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A joint initiative from BASF, Monsanto, Yara on oilseed rape
Sep. 18, 2014
BASF Agricultural Solutions
GermanyFollow
GermanyOilseed rape is a key crop for the UK agricultural industry, with a strong history and good potential to develop further. At the same time the technical environment is changing, with perhaps the greatest significant agronomic and legislative challenges the crop has ever faced.
Mark Tucker, Yara, Chief Agronomist-North East Europe points out that The HGCA Report 502 and the HGCA Oilseed Guide, updated in January 2014, highlighted a number of issues or uncertainties around varietal choice, fertiliser use, rotations and crop protection. “It stated that there was around a 3t/ha yield gap between the current varietal potential and farm yields. 5-6 t/ha yields are being achieved in isolated fields or blocks, so it is possible. The Report also quotes “To restore rising yields in the face of warmer conditions, economic or environmental pressures and evolving weeds, pests or disease threats, a more holistic approach to agronomy is needed.”
Mark explains that with the three partner's strengths in crop protection, plant breeding and plant nutrition, the 3 x 3 Initiative aims to utilise the teams' extensive know-how and resources to help provide solutions to meet these challenges in a holistic way. Based on the key farm drivers of yield, profit and sustainability, the partnership will focus on two key pillars; good management and the need for a sustainable approach. “The initial work concentrates on ensuring early rapid establishment and the management of rapid autumn growth.”
Kuldip Mudhar, Germplasm Advancement Manager for the breeder Monsanto, emphasizes the importance of good establishment and the current agronomic trends for rape varieties, many of which focus on this aspect. “Currently hybrids account for 54% of the UK market, the trend towards hybrids is helped by high output varieties that exploit hybrid vigour. Modern hybrids have become increasingly valued for their ability to develop strongly ahead of winter. Some hybrids are noticeably more vigorous in their establishment than others. These hybrids have the ability to establish robust, well-rooted plants with a good tap root, are best able to cope with challenging UK conditions and can minimize the risk from flea beetle and slugs, thereby maximizing successful establishment under difficult conditions.”
Mark Tucker of Yara concurs that better establishment is the key for success in oilseed rape, yet he reports autumn nutrition becoming less popular due to NVZ and other legislation as well as lack of conclusive evidence. He also reports that 70 to 80% of the UK crop is deficient of micronutrients especially Boron. “Boron is necessary for shoot and root development, yet 60% of rape crops will not get any treatment. Our trials show a 7 to 11% yield increase.”
William Reyer, BASF, Marketing Manager, Field Crops has studied seeding rates and tilling as part of good establishment. He reports that the trend for weed control in rape has moved from a basic pre-emergence to a broad-spectrum, more consistent, pre-em or early post-em herbicide such as Shadow or Springbok. “Trials show significant yield can be saved by using early applications. Using a low seed rate (50 seeds/m² for the OP Castille or 30 seeds/m² for the hybrid Excalibur), early weed removal could result in a mean yield increase of 2.3 t/ha. For higher seed rates, the extra yield for early weed removal is 1.1 t/ha.”
Source: BASF News Release
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