Studies on nitrogen rates, sowing dates and cultivars of rapeseed in Northeastern Portugal
Conference Paper
Overview
Overview
abstract
The rapeseed production in the world has more than doubled in the last twenty years.
Total world production increased from 26.7 x 106 in 1992 to 62.5 x 106 in 2011 [1]. The increase in
rapeseed production has been stimulated by the improved quality of the oil for human consumption, but
also due to the increased demand for the production of biodiesel. Rapeseed production is widespread in
cold temperate European countries. However, in the Mediterranean basin the crop may experience severe
water stress during the spring months, reducing the yield potential of the crop and consequently its
profitability. In Portugal the cultivation of rapeseed was not yet adopted by the farmers, although some
studies had been carried out to assess the environmental suitability for growing this crop [2,3]. In this
work we report results of new experiments where different nitrogen rates, sowing dates and cultivars were
tested.
The rapeseed production in the world has more than doubled in the last twenty years. Total world
production increased from 26.7 x 106 in 1992 to 62.5 x 106 in 2011 [1]. The increase in rapeseed production has been
stimulated by the improved quality of the oil for human consumption, but also due to the increased demand for the
production of biodiesel. Rapeseed production is widespread in Europe. However, in the Mediterranean basin the crop
may experience severe water stress during the spring months, reducing the yield potential of the crop and consequently
its profitability. In Portugal the cultivation of rapeseed was not yet adopted by the farmers, although some studies had
been carried out to assess the environmental suitability for growing this crop [2,3]. In this work we report results of new
experiments where different nitrogen rates, sowing dates and cultivars were tested.
