A mineral profile of winter oilseed rape in critical stages of growth - magnesium

A high yield of oilseed rape can be achieved provided an adequate supply of magnesium and sulfur in critical stages of yield formation. The magnesium status in canopy was studied in the 2008, 2009 and 2010 growing seasons. A one factorial experiment consisting of six treatments, set up to verify the research hypothesis, was as follows: control (C), NP, NPK, NPK+ MgS - 1/3 of total planned dose applied in spring (NPKMgS1), NPK+1.0 MgS dose in autumn (NPKMgMgS2), NPK+MgS - 2/3 in autumn + 1/3 in spring (NPKMgS3). Plant samples were taken at three stages: rosette (BBCH 30), the onset of flowering (BBCH 61) and maturity (BBCH 89). An entire sample was partitioned in accordance with the growth stage into main plant organs: leaves, stems, straw and seeds. The yield of biomass, magnesium concentration and its content was determined in each part of the plant. The magnesium concentration in leaves at the onset of flowering can be used as the first predictor of yield. The predictive strength of the magnesium content in seeds as the final yield predictor corroborated the hypothesis of the importance of magnesium for the seed sink build-up. An analysis of relationships between the magnesium content in plant parts during the growing season and yield of seeds can be used to make an ex-post analysis of factors disturbing the development of yield structural components. The main cause of yield reduction in 2009 as compared to 2008 was the insufficient supply of magnesium to vegetative organs of oilseed plants since the onset of flowering. It was documented that the degree of magnesium supply to a growing silique is critical for the seed yield performance, as noted in 2008. It was also found that any disturbance in the magnesium supply to oilseed rape since the onset of flowering led to reduction in the seed density, which in turn decreased the magnesium seed sink capacity, as the study clearly demonstrated.