Canola (Brassica napus L.) Seed Yield and Quality as Affected by Planting Date and Varieties

This study was carried out during the 2004/2005 and 2005/2006 seasons at the Agricultural Research Station, Hadda El-Sham,King Abdulaziz University. Five planting dates during the periodfrom Nov.-15 to Jan.-16 and three canola varieties, Sero-4, Sero-6 andPactole were studied in a split plot design experiment. Plant heightwas significantly affected by planting date in linear and cubicresponses. Number of fruits/plant showed significant linear, quadraticand cubic responses as affected by planting date. Significant linearand cubic effects were detected for seed yield/ha and oil content,while protein content was significantly affected in linear quadraticand cubic effects. Dec.-1 planting produced the highest mean valuesof plant height (122.40cm), number of fruits/plant (246.65), seedyield/ha (1320kg) and oil content (41.13%) but the mean values of theprevious traits decreased as planting date delayed. Protein content washighest (30.69) in the Jan.-16 planting date and lowest (24.50) in theNov.-15 planting date. Pactole variety was the best variety in plantheight (106.8cm), number of fruits/plant (226.27), seed yield/ha (1200kg) followed by Sero-4 and Sero-6, respectively. Sero-6 produced thehighest oil content (37.14%), followed by Pactole and Sero-4, respectively.Sero-4 produced the highest protein content (28.5) followed byPactole and Sero-6, respectively.