Canola (Brassica napus L.)‎ seed yield and quality as affected by planting date and varieties

الملخص EN

This study was carried out during the 2004 / 2005 and 2005 / 2006 seasons at the Agricultural Research Station, Hadda El-Sham, King Abdulaziz University.

Five planting dates during the period from Nov.-15 to Jan.-16 and three canola varieties, Sero-4, Sero-6 and Pactole were studied in a split plot design experiment.

Plant height was significantly affected by planting date in linear and cubic responses.

Number of fruits/plant showed significant linear, quadratic and cubic responses as affected by planting date.

Significant linear and cubic effects were detected for seed yield / ha and oil content, while protein content was significantly affected in linear quadratic and cubic effects.

Dec.-1 planting produced the highest mean values of plant height (122.40 cm), number of fruits / plant (246.65), seed yield / ha (1320 kg) and oil content (41.13 %) but the mean values of the previous traits decreased as planting date delayed.

Protein content was highest (30.69) in the Jan.-16 planting date and lowest (24.50) in the Nov.-15 planting date.

Pactole variety was the best variety in plant height (106.8 cm), number of fruits/plant (226.27), seed yield/ha (1200 kg) followed by Sero-4 and Sero-6, respectively.

Sero-6 produced the highest oil content (37.14 %), followed by Pactole and Sero-4, respec-tively.

Sero-4 produced the highest protein content (28.5) followed by Pactole and Sero-6, respectively.