ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Plant Sci.
Sec. Crop and Product Physiology
Canola grain yield and quality response to sunnhemp cover crop, combined nano zinc and copper and nitrogen fertiliser application under different agroecological zones
Provisionally accepted
- 1University of Limpopo, polokwane, South Africa
- 2Department of Plant Production, Soil Science and Agricultural Engineering, University of Limpopo, Private Bag X 1106, Sovenga 0727, South Africa, Polokwane, South Africa
- 3University of Limpopo, polokwane, South Africa, Polokwane, South Africa
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Canola production requires considerable nitrogen fertilisation, which negatively impacts the environment. This study evaluated the effects of Sunn hemp cover crop, nano zinc and copper, and nitrogen fertiliser on grain, oil and protein yields at Syferkuil and Ofcolaco during 2023 and 2024. Cover crop was planted, slashed, and incorporated into the soil 60 days after planting, then followed by canola in a split split-plot design with 16 treatments and 3 replications. Statistical analysis was conducted using JASP software 0.19.3. Results showed increases in grain yield (17% to 43%), oil yield (21% to 68%), and protein yield (21% to 47%) with cover crop incorporation, although location-specific variances were noted. At Syferkuil, nano zinc and copper enhanced grain yield by 15% to 17% and protein yield by 16% to 27%. Nitrogen fertilisation at 120 kgN ha-1 also resulted in higher oil yields, which was comparable to 180 kgN ha-1, although this varied across seasons and locations. Overall, cover crop, nano zinc and copper can reduce nitrogen inputs while maintaining oil yield depending on specific conditions.
Keywords: Canola production, Oil yield, cover crop, Nanofertiliser, Protein yield, agroecological zones
Received: 16 Sep 2025; Accepted: 04 Nov 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Mokgophi, Ayisi, Kgopa and Kena. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Mahlare Mapula Mokgophi, mahlaremokgophi@gmail.com
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