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

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 euro542-624 ha(-1) (<= 130 kg N ha(-1)) to euro619-697 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)).