Rapeseed is very much a crop that needs to be approached very responsibly. However, in order to make a profit, you need to prepare well. If you plan to embark on this crop, it is worth learning the details of how to sow rapeseed, what dates are worth sticking to and how to avoid diseases. The cultivation process must be planned and executed from A to Z.

Position - What conditions must the soil for growing rapeseed meet?

Cultivation of rapeseed must be accompanied by steady rain. Precipitation should be between 600 and 700 mm. per year. At the same time, rapeseed needs fertile soil that contains nutrients. The best soil for rapeseed leaves previously sown cereals.

The ph reaction of the soil should be above 6.0, because at a lower one the plants will not develop a well-developed root system.

If our field has sandy, dry, undrained, acidic and peaty soils, the crop can be forgotten. Oilseed rape's potential increases when we provide it with access to the right amount of needed humus, calcium and nitrogen. The soil is the substrate in which everything begins, so well cared for in the spring when it needs the most water will yield a good crop.

A key aspect of rapeseed cultivation - Crop rotation

Crop rotation is a system of agricultural activities designed several years ahead. Observing the evolution played out in the fields, it is worth knowing that rapeseed cannot be sown simultaneously in succession. Such cultivation is forbidden due to the ease of cross-weed infestation. Loss of seed quality will lead to financial losses, making sowing unprofitable.

It is most often recommended to sow oilseed rape after grain-legume mixtures and after early potatoes. For winter rapeseed, winter cereals are the recommended predecessor, but the best choice will be bean crops such as:

• Narrow-leaf lupin
• Lucerne
• Peas
• Soybeans
• Bean

Variety in the crop rotation schedule ensures that the demand for soil values by each crop is spread out. Why is this important? Variety in crop rotation is important because it has a positive effect on the remaining soil resources, while reducing the growth of weeds. This has a positive impact on the amount of crop and soil protection costs incurred.

Winter rapeseed - Everything you should know before sowing it

Cultivation of winter rapeseed is a popular sowing in Poland, however, it is less and less chosen by its high demands. Increasing price increases and climate change do not make it any easier to grow.

The depth of sowing of rapeseed is between 1.5 and 2.5 cm, while the density depends on the variety and soil preparation, as well as the chosen technology that is used for cultivation. The planting density should be between 35 and 38 plants per square meter.

In order to happily enter the winter dormancy phase, the plants should have enough time to root well. Before winter, the plants must not be infected with any diseases, and must be fully healthy, supplied with microorganisms. Oilseed rape reacts just as badly to too early sowing, which leads to overgrowth, thickening the plants, so that there will be dry cabbage and root rot, and the cones will be more vulnerable to attack by larvae.

The risk of frostbite is a very common case when sowing is delayed. When planting winter rapeseed, it is recommended to stick to the following dates:

• Northeastern Poland will start sowing between August 5 and 10.
• In the east of the country, the optimal sowing date for winter rapeseed is estimated to be August 10 to 15.
• From August 15 to 20, sowing takes place in central Poland.
• The latest by weather conditions work begins in the west of the country. We are talking about work taking place between August 20 and 25.

Sticking to timely sowing will help protect the crop from severe cold weather, however, it must be remembered that the sowing date is movable and is chosen by analyzing all influential factors. If the above dates are observed, the winter period, rapeseed begins with 6 to 8 formed leaves, which positively affects its wintering. Delaying the sowing date by seven days can contribute to an 8% decrease in yield.

Spring rapeseed - key recommendations before cultivation

Spring rapeseed is definitely a rarer choice among farmers. The yields obtained from this crop are significantly lower than those of winter rapeseed. It is estimated that the difference is between 20% and even 50%. What is comforting is that in northern and southeastern Poland, the harvests carried out obtain results at a similar level. This is due to the average annual rainfall in these regions, which exceeds 600mm.

