Canopy ManagementThe size of the oilseed rape canopy is a critical indicator for several management decisions. In autumn, small leaves indicate a high risk of yield losses from Phoma. In spring, oilseed rape crops with over-large canopies benefit from growth regulation from triazole fungicides such as Caramba and reduced/delayed N applications. Economic benefits from PGRs have been observed for crops with a Green Area Index - GAI (the ratio of green tissue area to ground area) greater than 1 in March or crops with a GAI greater than 2 in April. Very backward crops conversely will benefit from earlier N application to ensure that they achieve an adequate canopy size. Growers need to assess the size of the canopy to manage the crop. However, assessing canopy size is not always straight forward due to variation in crop structure, e.g. a similar sized canopy can be achieved by an early sown crop with a sparse plant population, or a later sown crop with a high plant population. It is sometimes easier therefore to estimate canopy size by comparing the proportion of the soil surface that is visible in a photograph or crop. Canopy GAI Tool - This tool has been developed to provide a more accessible and consistent method for estimating GAI. Canopy Management Booklet - Enquire now to get your copy! Download the Optimising Canopy Management (approx. 800kb) |
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