The harvest of oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.): The effective yield losses at on-farm scale in the Italian area

The oilseed rape is an interesting oil crop for energy production. In Italy there are many potential available areas for crop cultivation thanks to adequate rainfall and mild winters. The diffusion of rapeseed is restrained by the significant seed losses caused by mechanical harvesting and meteorological events. Aim of the study was to determine the effective seed losses taking into account all the phases of harvesting, from ripening to harvest, at on-farm scale. The combine used for mechanical harvester was equipped with two different header: a grain head and a specific oilseed rape head. The lost seed was collected by appropriate trays inserted between the crop rows on the ground, before and during the harvesting. The specific oilseed rape head permitted a general reduction of the seed losses, below the ranges reported in literature, and a more precise determination of the point where the losses were higher, as the terminus parts of the head. ► The mechanical harvesting of oilseed rape is considered responsible for significant yield losses. ► The trials has been performed at on-farm scale using the mechanical solutions available. ► The data allowed us to quantify and localize at level of combine harvest the seed losses in the open field.