Rapeseed (Trophy)
$2.50
Bulk Discount Pricing
Rape’s rapid forage growth produces quality pasture equivalent to alfalfa, with a crude protein value around 16-17%. Boasted for its nutrient scavenging abilities, rape can accumulate potentially large amounts of residual N up to 120lbs N/A. Also, root exudates secreted by rape are known to aid in turning insoluble P into a more available form. Rapes seed cost is by far the cheapest of all the brassica species, generally less than $1/lb. Adding rape in between wheat crops has been shown to greatly reduce take-all in wheat. Rape has an excellent, deep penetrating tap-root with a dense fibourous root mass surrounding the tuber.
Basic Info
Use
Rape is a versatile, cool season winter or spring annual brassica, that can be utilized in a wide array of mixtures. This brassica can provide a great emergency forage source in just 8-10 weeks which can be grazed multiple times. Use rape in spring mixtures where a brassica is desired because it will be the slowest species in the brassica family to flower and produce seed. This will allow your mixture to grow longer before termination is required. Rapes yellow flowers attract many benefical insects, such as the hoverflies which larvae are known to prey on aphids. Rape produces glucosinolates, which biofumigates the soil during decomposition proving to be toxic to many soil pathogens and pests.
*Based on a 1-10 scale. 1 = Poor : 5 = Average : 10 = Excellent
Advantages
Rape's rapid forage growth produces quality pasture equivalent to alfalfa, with a crude protein value around 16-17%. Boasted for its nutrient scavenging abilities, rape can accumulate potentially large amounts of residual N up to 120lbs N/A. Also, root exudates secreted by rape are known to aid in turning insoluble P into a more available form. Rapes seed cost is by far the cheapest of all the brassica species, generally less than $1/lb. Adding rape in between wheat crops has been shown to greatly reduce take-all in wheat. Rape has an excellent, deep penetrating tap-root with a dense fibourous root mass surrounding the tuber.
*Based on a 1-10 scale. 1 = Poor : 5 = Average : 10 = Excellent
Disadvantages
Be sure not to add rape into a rotation where another brassica is desired for harvest, due to the potential for disease transfer. Brassicas actively growing when days are getting longer, will flower and produce seed. Be sure to terminate before seed set to avoid a serious weed issue. Rape isn't known to aid in boosting mycorrizal populations. Mature rape plants can prove difficult to terminate with just a glyphosate application. It's suggested to apply more than 1-quart/acre of glyphosate but more importantly you should apply a broadleaf herbicide as well to aid in termination. Bio-toxic effects from decomposing, green plant material can stunt a cash crop and is most severe when the plant material is worked into the soil profile. Therefore planting should be delayed until rape biomass has mostly decomposed.
*Based on a 1-10 scale. 1 = Poor : 5 = Average : 10 = Excellent
Planting
Rape is easy to establish when soil temperatures range from 45-85F and emergence will occur within 4-10 days. Broadcast seeding rape is very effective as long as moisture is available. Drilled applications can utilize alfalfa settings to achieve the desired pounds of seed per acre. Seeding rape can occur through out much of the growing season but know that plantings before June 21st will result in less biomass and root development due to the plants desire to bolt and produce seed. Brassicas such as rape are known to be susceptible to residual broadleaf herbicides. Rape needs sufficient N and S for optimum growth. The ideal N to S ratio is 7:1. Sulfur is needed by the plant to produce glucosinolates, which contributes to the bio-fumigant effect.
Tolerance
Excellent winter hardiness makes rape an excellent choice to add to overwintering mixtures. Rape has been documented to survive in temperatures sustained down to 10F. Rapes cold tolerance can be increased when protected by other plant biomass. Winter survival increases when plants are given enough time to grow 6-8 leaves on the rosette before the first killing frost. But, if not the young plants maybe highly susceptible to soil heaving. Rape prefers well drained soils but can be grown in a range of soil types down to somewhat poorly drained. But, rape doesn't have much tolerance for ponding or flooding, especially at establishment. This species would be a good choice in soils with salinity issues. Shading is tolerated but will result in less biomass and root production.
*Based on a 1-10 scale. 1 = Poor : 5 = Average : 10 = Excellent