Quick agronomy facts:
| Oilseed Rape | ||
| Seed Rate kg/Ha | 3 – 6 | |
| Nitrogen (N) kg/Ha | up to 210 | |
| Phosphate (P) kg/Ha | 50 | |
| Potash (K) kg/Ha | 40 | |
| Av . Yield t/Ha | 3.7 |
Other Key Points
Typical Protein & Oil Contents
| Oilseed Rape – harvested Protein Oil | 38% 45% |
| Oilseed Meal = (after crushed for oil) Oil Protein | 6-36% 28 – 45% |
Storage
| Recommended Moisture Content for long term storage | 8% m.c. at 100C |
Typical Weeds, Pests, Diseases
| Weeds | thistles, cleavers, mayweed, and poppies |
| Pests | Slugs, Aphids, Pollen Beetle, Flea Beetle, Pigeons |
| Diseases: | Light leaf spot, Sclerotinia, Phoma, Alternaria. Club root |
Cultivating Success: An Apprentice’s Guide to Crop Husbandry
🚜 UK Cropping Systems PLUS
🚜 Stage 1: UK Cropping Systems
Fill in the gaps:
UK farms grow crops such as , and .
🧪 Why are rotations used?
Pt 2
🌱 Stage 2: Soil
Starter: Write 3 things you know about soil
🌍 What is soil made of?
🧪 Check your understanding
- List 3 things soil is made of
- Which soil drains fastest?
- Why is soil non-renewable?
Which soil drains fastest?
✔ Sandy soil (large particles, big pores)
Pt 3
🌿 Stage 3: Establishment
🌱 What do seeds need?
🌾 Ideal seedbed
- Fine tilth
- Moist not wet
- Firm not compacted
What happens if seed rate is too high?
✔ More disease, competition, lower yield
Pt 4
🛠️ Stage 4: Cultivations
List cultivation methods you know:
Why do we cultivate?
- Seedbed preparation
- Weed control
- Improve soil structure
- Incorporate organic matter
Why do we cultivate before drilling?
✔ To create the ideal conditions for germination and growth
Pt 5
🌾 Stage 5: Sowing & Drilling
What happens if you throw seeds on the ground?
Key factors:
- Seed rate
- Sowing depth
- Seedbed condition
What improves germination?
✔ Correct depth, moisture, and seed-to-soil contact
Pt 6
🌿 Stage 6: Crop Monitoring
Why do we monitor crops?
Why are growth stages important?
✔ They guide timing of inputs
Pt 7
📊 Stage 7: Crop Performance
List main costs and outputs:
What is gross margin?
✔ Output minus variable costs
Below is presentation which gives more details about Oilseeds grown in the UK.