The Effect of Different Seeding Methods on Grain Yield and the Use of Combine Platform Extension on Canola Harvesting Losses

One of the problems of canola production is the lack of interest in farmers towards planting this crop. This could stem from lack of suitable planting method and the high amount of grain loss at harvest. In order to evaluate the effect of seeding methods، type of combine platforms and their interaction on canola grain yield and harvesting losses، a field experiment was conducted in Safi Abad، Khuzestan during 2007. The experiment was a split plot، arranged in a randomized complete block design with 3 replications. The seeding methods were the main plots، including two flat seeding methods with 12 and 24 cm row spacing and two row planting methods with 2 and 3 seeding lines on the row. Combine harvester platforms were the subplots، including conventional cereal platform and canola harvesting header extension. The results indicated that the seeding method significantly (P≤0. 05) affected the yield، plant density at harvest time and stem diameter of canola. The highest yield (3224. 92 kg/ha) was obtained with the flat seeding method with 24 cm row spacing and the lowest yield (2513. 66 kg/ha) was obtained with the row planting method with 2 seeding lines on the row. Type of platform significantly (P≤0. 01) affected the amount of grain loss. The grain loss of 20. 99% of the total yield (593. 03 kg/ha) was obtained by using the conventional cereal platform and grain loss of 13. 08% of the total yield (370. 48 kg/ha) was attained using the header extension.