The spring crop is considered an ideal forecrop. This variety reduces the negative effects of cereal crops. On farms where a large part of the plantation is designed with winter crops, spring rapeseed helps stagger the work of sowing and harvesting. Thanks to the reduced need of this variety for fertilizers, costs are significantly less. Monocotyledonous weeds, sclerotial rot, as well as other diseases are also less frequent.

The correct density of spring rapeseed is 70 to 80 pcs/m². With a sowing rate of 4 - 5 kg/ha. The sowing itself is at a spacing of 12 to 15 cm, but sometimes 24 to 30 cm are sown with mechanical care in mind.

The spring variety is sown much earlier than the winter variety. The sowing date begins the last decade of March until about the second decade of April. It is important to know that sowing the spring rapeseed variety too early, as well as too late, can lead to adverse consequences. Failure to stick to the right dates will result in the likelihood of gangrene formation, and makes hybrid and population varieties dependent on water reserves, which can result in drought phenomena.

How to protect rapeseed from various types of diseases?

In spring, rapeseed has high nitrogen requirements, when vegetation begins it is recommended to apply 100 kg N/ha in the form of ammonium nitrate. The most important of the micronutrients is boron, a deficiency of which means that the root system is not properly developed, resulting in a lower yield.

Oilseed rape can be fertilized with sulfur and magnesium. What is worth noting is that these elements must be supplied in two forms.

Hybrid varieties - is it worth it?

Sowing of winter and spring rapeseed in recent years is very unstable. This is due to changing climatic conditions. The ever-increasing warming of the climate, droughts, torrential rains, soil degradation, all of this increasingly hinders farming in Poland.

Therefore, in order to enjoy decent yields, one should choose varieties after analyzing the type of one's soil, the upcoming weather, mineral requirements, access to water and a realistic vision of the profitability of growing this crop.

Hybrid varieties have recently been highly recommended for reasons of their resilience. Stress factors, resistance, fertilization, site ph, late sowing, all of which hybrid varieties can handle. They have greater resistance to various diseases and lower weather demands. Cultivating hybrid rapeseed does well in difficult conditions, growing tall and profitable.

Recommended varieties: ES Imperio, ES Amaretto, ES Cesario, ES Capello.

When does the harvest begin?

The rapeseed harvest lasts between July and August. Harvesting results in increasing seed losses, which are standardly estimated at about 8-9%. At the point when we decide to delay the date, seed losses can be as high as approx. 40%. So when to start harvesting? It is advisable to start work when the canopy has reached a celadon-yellow color and the seed moisture content is between 40% and 55%.

However, it should be remembered that harvesting depends on the rapeseed variety. Farmers often opt for the single-stem method, which is done when the crop is fully mature. At such a point, the cane peels a brown-black color with a seed moisture content of about 16%. The duration of such harvesting closes in 4 to 5 working days. We can get the yield of rapeseed per hectare by breeding a variety that has a high resistance to spilling and cracking.

To protect the seeds, you can consider buying a spray preparation, which, by gluing the rapeseed husks together, protects and significantly eliminates the rash. There are really a lot of possibilities, a rapeseed table is also used for harvesting, side scythes are used, it is advisable to cut quite high and to use a nagger. All of the above-mentioned elements are designed to make sure that the seeds do not spill.

Summary

When growing rapeseed there are many requirements, hybrid varieties are certainly much more resistant and less demanding. Nevertheless, sowing rapeseed is not a simple matter. During this cultivation there are many aspects that must be observed, such as:

• Timeliness;
• Maintained sowing norm;
• Fertilization of rapeseed, which will reduce the likelihood of weeds and be a constant protection for the leaves;
• Selection of variety;
• Preparation of the right soil for cultivation;
• Remember to choose the right depth;

Growing winter and spring rapeseed may seem quite difficult, but it is important to prepare well for it. With study and commitment to planning, we are able to properly take care of the rapeseed and the plant itself sitting in the soil. Keep in mind that following the above-mentioned rules, is a very individual matter. When getting down to winter and spring rapeseed, it is necessary to analyze all things that have a negative or positive impact on this crop.