Winter oilseed rape: Agronomic management in different tillage systems and energy balance

The study examined the responses of winter oilseed rape (WOR) produced in three tillage systems (strip-till, low -till, conventional tillage) at different levels of agricultural inputs for weed control, growth regulation, and spring nitrogen and sulfur fertilization. A total of 81 combinations of agronomic management were evaluated in a field experiment with 35-1 fractional factorial design. A three-year field experiment (2016-2019) was conducted at the Agricultural Experiment Station in Balcyny (north-eastern Poland). Energy consumption was highest in the conventional tillage system (25.9-28.8 GJ ha-1), and it exceeded the energy inputs in strip-till and low-till systems by 3% and 9%, respectively. Energy gain and the energy efficiency ratio were highest in the strip-till system (47.3 GJ ha-1 and 3.09, respectively). The results of the study can be used to develop energy-efficient WOR production technologies in variously sized farms with different availability of agricultural equipment.

Automated summary

The study examined the responses of winter oilseed rape in three tillage systems for weed control, growth regulation, and fertilization. The results can be used to develop energy-efficient WOR production technologies in farms of different sizes and equipment availability.