Suggestions for companion cropping rape??

I have a few thoughts about this.

Here we are recommended to apply 60 kg N in the fall to get the OSR big enough for winter. If I do that and then companion sow clover with the OSR, will the clover just steal some of the N instead of fixating it itself? Otherwise I'm thinking of a mix of annual and perennial clover (one to release nutrients in the spring, the other to have a green cover still after harvest). Probably some phacelia too or something else to make way for OSR roots. What about companion sowing oil radish, at low rate, to create highways for the OSR roots if there are compaction issues in parts of the field?
 

Louis Mc

Member
Location
Meath, Ireland
I have a few thoughts about this.

Here we are recommended to apply 60 kg N in the fall to get the OSR big enough for winter. If I do that and then companion sow clover with the OSR, will the clover just steal some of the N instead of fixating it itself? Otherwise I'm thinking of a mix of annual and perennial clover (one to release nutrients in the spring, the other to have a green cover still after harvest). Probably some phacelia too or something else to make way for OSR roots. What about companion sowing oil radish, at low rate, to create highways for the OSR roots if there are compaction issues in parts of the field?
How would you kill the oil raddish? It would go to seed with the osr and not be ideal?
Phacelia would probably frost kill just about... Clover is good but will it establish well enough at that time of year and can you keep it alive despite herbicides/dessication?
 

Great In Grass

Member
Location
Cornwall.
Berseem Clover/Vetch, will scavenge nutrients including N, improves soil friability & porosity. It can also help reduce grass weeds and control blackgrass. There is some evidence that this mix can also help reduce slug & flea beetle activity.
 
Location
Cambridge
This year I'm going to major on buckwheat and vetch, but I am also trying berseem. I'll probably throw in some fenugreek and lentils again to bulk it out and give some extra variety.

I'd think putting another brassica in there is a major no-no, unless you're using Clearfield.
 

Louis Mc

Member
Location
Meath, Ireland
This year I'm going to major on buckwheat and vetch, but I am also trying berseem. I'll probably throw in some fenugreek and lentils again to bulk it out and give some extra variety.

I'd think putting another brassica in there is a major no-no, unless you're using Clearfield.
Is your vetch winter killing or are you spraying it out with something?
 

Cow1

Member
Berseem Clover/Vetch, will scavenge nutrients including N, improves soil friability & porosity. It can also help reduce grass weeds and control blackgrass. There is some evidence that this mix can also help reduce slug & flea beetle activity.

Great in Grass, Can you give us a rough rate and price for Berseem clover when cropped alongside WOSR?
 

Great In Grass

Member
Location
Cornwall.
Great in Grass, Can you give us a rough rate and price for Berseem clover when cropped alongside WOSR?
We put 2kgs in the mix with vetch to make 6kg total so I would think you would be looking at between 3 & 5kg/acre. Excessive rates will create an overly thick stand that prevents tillering and spreading of the root crowns so perhaps 3kg as a starting point.

Oops! Edit I've gone the wrong way, either stick with 2kg or 1.5kg could be even better.:rolleyes:
 
Last edited:

Louis Mc

Member
Location
Meath, Ireland
Adding diversity is the main aim, if I can nutrients more available to the rape then all the better. Increase root mass in soil to improve structure another aim. Will be direct drilledwith 750a or Claydon
 
How would you kill the oil raddish? It would go to seed with the osr and not be ideal?
Phacelia would probably frost kill just about... Clover is good but will it establish well enough at that time of year and can you keep it alive despite herbicides/dessication?

I had hoped it would die of frost but perhaps that won't happen here either.

@dontknowanything Do/can you use any broad-leaf herbicide in autumn with those mixes?
 

Shutesy

Moderator
Arable Farmer
So if I had a 10acre pack of OSR seed say 10kg as an example, mixed it with 15kg (1.5kg/ac) of Berseem clover and Vetch mix and sowed it with my strip till drill at 1kg/acre of OSR + 1.5kg/ac companion crop so 2.5kg/ac actual seedrate, can anyone see why this wouldn't work? Will get 30kg/ha N at drilling and Centurion Max in the autumn and Astrokerb once cold enough. What would be left growing in the spring assuming we had a few frosts? And as @dontknowanything says above would Shield kill whatever might be left in the spring leaving a lovely crop of OSR :)?
 

Cow1

Member
Alternatively, could you spin the clover etc on before hand then strip till the rape hoping that the drilling and subsequent rolling would assist the clover to grow and then it would grow in between the rows of rape?
 
So.... If your going to put a clover/ vetch / buckwheat companion in the WOSR crop how do you plan to apply herbicides ??
Or do you not us herbs & hope clover / vetch drowns out weeds. .??
Confused.com ;)
 

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