Agricultural Science Teachers

Presentation Oilseed Rape Maize Geraldine Hynes B.Agr.Sc. H.D.B.S.Teagasc Drystock AdvisorClaremorris Co Mayo (094 ) 9371360

Dec 09

Oil Seed Rape

Source World wide source of Vegetable oilIRL `90s 6000ha – UK for processing CAP economically unattractive `05 SFP and energy premium Energy Crop Scheme €45 /ha max National top up €80/ha max 37.5 ha

+ demand from local bio fuel processors grown on contract Quinns Baltinglass, Glanbia Ireland 4500 ha

Rotation and Soils

Free draining Med heavy Soil Poor yield light /waterlogged soils Ph 6.3 OSR Brassica crop Previously Brassicas Club root leave 4 yrs Previously Sugar Beet Beet Cyst eelworm

leave 2 yrs Good as break crop - Deep roots improve soil

structure

Establishment

Winter OSR Mid Aug (North) – Mid Sept (South ) 60-80seeds/m2 30-50plants/m2 in spring Allows sufficient light to base ,encourage branching

and pod numbers Spring OSR Mid March - April 100-120 seeds/m2 Fine firm level seed bed depth 1.5cm Ploughing one pass drilling In dry conditions to avoid compaction Roll - firm seed bed -Moisture retention

Varieties Spring OSR

HGCA List UK Home Grown Cereal Authority Variety Yield % Standing

Ability

Straw

Shortness

Earliness Maturity

Dorothy 97 8 8 6

Estrade 98 7 7 7

Heroes 101 7 5 5

Liasion 98 7 5 5

Topic 93 7 7 7

Varieties Winter OSR

Daff data

3 year

mean

Daff data

1yr results 2009

HCGA

Resistance to lodging

Shortness stem Light Leaf spot

Osprey 105 103 ------- ------ --------

NK Bavour 101 100 8 7 6

FLASH 115 122 7 6 6

Lioness ----- ----- 8 7 6

Epure 108 108 ------ ------ -----

Castille 100 111 8 8 5

Lime and Fertiliser

PH 6.5 N 130-150kgsN/ha. P + K Soil index 3 20kgs P 35 kgs K /ha. e.g. 400kg/ha 18 6 12 /ha and top dress post

emergence with Nitrogen 50% incorporated pre sowing / Vigorous growth Remainder rosette to early stem stage Sandy soils Sulphur deficiency 20kgs.ha Boron deficiency common especially in drought

conditions Apply Bo fertilizer / Solubar spray @5-10kgs./ha.

Weed Control

Pre sowing Incorporate Treflan (Chickweed/Fat

Hen/Speedweel Pre emergence Trifuralin /Butisan (Knotgrass / Mayweeds) Post emergence Kerb Flow grass weeds broadleaf weeds

Disease

Phoma leaf spot (Canker ) 25% reduction in yield

Light leaf spot 50% Sclerotina effects petals leaf stem 50% Alternaria pod spot WOSR I to 2 sprays of a fungicide to cover

above SOSR usually disease free

Harvesting

End July early August 90% seeds are black 1. Desication and direct combing weedy crops Glyophosphate products 14- 21 days pre harvest (2/3

pods are brown ) scutch/perennial weeds controled Diquat products 7-10 days pre harvest (Bottom pods

Brown /black : middle reddish brown ) 2. Swathing done in exposed locations 6-7weeks after the end flowering ( seeds top pods

turning green to brown : middle brown : lower pods dark brown )

7-14 days later combine seeds black Suits exposed weed free fields

Yields and Returns

WOSR SOSR

Yield Tons/ha 2.5 - 4.3 1.7- 3.1

Materials

Seed fertiliser sprays

711 536

Hire Machinery Plough roll till harvest

462 380

Total Variable costs 1173 616

Gross Margin excl premia -€65 - 500

-€63 - 368

Maize

Why grow High in energy less meals required Could replace 50% silage In cow increases intake by 10% increases milk fat and protein 3- 5% Cattle increased performance by 10% Easy to ensile Utilises slurry well

Feeding value

Protein 9%- 11 % low Grass silage 12-15% Introduce Maize Gradually Feed with long fibre hay /straw if main

roughage Minerals low so balance with Maize Balancer Maize silage spoils quicker than grass Don’t ruffle feed face esp. in mild weather Slightly Cheaper /ton dm €91 versus €118

grass silage

Site Selection

Requires 10° C Ontario Heat units (based on max min

temp e.g crop needs 2400 OHU from sowing to harvest

Ireland south of line from Dundalk to Fermoy back up to Galway

Outside this will grow but yield poor

Site Selection (cont`d)

Sheltered fieldsWell drained good soil Southerly Aspect so max. sunlight &temp

long growing season Good access to facilitate slurry in Spring

harvesting in AutumnGrown continuously without rotational

constraints

Variety

Good yield Maturity date Lodging resistance Disease Resistance DAFF Recommended list

Sowing date

Requires 10 C Seed sown in cold soils poor emergence and

vigour April 20 th complete May 10 th Seed rate 105,000 to110,000/ha 1acre packs Seed dressed soilborne diseases

and bird repellent Germination 90% Plant population 100,000 above this DM% is low and delay in maturing

Fertiliser

Cattle /Pig slurry Ploughed in Mar/Apr should supply most of P&KNitrogen 80 - 225kgs /ha.Phosphorous 10 - 70 kgsPotash 100- 285kgs

Seedbed Preparations

Has deep and flat rooted plant systemPlough Deep (10 - 13 cm ) Generally 2 passes power harrow Firm fine tilth similar to sugar beet Light rolling to ensure good consolation

Sowing

Precision drill in rows 70 -75 cm apart at a depth of 4cm in heavy soils 6 cm in light soils Too deep will delay emergence Plant at right angles to the prevailing wind to facilitate harvesting if lodged

Plastic photodegradable increases temp 3.5 C in May 3.9 C in June 1.0 C in July Cost €300/ha cost effective increases dm yield increases DM content increases starch content

Weed Pest Control

Perennial weeds Scutch/ Docks in Autumn with Round up ?? (C `ant plough grassland

between October 15 and Dec1 0(Green cover 6wks) Pre emergence Cadou Star Post emergence Dow Shield/Titus Annual weeds/Broadleaf weeds Pests not problem Leatherjackets /wireworms after grass Yaltox Frit fly Yellow dead central shoot Dursban

Harvesting

Unlike grass silage DMD does not fall rapidly DMD 68% ( range 60-72)

>30 % DM hard passes through animal High DM crops corn cracker used Harder to ensile Clamp consolidation More Aerobic deterioration 27% Grain med to hard dough stage Top of grain starting to dimple Harvest Sept. _ early maturing crops Harvest Oct _ Majority varieties

Harvesting Cont`d

Chop length 1- 1.5cm so most grains are ruptured

By varying the no blades and speed of feed roller

Generally no additive used

Cost

Maize Grass silage

Seed/Reseding 185 20

Fertilizer 364 260

Seedbed prep 185 15

Spraying slurry 36 63

Harvest into pit Covering

300 453

Total 1148 855

Cost /ton DM 91 118

Maize Versus Silage

Maize Gras silage

Protein % 9- 10 12-15

DM% 27-35 19-25

DMD % 68 60-75

Yield /ha 40-50 24-27

Value 1 ton Meals @€185

40 25-30

Thanks For your attention