Winter Oilseed Rape Trials

Protocol WR2012-16

HGCA RECOMMENDED LIST

WINTER OILSEED RAPE TRIALS

PROTOCOL 2011/12

This protocol was believed to comply with relevant agrochemical, environmental and other regulations at the time of writing but it is the responsibility of the contractor to ensure that it continues to comply. In the event of non-compliance the protocol should not be followed but the Technical Manager should be notified at once of how the protocol requirements would breach regulations.

Any deviation from this protocol other than under the circumstances described above may result in a breach of Contract and should be agreed in advance.

RL Project Consortium. AHDB-HGCA, Stoneleigh Park, Kenilworth, Warwickshire, CV8 2TL

HGCA RECOMMENDED LIST TRIALS

WINTER OILSEED RAPE PROTOCOL 2011/12

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Part 1 - General information

1.2 Trial distribution

Part 2 - The trials system

2.1 General

2.2 Randomisation of trials

2.3 Plot dimensions, discards and surround

2.4 Trial seed

2.5 Drilling

2.6 Husbandry guidelines

2.7 Completion of records

2.8 Trial samples and quality tests

2.9 Trial inspection

Appendix 1 – Fungicide programme

Appendix 2 - Assessment key for oilseed rape diseases

Appendix 3 - Growth stage key for oilseed rape

Appendix 4 - Winter hardiness assessment key

Appendix 5 - Deadlines and milestones

Appendix 6 – Dry matter and oil content determination in oilseed rape

Appendix 7a – Trials list 2012-16

Appendix 7b – Recording requirements

Appendix 8 – Guidelines for the harvesting of oilseed rape variety trials

Part 1 - General information

1.1 RL Team contact details

Office postal address:RL Project Consortium, AHDB-HGCA, Stoneleigh Park, Kenilworth, Warwickshire, CV8 2TL

Workbooks and all other data should be e-mailed to

Technical Manager (This is the primary technical contact).

Mr Bill Handley / Tel: / 01954 204458
Mobile:
E-mail: / 07743 195581

Analysis & Publications Manager(primary contact: reports, database, RL Extranet)

Mrs Claire Osborne / Tel: / 01284 735084
E mail: /

Database Executive(primary contact: workbooks, data processing)

Mrs Joanne Soule / Tel: / 0247 647 8744
E mail: /

RL Project & Finance Administrator (primary contact: for contracts, payments)

Ms Denise Lawson / Tel: / 0247 647 8746
Mobile: / 079 7638 2278
E mail: /

Senior Research & Knowledge Transfer Manager

Dr Simon Oxley / Tel: / 0247 647 8866
Mobile: / 07779 330853
E mail: /

1.2 Trial distribution

See Appendix 7 for list of trials.

Contracted variety numbers (maximum):35

1.3 Trial design and treatments

Yield trials are fungicide treated only.

Trial design will be an alpha-lattice (incomplete-block), restricted-neighbour design; the stem-length of varieties will be taken into consideration to limit the effects of shading by tall varieties over shorter ones.

Restored hybrids will be blocked together within the randomisation. Each restored block will be bordered on either side with a restored hybrid buffer plot.

Semi-dwarf varieties may also be blocked together and surrounded by dwarf buffers.

The remaining block of conventional varieties will be bordered on either side with a buffer plot of a conventional out-pollinating variety.

Sowing lists and trial design will be specified by the Technical Manager. It is important that any change to the drilling layout is discussed and agreed with the Technical Manager beforehand.

Replications: 3

Part 2 - The trials system

2.1 General

The trial manager will be responsible for the choice of site, and for the establishment, supervision, recording and harvesting of the trial.

Genetically modified (GM) varieties.

There are no GM varieties in Recommended List or Descriptive List trials. RL or DL trials must not be grown on, or near, land that contains, or has contained, genetically modified (GM) plants without the express permission of the Technical Manager. Seed suppliers will be required to give written assurances that all reasonable steps have been taken to prevent the adventitious presence of GM material during breeding, production and handling of the seed submitted for trials.

The varieties/seed submitted will be:

• varieties bred from parent plants that have not been genetically modified.

• produced from plants grown under appropriate isolation conditions and isolated from transgenic lines.

A decision to abandon a trial must only be taken in consultation with the Technical Manager.

In principle, cultivation and agronomy should follow best local practice.

Records should be clear and self-explanatory so that the trial can be taken over at short notice by another officer without difficulty.

The seed has been supplied for trial purposes only, and must not be used for further multiplication or any purpose other than that specified by RL Project Consortium, unless special permission has been obtained. It is frequently supplied for testing on the condition that it is not multiplied for other purposes and it is the responsibility of the officer in charge of the trial to ensure that this does not occur.

2.2 Randomisation of trials

The Database Executive will generate trial layouts. They will be transferred to the appropriate trial centres in electronic format as Excel workbooks (one for each trial).

