Oilseed Rape

Cultivation

Growing Oilseed Rape

Welcome to our concise guide on nutrient management for growing oilseed rape. We’ll cover essential aspects of fertilization, focusing on the critical nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, potash, and sulphur. Understanding the right timing and dosage for these nutrients is key to maximizing 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 to successfully growing oilseed rap. A deficiency in any one of these elements can have a significant impact on final performance.

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Nitrogen Management

Oilseed Rape needs 7kg 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 August 31. To deliver the right amount of nitrogen to the winter application, it is important to weigh the biomass. It is possible to use a conversion table, available as a mobile app, as a decision support tool or a drone to estimate the biomass and the amount of nitrogen recommended to be supplied.

Timing of Nitrogen Supply

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, allowing the WOSR to use the maximum amount of nitrogen supplied.

It is recommended to split up the applications made 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 through washing out and leaching

Phosphorus and Potash Requirements

Rapeseed is a very demanding plant in terms of phosphorus use, however, it is less so with potash. If no fertiliser was applied in the year before the WOSR was planted, it is recommended to apply both components before sowing. To estimate the amount of phosphorus and potash required, you can refer to the table below.

Fertilization 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 on the final yields. WOSR requires sulphur inputs in the form of sulphate. Timing wise, it is important to bring 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 from this as you calculate your sulphate application.

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