Agricultural Science Teachers Presentation Oilseed Rape Maize Geraldine

Agricultural Science Teachers Presentation Oilseed Rape Maize Geraldine Hynes B. Agr. Sc. H. D. B. S. Teagasc Drystock Advisor Claremorris Co Mayo

Learning Outcome l 3. 3. (a) Describe the growth cycle of an energy or catch crop (HL only) l 3. 3. 3 (a) Discuss harvesting techniques & storage methods for an energy or catch crop (HL only)

Oil Seed Rape Source IRL `90 s `05 World wide source of Vegetable oil 6000 ha – UK for processing CAP economically unattractive 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 l l l l 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 Cyst eelworm leave 2 yrs Good as break crop - Deep roots improve soil structure

Establishment l l l l l Winter OSR Mid Aug (North) – Mid Sept (South ) 60 -80 seeds/m 2 30 -50 plants/m 2 in spring Allows sufficient light to base , encourage branching and pod numbers Spring OSR Mid March - April 100 -120 seeds/m 2 Fine firm level seed bed depth 1. 5 cm Ploughing one pass drilling In dry conditions to avoid compaction Roll - firm seed bed -Moisture retention

Varieties Spring OSR l 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 1 yr 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 ------ Castille 100 111 8 8 5

Lime and Fertiliser l l l l l PH 6. 5 N 130 -150 kgs. N/ha. P + K Soil index 3 20 kgs P 35 kgs K /ha. e. g. 400 kg/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 20 kgs. ha Boron deficiency common especially in drought conditions Apply Bo fertilizer / Solubar spray @5 -10 kgs. /ha.

Weed Control l l l Pre sowing Incorporate Treflan (Chickweed/Fat Hen/Speedweel Pre emergence Trifuralin /Butisan (Knotgrass / Mayweeds) Post emergence Kerb Flow grass weeds broadleaf weeds

Disease l l l 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 l l l l 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 -7 weeks 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 2. 5 - 4. 3 711 Yield Tons/ha Materials Seed fertiliser sprays Hire Machinery Plough roll 462 till harvest Total Variable costs 1173 Gross Margin excl premia -€ 65 500 SOSR 1. 7 - 3. 1 536 380 616 -€ 63 368

Maize l l l l 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 l l l l 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 l Requires 10° C l Ontario Heat units (based on max min temp e. g crop needs 2400 OHU from sowing to harvest l Ireland south of line from Dundalk to Fermoy back up to Galway l Outside this will grow but yield poor

Site Selection (cont`d) l Sheltered fields l Well drained good soil l Southerly Aspect so max. sunlight &temp long growing season l Good access to facilitate slurry in Spring harvesting in Autumn l Grown continuously without rotational constraints

Variety l Good yield l Maturity date l Lodging resistance l Disease Resistance l DAFF Recommended list

Sowing date l l l l Requires 10 C Seed sown in cold soils poor emergence and vigour April 20 th complete May 10 th Seed rate 105, 000 to 110, 000/ha 1 acre 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 l should supply most of P&K l Nitrogen 80 - 225 kgs /ha. l Phosphorous 10 - 70 kgs l Potash 100 - 285 kgs l

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

Sowing l l l Precision drill in rows 70 -75 cm apart at a depth of 4 cm 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 l l l l Perennial weeds Scutch/ Docks in Autumn with Round up ? ? (C `ant plough grassland between October 15 and Dec 1 0(Green cover 6 wks) 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 l l l l l 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 l Chop length 1 - 1. 5 cm so most grains are ruptured l By varying the no blades and speed of feed roller l Generally no additive used

Cost Maize Seed/Reseding 185 Fertilizer 364 Seedbed prep 185 Spraying slurry 36 Harvest into pit 300 Covering Total 1148 Cost /ton DM 91 Grass silage 20 260 15 63 453 855 118

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 40 @€ 185 25 -30