A Multi-Criteria Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Nitrogen and Sulfur Fertilization in Different Cultivars of Winter Rapeseed—Productivity, Economic and Energy Balance

Abstract

This article presents the results of a three-year experiment involving a multi-criteria evaluation (productivity, economic and energy balance) of the effectiveness of nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) fertilization in different cultivars of winter oilseed rape (open-pollinated, semi-dwarf hybrid, long-stem hybrid) grown in north-eastern (NE) Poland. The yield of the semi-dwarf cultivar was 11% lower than the yield of the long-stem hybrid cultivar and 18% higher than the yield of the open-pollinated cultivar. In all cultivars, N fertilization improved yields up to a rate of 180 kg ha−1 and up to a rate of 230 kg ha−1 in years with low precipitation in spring and summer. Seed yield increased in all cultivars in response to S fertilization at 40 kg ha−1. Higher rates of N fertilizer decreased the content of crude fat and glucosinolates (GLS) and increased the concentration of total protein in all cultivars. Sulfur fertilization increased the content of total protein (in long-stem cultivars) and GLS (in all cultivars). Production costs ranged from €542–624 ha−1 (≤130 kg N ha−1) to €619–697 ha−1 (≥180 kg N ha−1). The demand for energy in the production of winter rapeseed ranged from 14.5–19.3 GJ ha−1 (≤130 kg N ha−1) to 22.4–27.0 GJ ha−1 (≥180 kg N ha−1).

The Effect of Meat and Bone Meal (MBM) on the Seed Yield and Quality of Winter Oilseed Rape

“…The observed increase in oilseed rape yields can be attributed not only to breeding progress and modern production technology, but also to higher agricultural inputs. Fertilization continues to be the main yield-forming factor in the cultivation of winter oilseed rape [1,3,5,6,8,26,28,29]. The use of MBM as a substitute for mineral fertilizers provides both economic and environmental benefits [12,[16][17][18].…”

“…It appears that the higher rate of supplemental mineral N (79 kg ha −1 ) contributed to a decrease in the crude fat content of seeds and an increase in the total protein content of seeds. Higher levels of N fertilization usually lead to a decrease in crude fat concentration and a simultaneous increase in total protein concentration in the seeds of winter oilseed rape [5,29,32,33]. Seeds of the currently cultivated winter oilseed rape varieties contain approximately 400-420 g kg −1 DM fat and 220-235 g kg −1 DM protein [34].…”

“…Modern breeding programs focus on improving the qualitative traits of rapeseed, including the concentrations and composition of fatty acids, protein content and fiber content, as well as stress tolerance. Breeding progress, in particular the development of hybrid varieties, has also contributed to a considerable increase in yields [2][3][4][5][6].…”

Area under Rapeseed Cultivation as a Factor Differentiating the Economic Performance of Biodiesel Producers

“…Energies 2021, 14, 8568 2 of 22 One of such green energy sources is biofuels. The problem of biofuel production has been described in existing literature.…”

“…Previous papers have presented environmental and economic factors shaping the efficiency of rapeseed farms in Poland [19]. Fertilization as a factor shaping the yield of oilseed rape is also described in the literature [21,22]. Attention has also been focused on the optimization of rapeseed production [23].…”