YIELD AND MORPHOLOGICAL RESPONSE OF RAPE (BRASSICA CAMPESTRIS L. CV. SPAN) TO IRRIGATION AND FERTILIZER TREATMENTS

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Abstract
Turnip rape (Brassica campestris L. cv. Span) was grown on field plots for 3 yr under four levels of irrigation. These were no irrigation and irrigation to maintain soil moisture in the upper half of the available range until stem elongation, until early pod formation, or until pod ripening. In the last year, four rates of N plus P fertilizers were superimposed on the irrigation treatments. Irrigation more than doubled yields by promoting greater plant growth, more pods, more seeds per pod, and larger seeds than where irrigation was not applied. Maximum yield (about 3,000 kg/ha) was obtained where irrigation maintained soil moisture in the upper half of the available range until pod ripening. Oil content was increased by irrigation and decreased by fertilizer. Irrigation increased oil yield from 368 to 986 kg/ha. Response to fertilizer was greater with than without irrigation. Daily evapotranspiration was highly correlated with total green pod plus leaf area per plant but not with leaf area alone. Maximum daily evapotranspiration was 7.6 mm and similar to that of irrigated cereals, but total water use at maximum yield for the growing season was less than for cereals because the growing season was shorter than for cereals.

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