Row spacing influences crop establishment, canopy development and competition for resources throughout the growing season. To better understand how row spacing in canola and wheat affects crop performance, Väderstad conducted a canola and wheat row spacing trial near Crossfield, Alberta, Canada. The trial evaluated how different row spacings influenced crop development and yield under the growing conditions experienced in 2025.
Row spacing influences how crops utilise light, moisture and nutrients throughout the growing season. It also affects canopy development and the crop's ability to compete with weeds.
As herbicide resistance becomes increasingly important in many cropping systems, row spacing can play a role in supporting cultural weed control strategies. Narrower row spacing may contribute to faster canopy closure, reducing the opportunity for weeds to establish.
Different crops can respond differently to row spacing. The trial focused on three practical questions:
The row spacing trial was conducted through a collaboration between Väderstad, Gatez Farms, Crop Intelligence and TLC Agronomics near Crossfield, Alberta, Canada. The trial was seeded on 12 May 2025.
Two canola trial fields, referred to as F1 and P3, were included in the trial. Wheat was evaluated in a separate trial field.
The trial evaluated crop performance at different row spacings using Seed Hawk drilling equipment and Twin-Wing seed knife technology. Crop Intelligence provided weather stations and soil moisture sensors to monitor moisture levels in one canola trial field and in the wheat trial field throughout the season.
The trial compared:
Both row spacings were evaluated in canola and wheat. Wheat was evaluated using two seeding rates, 20 and 27 seeds/ft², to assess the combined effect of row spacing and plant population.
The growing season started with dry conditions that persisted until mid-June. Substantial rainfall during June and July created favourable conditions for crop growth and supported strong crop development through to harvest.
The canola trials indicated a yield advantage with 12-inch row spacing in both trial fields.
Field |
Row spacing (in) |
Yield (bu/ac) |
|
F1
|
12
|
76.5
|
|
F1
|
10
|
75.1
|
|
P3
|
12
|
66.4
|
|
P3
|
10
|
64.6
|
The report suggests that the wider spacing may have benefited the growth habit of canola plants by providing additional space for canopy development.
The wheat trial showed a yield advantage at 10-inch row spacing.
Row spacing (in) |
Seeding rate (seeds/ft²) |
Yield (bu/ac) |
|
12
|
20
|
82.6
|
|
12
|
27
|
80.2
|
|
10
|
20
|
84.5
|
|
10
|
27
|
82.7
|
The report attributes the stronger performance at 10-inch spacing to improved canopy closure associated with narrower row spacing.
The results suggest that row spacing affected the two crops differently.
Canola benefited from the wider spacing tested in the trial, while wheat achieved greater yield response with narrower spacing. These findings highlight the importance of adapting row spacing strategies according to crop type and production goals.
The findings show that there is no single row spacing strategy that delivers the highest performance across all crops.
In this trial, canola achieved the strongest results at 12-inch spacing, while wheat performed best at 10-inch spacing. This demonstrates how crop characteristics and canopy development can influence the optimum row spacing choice.
The trial also highlights the importance of evaluating row spacing as part of a broader establishment strategy that includes seeding rate, crop type, moisture conditions and weed management objectives.
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