola CWUE from 0.28 to 0.69 kg/m3. The highest water productivity was achieved by Sitro. The results of this study showed full assessment of canola production under the semiarid climate in the Four Corners region, and could improve crop productivity and profitability.
