Effect of Concentration and Time of Foliar Spraying of Nitrogen Fertilizer on Grain Yield and Important Traits of Rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) cv. Hyola 401

In order to evaluate the effect of concentration and time of foliar spraying of nitrogen fertilizer as supplemenfary to soil nutrition on grain yield and some important traits of rapeseed (Hyola401), an experiment was conducted in complete randomized block design with 16 treatments and three replications in in 2008-2009, 2009-2010 growing seasons, and in 2003-2005 growing seasons in paddy fields of Rice Research Institute of Iran (Rasht). In this experiment, nitrogen concentration (from urea source) at two levels (5 and 100.00) and application time at seven levels including 1-seedling stage: 6-8 leaves; 2: beginning of stem elongation; 3: prior to flowering; 4: 6-8 leaves + stem elongation; 5: 6-8 leaves + prior to flowering; 6: stem elongation+ prior to flowering; 7: 6-8 leaves + stem elongation+ prior to flowering with two control treatments including zero nitrogen fertilizer and basal fertilization as 1/3 at seed sowing, 1/3 at stem elongation and 1/3 prior to flowering stages of 180 kg pure N ha were considered. Results of combined analysis showed significant differences between the experimental treatments in most traits. Spray application of nitrogen (100.00) in stem elongation+prior to flowering stage produced maximum silique length (6.8 cm), number of secondary branch (7.1) and plant height (141.1 cm). Also, the spray application (100.00) in 6-8 leaves+stem elongation+ prior to flowering stage had maximum biological yield (10684.6 kg.ha-1), grain and oil yields (3686.2 and 1489.3 kg.ha-1, respectively) and the maturity period (202 days). Spray application (100.00) in stem elongation+ prior to flowering stage did not induce significant difference with spray application (100.00) in the three stages. Maximum oil content was observed in control treatment (zero nitrogen fertilizer) with an average of (44 %). According to the results of the present experiment, it seems that spray application of nitrogen (100.00) at final growth stage of rapeseed (stem elongation+ prior to flowering stage) increases grain and oil yields.