OILSEED RAPE

Oilseed rape is an important oilseed crop which can act as a profitable break crop to cereals.

Time of Sowing

Sow as soon as possible from mid-August (early sown crops tend to be more successful) up until early-mid September.

How to sow

Aim for a firm, fine seedbed (similar to a grass re-seed) while avoiding compaction. Traditional plough-till-sow provides consistent results, however using subsoiling equipment with sowing capability can also be successful provided conditions are suitable.

Sow to achieve an established plant stand rather than by seed weight. The target plant population (in the spring) is in the region of 25-30 plants/m2, evenly spaced across the field. Avoid sowing too heavily and take account of TGW as big variations can occur between varieties.

Nutrition

Apply phosphorus and potassium as per soil analysis requirements. Oilseed rape has a nitrogen requirement of 220kg/ ha (175 units/acre). Sulphur is an important nutrient in oilseed production and 50-80kg SO3/ha (40-65 units/acre).

Disease control

The man diseases of Oilseed rape are light leaf spot, phoma and stem canker. Oilseed rape is particularly vulnerable to pests such as slugs and pigeons.

Oilseed Rape

Spring Oilseed Rape

Lumen

• A high yielding hybrid variety.

• Medium stiff straw, early flowering, and medium maturity.

Winter Oilseed Rape

PT303

• A high-yielding hybrid variety.

• Tall, very stiff stem with high resistance to lodging.

• Medium earliness of flowering and medium maturity.

• High resistance to light leaf spot and medium resistance to stem canker.

Ambassador

• A high yielding hybrid variety.

• Medium height, very stiff stem with high resistance to lodging.

• Medium earliness of flowering and medium-early maturity.

• High resistance to light leaf spot and stem canker.

DK Exstar

• A high-yielding hybrid variety.

• Medium height, very stiff stem, and high resistance to lodging.

• Medium earliness of flowering and medium maturity.

• Very high resistance to light leaf spot and stem canker.

DK Expectation

• High yielding hybrid variety.

• Medium height, stiff stem, and high resistance to lodging.

• Early flowering variety with medium-early maturity.

• High resistance to light leaf spot and stem canker.