Potential for Spring Canola Production in Texas.

Canola (Brassica napus L.) acres are expanding rapidly in the southern Great Plains of the US and acreage is spreading into Texas; however, warm winters and long summers in South Texas can lead to vernalization issues and heat stress during flowering and pod fill for winter canola. Alternatively, spring canola lacks vernalization requirements and reaches maturity quicker than winter canola, potentially avoiding heat stress. Two potential cropping system scenarios could utilize spring canola as either a fall-planted, spring-harvested crop while another unexplored option would utilize spring canola as a late-summer double crop following warm season crops grown across the Rio Grande Valley and Coastal Bend regions of Texas. Past research has shown consistent yield advantages of spring canola over winter canola in South Texas for traditional fall planted systems. However, on-going research is examining summer-planted, fall-harvested spring canola. In 2013, three spring canola varieties (HyCLASS 930, 955, 969 were early, medium, and late maturity, respectively) were planted on September 9 and Sept 30 near College Station, TX on a Belk clay. Early and medium maturity varieties in the first planting date treatment were in mid-bloom when freezes began in early December and never recovered. For the second planting date, the latest variety did not bloom until mid-February, but succumbed to freezes as well. The trial will be repeated in 2014 with targeted planting dates in early and mid-August. If successful, double cropping spring canola after warm season crops in South Texas could expand canola acreage and provide another crop option for producers.