Radiation use by oil seed crops -: a comparison of winter rape, linseed and sunflower

For the production of grain crops rich in oil, winter rape, linseed and sunflower are similarly suitable at many arable locations. We wanted to compare the extent to which radiation (PAR) is intercepted and utilized by the individual species for dry matter and yield production. For this purpose, a 2-year field experiment comprising the factors genotype, N fertilization and soil tillage was conducted. For five phases of crop development, growth rates (CGR, RGR and NAR) and PAR utilization were calculated. At full ripeness, total dry matter, grain, oil and energy yields, the crop- and year-specific PAR supply, its interception and utilization for dry matter production and the resulting energy binding were determined. Due to the different individual vegetation periods, the PAR supply of the crops differed. The crop assimilation areas also differed, with values for winter rape and sunflower higher than those for linseed. The yield productivity of winter rape and sunflower was also higher than that of linseed. N fertilization increased yield to different extents for the different crops. On average, winter rape and sunflower produced the same amounts of dry matter and energy yield. Due to a higher harvest index, sunflower had the highest grain yield, and because the oil concentration in grain was comparatively high sunflower produced the highest oil yield, too. Under cool and wet climate conditions, however, the productivity of sunflower is offset by a relatively high yield risk because of uncertain ripening. The highest PAR utilization by linseed did not compensate for its very short vegetation period in combination with the lowest PAR interception.