Oilseed rape not an answer to soil compaction issues

Many growers may assume that oilseed rape, with its lengthy faucet root, is a solution to the issues brought on by soil compaction.

Nonetheless, based on Teagasc analysis scientist, Dermot Forristal, the polar reverse is the case.

He defined: “Oilseed rape doesn’t tolerate compacted floor situations. In such situations, the faucet root might effectively begin veering off to the left or proper, as soon as it encounters a compacted soil layer.

“The top lead to these circumstances is a big discount in yield.

“The best way to keep away from this occurring is to plan forward and to make use of institution techniques that truly ease compaction issues. Subject headlands are areas the place compaction points are almost definitely to come up.”

Oilseed rape

Forristal was talking on the latest version of the Tillage Edge podcast.

He was joined by Teagasc tllage specialist Shay Phelan, who confirmed that oilseed rape is usually a very delicate crop, notably throughout its first weeks of development.

“Oilseed rape may be very predisposed to pest assault throughout a crop’s institution part,” Phelan additional defined.

“Within the first occasion, farmers needs to be searching for slugs. Subject historical past can also be a vital issue on this regard.”

Pest administration

The tillage specialist is conscious of the necessity for farmers to make use of an built-in pest administration strategy to slug management – within the first occasion.

He defined:

“Previous to sowing, growers ought to put some slug traps so as to gauge how large a possible drawback there is perhaps. However in instances the place the difficulty is prone to trigger actual issues, the choice of placing out slug pellets with the seed at planting will be thought of.

The opposite pest-related drawback that will get quite a lot of air play, notably within the UK, is cabbage stem flea beetle.

“The matter has develop into such a problem within the UK that some growers have given up rising the crop for that purpose,” stated Phelan.

The beetles bore a gap within the cotyledon of the rising OSR plant. They will then go on to decimate a crop, particularly in dry situations.

As a result of damper climate tends to predominate at time of sowing on this aspect of the Irish Sea, cabbage stem flea beetle tends to be much less of an issue in Eire.

“Pigeon grazing is usually a actual drawback, notably in late planted rape crops,” Shay Phelan added nevertheless.

“It has been identified for pigeons to tug September oilseed rape crops immediately out of the bottom. It’s because they’re much less effectively established and development has very a lot stopped by that point of the yr.”