The first three winter oilseed rape (WOSR) harvest results for 2016 from AHDB’s Recommended Lists variety trials have been published.
The 2016 gross output value from the first three trials (from sites in Kent, Suffolk and Herefordshire) is 5.1t/ha. This is 0.49t/ha below the four-year average of 5.59 t/ha.
For WOSR, yields are reported as a gross output, which is the seed yield adjusted for oil content.
The values are represented as a percentage of the control varieties – PR46W21, DK Cabernet, PT211 and Trinity.
The three sites do however show variation in average gross output yields, with Hereford achieving 5.51 t/ha but Suffolk averaging 4.89 t/ha.
Oilseed rape trials are often more variable than cereals and care must be taken when drawing conclusions on limited data.
Currently, higher-yielding varieties include Picto (113%), Campus (111%), Elgar (109%), Angus (109%), the HOLL variety V316OL (107%) and Windozz (106%). Three of these six varieties are conventional varieties and three restored hybrids.
Four-year averages
The 2016 gross output values provide a good snapshot of variety performance this year. However, the four-year average values provide a better picture to variety performance over seasons.
Based on the four-year average values, the highest yielding varieties to date are Elgar (109%), Windozz (108%), Alizze, Wembley and V316 OL (all 107%), and Campus (106%).
Looking at the four-year averages, the clubroot resistant variety Mentor has a gross output of 101% and the turnip yellows virus resistant variety Amalie has a gross output of 97%.
See also: Winter barley 2016 harvest yield under five-year average of 9.30t/ha down to 8.79t/ha
