Two field experiments were carried out at Giza Agricultural Research Station,
ARC, Egypt, during 2000- 2001 and 2001- 2002 seasons to identify the effective pan
coefficient (selected from 1.4, 1.2, 1.0, and 0.8 treatments) needed for scheduling
irrigation of canola plants (using pan evaporation records) under three nitrogen
sources NI (ammonium nitrate), NT (50% ammonium nitrate + azoiobacler) and Nj
(50% ammonium nitrate + azospirillum). The effects of the two selected factors on
water relations, seed and oil yields, yield components, oil%, protein% and fatty acids
composition were studied.
Results of the two growing seasons indicated that plant height, number of
branches/ plant, 100- seed weight and seed yield/fed were significantly increased with
the treatment of 1.0 pan evaporation coefficient. Also, all studied growth characters
were superior when the ammonium nitrate was applied.
Seed oil percent was increased with I3 (1.0 pan evaporation coefficient) and NI
(50% ammonium niirale + azotobacter). Meanwhile, protein percent was increased for
Ij irrigation treatment with NS (50% ammonium nitrate + a/ospirillum). Oil yield was
increased for Ii with NI However, the differences between N| and N2 didnot reach the
level of significance. Predominant fatty acids comprised palmitic, stearic, arachidic,
behenic, oleic, llnoleie, linolenic, gadoleic and crucic acids.
Major fatty acids comprised oleic, Hnoleic, linolenic.The minor acids were
palmitic, stearic, gadoleic and erucic. Oleic, lenoleic and lenolenic acids ranged from
56.68 to 56.74%, 18.72 to 18.79% and 8.55 to 8.76%, respectively.
Seasonal water consumptive use values were 1637 and 1601 m3/fed in 2000-
2001 and 2001- 2002 seasons, respectively. The maximum water use efficiency value
was obtained when the evaporation pan coefficient of 1.0 together with N2 (50%
ammonium nitrate + azotobacter) were applied in both seasons.
Results indicated also that the most efficient method for calculating canola
crop evapotranspiration (ETc) in Middle Egypt was Penman Monteith formula.
In general, the 1.0 pan evaporation coefficient and 50% ammonium nitrate +
azotobacter could be recommended to obtain the best results for canola crop yield,
quality and also saving irrigation water. |
