Sowing Rapeseed in August or September: Key Factors for Farmers to Consider
Winter rape, a staple crop in many agricultural regions, is benefiting from advancements in cultivation techniques and breeding practices. These improvements are leading to higher quality yields and more efficient harvesting.
During the fruit and grain formation phase, optimal lighting, daytime temperatures up to 25°C, and nighttime temperatures up to 10°C are advantageous for the quality and yield of winter rape. This optimal environment allows the crop to thrive and produce a bountiful harvest.
One of the key factors contributing to the efficiency of winter rape harvest is the delay in straw maturity. This delay provides farmers with the opportunity for targeted logistical planning of the harvesting window, particularly for managing sites in different climatic zones or larger areas. The delay also allows for a wider harvesting window due to genetically anchored pod shatter resistance and kernel robustness.
When it comes to timing, it's important to avoid temporal overlaps with the harvest of early-ripening wheat varieties. If rapeseed cultivars with slightly delayed maturity are considered in the crop plan, this can help prevent such overlaps. At stages five and six, the optimal harvesting capability shifts roughly by one to three days relative to grain maturity.
Over the past three decades, winter rape has entered generative development phases earlier on average. Bud formation and the beginning of flowering now occur about 15 to 17 days earlier. However, the period between the beginning of flowering and harvest has increased by about 17 days on average, thanks to the delayed ripening of the straw.
For sowing oilseed rape (Brassica napus) in December, winter-hardy, early-maturing winter rapeseed varieties are best suited. These varieties can withstand cold conditions and establish before spring, ensuring good overwintering and yield. The current rape portfolio is more differentiated in terms of the delayed ripening of the straw, with newer breeds showing an increase in straw ripening delay from expression levels four to six. Expression level four in straw ripening delay means that the stand has achieved optimal combine suitability when the grain reaches maturity.
Strong Phoma resistance can contribute to a significant delay in straw maturity in certain varieties, potentially impacting the harvesting schedule. As such, farmers should carefully consider the resistance levels of the varieties they choose to cultivate.
By understanding and implementing these factors, farmers can optimise their winter rape harvest, leading to increased efficiency and productivity.
