Optimization on agronomic performance and
mechanical property
Mechanical production of winter rapeseed involves two
important steps, i.e., mechanical sowing and harvesting.
Mechanical sowing quality such as seeding speed and
depth would affect emergency and vegetative growth,
whereas vegetative growth could affect reproductive
growth and mechanical harvesting as well. For
example, because of emerging irregularly, some weak
plants died at the reproductive stage, some early matured
plants led to pod shattering, and plants with lots
of primary branches would cause less uniform maturity.
In the end, seed yield and quality might be seriously
affected during mechanical harvesting. Herein, sowing
technique should be improved to guarantee full seedling
and vigorous seedling to promote mechanical harvesting
in winter oilseed rape.
Appropriate plant type of rapeseed was another critical
factor for mechanical harvesting. It was difficult
to carry out mechanical harvesting efficiently on higher
rapeseed plants in some areas, i.e., Sichuan Province,
China. Therefore, suitable cultivation methods were
needed to optimize plant type. Additionally, contradiction
of crops growing at different seasons was outstanding
in China, efficient chemical regulators such
as pod sealant and desiccant were very useful for seed
ripening. Furthermore, cutting width and working
speed of machine are also closely related to harvesting
loss.financial supports for buying and leasing agricultural
machine. Third, suitable policy for seasonal land circulation
should be established to encourage farmers
to plant rapeseed in winter fallow field.
The acreage of winter oilseed rape along the Yangtze
River is approximately 5.7 million ha, and approximately
4.0 million ha of winter fallow field is a candidate
resource for rapeseed production. With popularization
of mechanical production, the acreage of winter
oilseed rape would increase 2.0 million ha in 10 yr,
total seed yield and economic profit would increase
3.6 million metric tons and 16.0 billion RMB yuan,
respectively.