In an alpha-lattice (incomplete block) design, any splitting within superblocks must ensure that blocks stay complete. Any movement of varieties to avoid clustering should be within sub-blocks and not between. If there are any problems with the plan or adjusting it to fit to the field, the Technical Managershould be consulted.

If changes to the supplied randomisation are made, the trial manager must advise the Database Executive of the changes within two days of sowing. This should be done by clearly highlighting the changes in sheet ‘Trial plan 2’ within the workbook and returning it to the Database Executive. On receipt of the returned workbook the Database Executive will ensure that the stored plan is correct and that the de-randomising features of the workbook is working correctly. A modified version will be returned if necessary.

2.3 Plot dimensions, discards and surround

It is essential that the plot size suits the intended plot equipment and contractors should discuss their plans with the Technical Manager prior to drilling to ensure that this is the case.

Plots should be drilled to a greater length than required and cut back to the required length prior to harvest. The plot width for calculating harvested area is measured centre gap to centre gap with an inter-plot gap in the range 0.5m to 0.8m. Sown plot width should reflect the blade width of the swather used.

Bordered single plots or unbordered paired plots are preferred. Unbordered paired plots must have a minimum harvested plot area of 36m2 per replicate, and have a minimum combined width of 3m (including inter-plot gap). Bordered plots must have a minimum harvested plot area of 18m2.

In exceptional circumstances unbordered single width plots may also be grown with the prior consent of the Technical Manager – minimum harvested plot area 40m2.

2.4 Trial seed

Procurement of seed

Seed will be ordered by the Technical Manager and should be delivered by the supplier to the seed processor specified by the Technical Manager. In order to allow timely sowing, it is essential that seed is supplied by deadlines specified by the Technical Manager in the seed order; this deadline date is normally around 10thAugust. Seed received after thespecified deadline may be omitted from trials.

6kg of untreated seed is normally required for winter oilseed rape Recommended List trials and should beuntreated (i.e. 'recleaned only'). The thousand grain weight and germination figures specific to the trial seed should be supplied. Note that the accuracy of the thousand seed weights supplied may be checked.

A written declaration should accompany the seed stating that thevariety has been bred from parent plants that have not been genetically modified and the seed has been produced from plants grown under appropriate isolation conditions from transgenic lines and that all reasonable steps have been taken to prevent the adventitious presence of GM material during breeding, production and handling of the seed.

Supply of seed to trial managers:

Seed is supplied to trial as bulks sufficient to sow the specified trials. The seed will be pre-treated chemically with give protection against certain seedling diseases and pests (Cruiser will be used in autumn 2011). It is the responsibility of each trial manager to prepare plot packets from the bulk of seed supplied and to ensure that the correct plant population is achieved. Variety names, codes and thousand seed weight information will be sent to trial managers, usually by e-mail.

Due to the short period of time between harvest and re-sowing, seed will be processed and supplied for varieties that do not appear in the final sowing list. Notification of the final sowing list and seed details will be given (usually by email) and any varieties for which seed has been supplied but which do not appear on the final sowing list should not be sown. Surplus seed may be used anonymously for discard and buffer plots or for sowing around the trial but for no other purpose without the prior consent of the Technical Manager.

2.5 Drilling

Trial Managers should aim to establish a spring population of 40 plants per m2. Seed rates must not exceed 70 seeds per m2 for hybrids and 100 seeds per m2 for conventional open-pollinated types but may be adjusted below this level to suit site conditions at the discretion of the trial manager.

When drilling, every effort should be made to obtain even emergence. Internal gangways should not be mown until the risk of pigeon damage has passed.

Note that semi-dwarf blocks cannot not be swathed, irrespective of the decision for the rest of the trial and the trial should be laid out to allow for this.

2.6 Husbandry guidelines

2.6.1 Site Selection

Trials should be grown in farm crops and sited away from trees, hedges, headlands and other features likely to cause uneven growth. The soil should be as uniform as possible but, if there are irregularities such as ridges or furrows, the trial should be drilled across them. Ensure that cultivations are carried out across the direction of sowing.

Applications of fertilisers and sprays should be uniform; it is normally best to apply these across the direction of the plots.

2.6.2 Timing of sowing

Trials should be drilled as soon as all seed is received and the final sowing list is known. Where possible, time the drilling of the trial to coincide with that of the surrounding farm crop. If sowing has not been possible before 20th September, contact the Technical Manager.

2.6.3 Herbicides

Chemicals should not be used to which any variety is known to be sensitive. If in doubt, the Technical Manager should be consulted (see address Page 3).

2.6.4 Fungicides

All trials should be fungicide treated. The correct fungicide programme must be used. The fungicide protocol for use until January 2012is given in Appendix 1, after which a revised version will be circulated for use.

