Desiccation in pre-harvest and cut windrowing combined to a sealant as a management strategy to reduce grain losses in canola

Abstract

CCanola is an oilseed species with the potential for broad use in grain production systems in Southern Brazil. However, the uneven ripening of seedpods, which feature natural dehiscence, causing excessive grain losses during ripening and harvesting times. The aim of this work was to evaluate and compare different canola crop management systems, to reduce crop losses and, consequently, obtain higher grain yield. The experimental design was a randomized block with factorial arrangement (5x2) with four replications. Crop management systems used were conducted with or without the application of the sealant Grip^®, and were the following: cut-windrowing, previous chemical desiccation with diquat or glufosinate ammonium, ethephon application and harvest with direct cutting at the natural point of maturation. The harvest management with cut-windrowing or with previous chemical desiccation are the management alternatives that significantly reduce crop losses in the order of 31% and 66%, and allow higher grain yields to be obtained when compared to other management systems used.