Growing Oilseed Rape
Welcome to our concise guide on nutrient management for growing oilseed rape. We’ll cover essential aspects of fertilisation, with a focus on critical nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, potash and sulphur. Understanding the right timing and dosage for these nutrients is key to maximising your crop’s yield and quality. Whether you’re an experienced farmer or new to oilseed rape cultivation, this guide will provide you with practical insights and recommendations to enhance your crop’s growth and ensure sustainable farming practices.
Fertilisation and nutrient deficiencies
Many mineral elements are essential for successfully growing oilseed rape. A deficiency in any one of these elements can have a significant impact on yields.
More about oilseed rape
Nitrogen management
Oilseed Rape needs seven kilos of nitrogen per hundredweight produced. Nitrogen requirements are weighted more to the end of winter. The nitrogen supply for WOSR must not exceed 100kg/ha over a single period; otherwise, the nitrogen supply can be susceptible to leaching, and will be washed away and your investment lost.
Be careful in some regions, as there are restrictions on the application of nitrogen after 31 August. In order to deliver the right amount of nitrogen during the winter application, it is important to weigh the biomass. It is possible to use a conversion table, which is available as a mobile app, as a support when making this decision, or a drone to estimate the biomass and the amount of nitrogen that should be added.
Timing the addition of nitrogen
Nitrogen Deficiency
Balancing crop requirements and mineral nitrogen supplies
Calculating nitrogen doses
Preventing nitrogen loss
Nitrogen is easily lost to leaching via water. The key to success is to provide the right amount at the right time, as this allows the WOSR to use the maximum amount of nitrogen.
- It is recommended to split up the applications after the winter and not to exceed 100kg/ha per application.
- By observing these rules, you maximise the efficiency of your fertilisation investments while reducing your environmental impact by limiting losses through :
- volatilisation in the form of NH3
- pollution of groundwater in the form of NO3 nitrates, due to washing out and leaching
Phosphorus and potash requirements
Rapeseed is a very demanding plant in terms of phosphorus use,; however, it is less demanding with respect to potash. If no fertiliser was applied in the year before the WOSR was planted, it is recommended to apply both minerals prior to sowing. To estimate the amount of phosphorus and potash required, please refer to the table below.
Fertilisation recommendations by soil type
Targeting different yield goals
Target 3T/ha
P205 | K20 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Poor soil | Well-supplied soil | Rich soil | Poor soil | Well-supplied soil | Rich soil | |
Amount for the last year | 90 | 50 | 0 | 50 | 30 | 0 |
Amount for 2 years or more | 120 | 70 | 30 | 60 | 40 | 20 |
Target 3.5T/ha
P205 | K20 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Poor soil | Well-supplied soil | Rich soil | Poor soil | Well-supplied soil | Rich soil | |
Amount for the last year | 100 | 60 | 0 | 50 | 30 | 0 |
Amount for 2 years or more | 150 | 80 | 30 | 60 | 40 | 20 |
Target 4T/ha
P205 | K20 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Poor soil | Well-supplied soil | Rich soil | Poor soil | Well-supplied soil | Rich soil | |
Amount for the last year | 110 | 70 | 0 | 50 | 40 | 0 |
Amount for 2 years or more | 160 | 100 | 40 | 70 | 50 | 20 |
Sulphur application
Winter oilseed rape is a demanding crop in terms of sulphur requirements. A sulphur deficiency can have serious consequences for the final yields. WOSR requires sulphur inputs in the form of sulphate. Timing wise, it is important to add 75kg/ha of sulphate (S03) at the beginning of bolting. If organic fertiliser has been spread on the field, take into account the amount of sulphur in it when calculating your sulphate application.
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