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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Pullman, Washington » Northwest Sustainable Agroecosystems Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #303703
Title: Prediction of canola residue characteristics using near-infrared spectroscopy

Author
item STUBBS, TAMI - Washington State University
item Kennedy, Ann

Submitted to: International Journal of Agronomy
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/8/2017
Publication Date: 4/5/2017
Citation: Stubbs, T.L., Kennedy, A.C. 2017. Prediction of canola residue characteristics using near-infrared spectroscopy. International Journal of Agronomy. doi:10.1155/2017/4813147.

Interpretive Summary: Winter and spring canola production is increasing in the Pacific Northwest United States, and worldwide canola production and demand continue to rise. Canola performs well in conventional and conservation farming systems, and higher yielding cultivars and herbicide resistant varieties have made these crops more economically feasible. Residue management is of concern to growers who wish to employ management practices such as no-till farming and there is limited information available on the decomposition of oilseed crop residue. Among the characteristics determining decomposition of crop residues are fiber components and nutrients. Our analysis successfully predicted most fiber characteristics of winter and spring canola residue from two years of field studies, but was less useful for prediction of fiber components and decomposition in laboratory studies. These analyses using near-infrared wavelengths show promise for rapidly discerning differences in certain fiber and nutrient characteristics among canola residue samples while using smaller quantities of chemicals, and less costly analyses. Rapid screening of crop residues will provide information for conservation cropping systems that include oilseed crops, increase soil organic matter, prevent soil erosion, and lead to soils with greater productivity.

Technical Abstract: Canola residue traits affect decomposition in dryland farming systems of the Pacific Northwest United States. Traditional methods of characterizing residue fiber and nutrient traits are time-consuming, expensive, and require large quantities of chemical reagents. The goal of this research was to determine whether near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) could accurately predict the crop residue traits of neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), acid detergent lignin (ADL), carbon (C), nitrogen (N) of canola stems, litter and roots; and decomposition of canola stems. We found that canola residue varied in decomposition, fiber and nutrient trait by year, location and type. NIRS predictions were successful for the traits of NDF and ADF in 2011; and NDF, ADF and N in 2012. Predictions for 2011 ADL, N, C, C/N and 2012 C and C/N were considered moderately successful. Acid detergent lignin prediction in 2012 was only moderately useful. Prediction of canola residue decomposition was less successful, and would only be useful for screening purposes. Near infrared spectroscopy shows promise for rapidly and reproducibly predicting fiber and nutrient contents of canola residue, and thus is useful for estimating residue decomposition potential to supply producers in dryland farming systems with information for planning conservation cropping systems.