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BIOKENAF – QLK5-CT2002-01729

8th technical meetingMadrid, 29-30 September 2006

X. Nuttens, S. Cadoux

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WP2: Adaptability and productivity

field trials

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Previous data

trial objectif yield min-medium-max (t MS/ha)V*S*D 8.9-11.0-12.3

I*N 6.9-8.6-9.6

V*S*D 10.0-10.5-11.5N 8.3-9.9-11.2

2005 V*S*D 6.9-11.0-13.1

2003

2004

Sustainable DM yield in the North of France: 10t/ha with late varieties

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Previous data

• Problems encountered:– High losses at emergence– Disease (Gray Mold)– Late and rare flowering: totality of the growth

cycle is not achieved by late varieties– Stagnation of the yield (no more than 11t/ha)

… with late varieties (E 41 and T 2)

… and for early varieties (G 4) ?

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1. Presentation of trial conditions

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Trial location

Estrées-Mons INRA centre

- Climate: Oceanic temperate- Soil type: Deep and homogeneous loamy soil (Ortic luvisol, FAO classification)

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Meteorological data in 2006

-Higher Temperatures in July with a little drought

-Rainfall more important in august

Temperature and rainfall amount in Estrées-Mons

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

Rai

nfa

ll (

mm

)

-

5,0

10,0

15,0

20,0

25,0

Tem

pera

tue

(°C

)

Rainfall amount (1995-2003)

57,2 48 57,3

Rainfall amount (2006) 36,5 45,5 133

Temperature (1995-2003)

15,4 17,6 17,9

Temperature (2006) 16,3 21,6 16,2

June July August

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Experimental design in 2006

N1

N0R1

R2 R3

Photography 1: Plan of the trial (Observed on September 20th, 2006)

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First flowers observed the 20 of September:

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Crop management sequence

No weed control:

Thanks to a fast and regular growth

!

Sowing

Date: 8 of June

Sowing machine: pneumatic seed drill

Variety: G 4

Sowing density: 110 plants/m²(target density: 50 plants/m²)

Fertilization

Date: 21/07/2006

Rate: 0 or 100 kg N/ha

Weed control

none

Irrigation

none

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2. Results

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Nitrogen effect

• Two situations :– N0: soil N content of 100kgN/ha until 1.20m

(on the 15th of may)

100 kg available at the beginning of the cycle– N1: soil N content of 100kgN/ha until 1.20m +

100 kg/ha of N fertilisation

200 kg available at the beginning of the cycle

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-No statistical differences between N0 and N1:

for a potential of 10 t DM/ha no more than 100kgN/ha (soil N content at implantation + fertilisation) is required

-G 4 DM yield: 9.6 t/ha with low variations, similar to other years

Total dry matter yield evolution

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

50 60 70 80 90 100 110

Days after emergence

Yie

ld (

t o

f d

ry m

att

er/

ha

N0 N1

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Yield comparison

Yield obtained each year on September 18th

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

2003 2004 2005 2006

Year

Yie

ld (

T /

ha)

In September, DM yields are comparables

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Yield comparisonFinal Yield for each year

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

2003 2004 2005 2006

Year

Yie

ld (

T /

ha

)

Potential a bit lower in 2006 (we are near flowering date so it is the same development than in October for late varieties)

Late october

Late october

Early september

Late october

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- Losses of about 28%

- Difference between treatment due to the

heterogeneity ?- Actual density: 80

plants/m2

Density evolution

400000

500000

600000

700000

800000

900000

1000000

40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110

Days after emergence

Den

sit

y (

pla

nts

/ha)

N0 N1

Focus on the densityObjective: to get 50 plants / m²

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No correlation between density and

dry matter yield

Ideal density must take agronomic

consequences into account

Dry matter yield according to the density

y = 4E-07x + 8,8386

R2 = 0,002

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

600000 650000 700000 750000 800000 850000 900000 950000

Density (plants / ha)

Dry

matt

er

yie

ld (

T /

ha)

Focus on the density

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Losses at emergence (2003-4-5-6)Losses at emergence as a function of the sowing

density and the variety

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

40 80 110

Sowing density (plants / m²)

Perc

en

tag

e o

f lo

sses

E 41 Greg T 2 G 4

Last year conclusion: more losses with higher densities AND crust and weed competition can explain these losses

2006: Crusts and weed competition do not explain all losses. If there is well a density effect, there is a positive effect of early variety

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-Maximum LAI value:

5 m²m-²

End of august, before fall of

sheets

Leaf Area Index evolution

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

50 60 70 80 90 100 110

Days after emergence

Leaf

Are

a I

nd

ex (

m²/

m²)

N0 N1

Leaf Area index

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In September 2005, attack of a disease was

observed on few plants:

Gray Mold(Botrytis cinerea)

with late varieties and also in 2006 with

early variety(18% of ill plants)

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Conclusions

• Crop emergence:– less losses at emergence than usual and no

weed control

Effect of: good sowing conditions AND/OR more adapted variety that allowed a fast and regular development

• DM yield:– Potential a bit lower with G 4 ?

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MODALITY CONCLUSION

Irrigation 0

N-Fertilisation No more than 100 kg/ha (soil + fertiliser) for low potentials

Sowing date most favourable conditions

Sowing density

Objective of 40-60 plants/m²

Variety Early variety

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• North limit in France for Kenaf and not only for late varieties

• But less agronomic problems with early varieties

• We can not reach high DM yield (no more than 11t/ha) contrary to fiber sorghum…