Precautions should be taken against attacks by slugs and insects such as cabbage stem flea beetle, seed weevil and pod midge. Trial managers must ensure that adequate pre- and post emergence control measures are taken to control flea beetle attack.

2.6.5 Fertilisers

Fertiliser applications should be in line with advisory guidelinesand should not conflict with any statutory requirements (e.g. SFP Cross-compliance, Nitrate Vulnerable Zone (NVZ) restrictions) in force at the time. Trialmanagers should also be aware of the importance of sulphur nutrition and must apply sulphur to trials unless these are situated in areas of high sulphur deposition. Application of a minimum of 30 kg S/ha as granular compounds or in liquid form should be made in the early spring. Trial managers should be aware of the implications of other nutrient requirements and should be prepared to apply an appropriate treatment. In England and Wales, PLANET software is a useful tool for determining the nutrient requirements of individual fields. See .

2.6.6 Plant Growth Regulators

Plant growth regulators should not be used.

2.6.7 Pest control

Grazing between establishment and early spring, particularly by pigeons, may be selective and control measures should be taken if necessary.

Birds can cause damage near harvest, especially when trials are near houses. Control is difficult but every effort should be made to minimise losses. Assessments should be made wherever damage occurs since decisions have to be made on the validity of each plot affected.

2.6.8 Harvesting

Plots should be trimmed to their final length before mid-stem extension to minimise the damage to remaining plants.

If the trial is to be cut direct, a header-extension should be fitted to the plot combine to minimise table losses.

Side-knives may be used only on bordered plots.

It is the Trial Manager’s responsibility to ensure that plots can be harvested without damaging neighbouring plots and without contamination: plots should be separated adequately as required by hand or machine.

It is the Trial Manager’s responsibility to ensure that plots can be harvested without damaging neighbouring plots and without contamination: plots should be separated adequately as required by hand or machine.If it is necessary to reduce the length of any plot at harvest, clear details should be given in the trial diary sheet and the harvested plot length of each plot should be recorded and submitted with the yield data.

Notify the Technical Manager that harvest has taken place on the day of harvest, or first thing the following day. Yield with dry matter should be returned within 5 days of the harvest of the trial, together with any outstanding other data. If dry matters are being conducted by NIAB-TAG, yield data should be returned within 2 days.

Non semi-dwarf varieties may be swathed or desiccated (preferably using a translocated desiccant such as glyphosate) and combined direct at the discretion of the trial manager and depending on the state of the crop after flowering. Semi-dwarf blocks should not be swathed, irrespective of the decision for the rest of the trial and the trial should be laid out to allow for this.

Equipment to conduct either technique must be available to the trial manager at the optimum time. The trial manager must indicate in the trial workbook which technique has been used, giving the reasons for his/her choice.

Swathing or desiccation: points for consideration

Swathing

Plots should be tall enough such that stems can be cut to leave long stubble onto which the cut plants can rest during the drying period.

It may not be possible to satisfactorily swath very short crops and/or those that have pods on branches that are very close to the ground.

Plots can be swathed during weather periods that would preclude desiccation.

Swathed crops are more prone to bird damage (such as pigeons) especially if harvest is delayed.

Desiccation and direct-combining

On tall and/or thick crops it may not be possible to get spraying machinery through the trial without causing unacceptable damage and it may be impossible to get even coverage of the desiccant: swathing may be the better option.

Thin, standing plots that have not interlinked to form a canopy may be more prone to wind shedding if harvesting is delayed.

2.7 Completion of records

The trial workbook should be used to record all data. A detailed user-guide for the workbooks is available separately.

Completed data should be returned to theDatabase Executive in three batches:

Report / Deadline / Sheets to be returned (return only these sheets: DO NOT return the whole workbook)
1)Early data / Within 2 months of sowing. / Early data plot recording sheet.
Site data.
Map of area.
Field layout sketch.
Trial layout.
Trial diary.
2)Disease data / 11th July. / Disease data recording sheet.
Trial diary update.
3)Harvest data / Within 5 days of harvest. / Harvest data recording sheet.
Agchem details.
Trial diary update.
Any remaining data.

Plots data sheets contain columns for records likely to be undertaken during the recording period and which may or may not be required by the protocol. Any additional recording columns will be supplied in a separate file: these additional recording columns should be pasted whole into the relevant data sheet using the ‘Copy/paste’ function (i.e. select, copy and paste the whole column).

2.7.1 Early data (Site data, location and plan details):

This information should be returned shortly after full establishment and within two months of sowing.

This report should include:

• Confirmation of sowing to plan or full details of any changes to plan.

This should be done by clearly highlighting the changes in the sheet ‘Trial plan 2’ contained in the workbook. On receipt of the returned workbook the Database Executive will ensure that the plan has been modified correctly and that the de-randomising features of the workbook are working correctly. If necessary, a modified workbook will then be returned for use by the trial manager.