Sowing date influence on winter oilseed rape overwintering in Estonia

In 2001-2005 an overwintering investigation of winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) was carried out at the Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences of the Estonian University of Life Sciences. In our trial we used two winter oilseed rape varieties: 'Wotan' and 'Express'. The sowing was performed at four different times, with weekly intervals: 8, 15, 22 and 29 August. The soil type was Stagnic Luvisol by WRB classification; the texture was sandy loam with a humus layer of 20-30 cm. Our research indicated that successful wintering of winter oilseed rape depends directly on sowing date. From the data obtained it may be seen that differences between sowing dates and overwintering were statistically significant. Overwintering depends on numbers of growing-degree-days (GDD) in the autumn vegetative period. Three years' data showed that in the autumn period plants need 416 GDD for developing a strong root system and to prepare for wintering.