Rape as a siderat

Little is known to the general public about rapeseed (native to England and Holland), especially to people not related to crop production. Professionals love this plant for a wide range of applications: it is melliferous, it can be an excellent food for animals, plastics, candles, cream and lipstick, biodiesel and ink for newsprint are made of it, and rapeseed oil is extremely useful, and in addition to food it is used for technical needs ...
In this article, we will look at rapeseed as a green manure.

Rape as a siderat: description, pros and cons

Siderat rape: photo

An experienced grower associates rapeseed with natural fertilization. Why? Because:

• it is capable of increasing in volume many times in a short time;
• the greens of this culture are rich in phosphorus, sulfur and other useful elements, and can make the soil fertile;
• for the roots of rapeseed, it will not be difficult to extract valuable elements from the depths of the soil and simultaneously supply the earth with air;
• thanks to the essential oils contained in it, soil diseases are minimized, the culture is protected from insect pests;
• with the help of rapeseed, the soil is not subject to erosion from groundwater, snow is retained in winter, and in summer, wind erosion is not terrible for the soil;
• rapeseed prevents weeds from growing if planted between rows;
• the amount of nitrogen entering the soil from rapeseed crops is comparable only to legumes; therefore, it can be safely called a natural fertilizer.

Along with a lot of advantages, there are also some disadvantages in the cultivation of rapeseed. Namely:

• he does not tolerate heavy and acidic soils, high humidity;
• planting rapeseed in one land 1 p. / 4 years (not more often!);
• do not plant rapeseeds where cabbage or clover plants were located!
• after rapeseed, beet varieties are not planted due to sensitivity to nematosis.

In addition to rape, siderates can be various varieties of rye and oats, mustard, buckwheat, etc.
Types of rapeseed: spring and winter... The soil is better fed from winter crops, but there is more care for it.
Experienced gardeners are advised to combine green manures: the spring variety with crops of the Cabbage family, and different varieties of rye are combined with winter crops.

What crops is suitable for rapeseed as a siderat

These are tomatoes, sweet paprika, potatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, pumpkin seeds. It is these crops that are guaranteed excellent nutrition from rapeseed.

Spring rapeseed as siderat

Spring rapeseed as a siderat: photo

This culture is not capricious to the composition of the land, and the sowing time can be adjusted. Let's say that your soil in your garden is moist enough; then boldly plant spring rape like green manure several times per season.

Rape as green manure: when to sow?

Sowing is carried out with the appearance of the first sunny days in early spring (and in the south - in February). Of course, the exact date is directly related to the landing region. On average, it can be argued that March is the month when they start to act.
One should not beware of cold temperatures, it is with uniform cold in the first days of sowing that the generative process improves in rapeseed.

At the beginning, the soil is loosened and pits are prepared to a depth of 3 cm. Seeds are sown in them (the seeds must first be mixed with sand). The distance between plantings is about 0.15 m. Seeds will be required about 0.15-0.2 kg per one hundred square meters). Further, the earth is leveled with a rake and rolled a little.

About planting care

Rapeseed sprouts will appear on the fifth day. Rape grows like a siderat, bypassing the stage of rosette formation, and begins immediately with the development of stems. After about three months, the plant grows up to 140 centimeters in height and blooms (blooms on average for a month).
Rape is a completely undemanding crop, no special care is needed for it.

What time is rapeseed

We have figured out with you the sowing dates and care of the rapeseed crop. Now let's talk about harvesting rapeseed. The culture is recommended to mow, not dig. In terms of mowing time, they are guided by the main crop. If there is a plan for planting the main crop in the current season, then the rape is mowed even when it has only reached 20 centimeters.
It is recommended to do the following with mowed rapeseed: either plow it 6-12 cm, or make compost out of it.
In just a couple of weeks, the seeds of the main crop are planted. If there are no such plans, then remove the green mass when the plant is 10-12 centimeters high. It is restored in a short time, and will give greens again. Therefore, for the second time, the rape is mowed under the root as soon as the pods appear. Then biomass will be more valuable for nutrients.

Winter rapeseed as green manure: application

Winter rapeseed as green manure: photo

Professionals most often choose winter rapeseed crops because they have undeniable advantages. Namely:

• they can be sown everywhere, since the main harvest has already been harvested by this time, and the green rape will not interfere with the vegetables;
• the roots of winter rape retain valuable micro- and macroelements, preventing them from leaving with moisture during the spring thaw;
• it is used for mulching, so that the soil will not freeze;
• in spring it immediately begins to grow at the slightest warming.

Winter rapeseed as green manure: planting secrets

Recommended - August or early autumn. When in a hurry to land, an excessive number of root outlets may form. Consequence - the roots will be afraid of the cold, and the plant will be susceptible to various diseases.
Winter rape is planted as soon as the main crop is harvested. The planting technique is the same as that of the spring (pits - 20-30 mm, between plantings - 100-150 mm). When the first shoots hatch (on the 4th-5th day), count 2 months - the autumn vegetation will last all this time.

About caring for winter rapeseed

By the cold season, the culture grows up to 0.25 meters and forms rosettes (up to 7 leaves in each). The rise of the roots should not be more than 3 centimeters above the growth point.
Special care for the winter species is not required, but it should be borne in mind that it does not tolerate winter without snow, and sharp drops in temperature can be fatal for it.
The plant awakens at temperatures from +1 to +3 degrees.

Winter rapeseed as green manure: recommendations for harvesting times

In this case, they are guided by weather conditions and the time of the appearance of pod formations. As a rule, this occurs in the 2nd and 3rd decades of May. Once the crop has been cut, the crop can remain in place. It is recommended to treat it with EM preparations or plain water to speed up the decomposition process. After 30 days, the seeds of the main crop are planted in this place.

Interestingly, the rapeseed culture began to be dealt with 4000 BC. Nowadays, rapeseed as a green manure is widely used to fill tired soil with nutrients, while providing the soil with oxygen and working as a disinfectant against insect pests.

Rape as a siderat: application