When seeding into dry soil conditions from March until mid-May, the recommendation to seed canola no deeper than 1 inch still applies. Here’s why:

• There is still time to wait for a rain to provide the moisture needed for germination and emergence. Growers gain nothing from seeding deep in this time period.
• Going deeper to reach moisture also means cooler soil. Cool conditions combined with the extended distance seedlings must grow to reach the soil surface will mean higher seed and seedling mortality. Higher seeding rates will be needed to compensate.
• Deep seeding allows weeds emerging at the same time to get ahead of the crop. Shallow seeding is a good integrated weed management technique.

Things to Consider

Field topography. Shallow seeding into dry hilly land may result in uneven emergence if seeds in low spots have enough moisture to germinate even without a rain event. However, in these fields, deep seeding to reach moisture may not necessarily be an improvement. Uneven emergence is still a strong possibility. The good news is that seeds emerging first in these lower areas may mature later due to better moisture and fertility, so in the end, differences in emergence date between low spots and hill tops may even out later in the season.

Soil type. Growers may get away with deeper seeding — at 1-inch instead of 1/2 an inch — in lighter soils. Sandier soil tends to dry out faster on top, so moisture and seedbed conditions would be better at this slightly deeper depth.

The tillage effect. In tilled fields, the top layer will be dusty in dry conditions, so seeding at 1 inch instead of 1/2 -inch could be a benefit. No till is ideally suited to areas that tend to be dry.

Seeding rate. Seeding deeper than recommended will often require a higher seeding rate to meet target plant stands, given that seedling mortality will be higher in deep soils — especially with the added stress of dry conditions.

Seed-placed fertilizer. Dry conditions increase the risks from fertilizer damage to seed and seedlings. Take extra care in dry conditions to limit seed-placed fertilizer to no more than 20 pounds an acre of phosphate. Turn off seed-placed fertilizer for 50-100 feet to leave a couple of checks. Evaluate strips to see how seed-placed fertilizer influenced the stand.

Clubroot. Seeding in dry conditions and waiting for moisture will reduce the risk of spreading clubroot versus seeding into moist soils because less soil will cling to implements.

If Dry Conditions Continue into Late May

Seeding depth strategy can change with the warm soils of late May. Seeding deeper to hit moisture will hasten germination and crop establishment in fields where the top 1 inch is too dry to allow germination and emergence.

But how deep? Going at 1-1/2 inches to put seed on or in moisture might improve emergence if soils are also warm and there’s no rain in the immediate forecast. If considering deeper seeding, spend extra time checking placement both across the drill and in several adjacent rows to make sure that all openers are seeding at the intended depth. (Seeding tool tips from Canola Encyclopedia.)

Note that rain or wind can level seeding furrows and create a much deeper seeding depth than intended, so chasing soil moisture becomes riskier if plant establishment isn’t then guaranteed to be rapid.

Here are some tips:

Seed doesn’t have to be IN moisture. Seed placed on moisture is OK when seeding deeper because the additional soil above the seed row slows that moisture loss. Make sure the seed row is well packed to seal in that moisture, allow for some moisture migration, provide good seed-to-soil contact, and prevent further drying out.

Recognize that deeper seeding will increase seed and seedling mortality. Add 10% to the seeding rate to compensate.

Deeper seeding can increase seedling disease risk. Part of the increased mortality with deep seeding is due to increased exposure to seedling pathogens. Deeper seeding means more plant material underground – material that is exposed to pathogens. Seedlings stressed to reach the surface due to deep seedling may also be more vulnerable to disease. This seedling disease risk can be higher in fields with canola in shorter rotations.

Put starter phosphate in the seed row. Keep to the recommended safe rates of phosphorus, which is about 20 pounds of actual phosphate per acre — or lower depending on your seedbed utilization. The nitrogen component of ammonium phosphate can damage seed and seedlings at rates higher than that. This risk is higher in dry conditions.

Waiting for rain has risks: (1) Seeding could be further delayed if rains are heavy. (2) Muddy conditions do not always result in ideal seed placement. (3) Moist conditions will increase the amount of soil — and potentially clubroot — spread around the farm.

Consider the crusting risk. For heavier soils, a rain before canola emergence could create a crust above the seed row. Because deep seeded canola tends to take longer to emerge, the risk of rain before emergence is higher. Bare soils are more prone to crusting than soils with higher surface residue. More on crusting.

Heavy rain could also fill in drill runs. Instead of 1.5 inches of soil cover, it could be 3 inches if the drill and packer combination creates a deep seed trench that fills with mud after a rain.

Slow down when seeding deep to more closely manage seed depth for all rows. At higher speeds, back rows tend to throw more dirt over the front rows.