Rapeseed cultivation in Latvia I Encourage root growth of rapeseed I Advantage of the HORSCH Focus for rapeseed seeding
A well-developed taproot is an essential success factor for a high-yield rapeseed harvest. The example from Latvia shows that this can be managed successfully with the HORSCH Focus. The farm Balticagrar SIA has been relying on the Focus technology for more than ten years and by now describes the machine as the „key machine in rapeseed seeding”.
But let’s start at the beginning.
Balticagrar is an arable farm in Latvia that, within a short time, expanded from 3,200 ha to 4,500 ha. Farm manager Florian Reitzle heads a well-coordinated team of 18 employees. The work on the farm is organised in a clearly structured annual schedule – from machine maintenance in February to fertilisation, seeding and harvest to demanding logistics during the peak season.
The most important crops in the rotation are:
With regard to timing and logistics, the crops are co-ordinated in such a way that field cultivation and harvest merge seamlessly.
Balticagrar attaches major importance to innovation but takes a strategic and future-oriented approach.
The machinery of Balticagrar has been adapted to the respective requirements and the efficiency required during peak work periods. The fleet includes eight tractors as well as five combines with 12-m cutting units. It is completed by a wide range of HORSCH machines for seeding, tillage and crop care – among them the new Sprinter SC, two Focus for sufficient efficiency when sowing rapeseed, the Cruiser, the Joker, Terrano & Tiger as well as three Leeb field sprayers. In addition, powerful machines are available for fertilisation, intra-farm logistics and storage technology that is customised to the farm.
The farm sees a key advantage of the HORSCH Focus in the combination of soil loosening and precise fertiliser application. The loosening tines work at a depth of 28 to 30 cm to break the plowsole and to open the root zone deeply. The ULD+ coulter is used to ensures a gentle loosening without taking clods or humidity to the surface.
At the same time, underground fertilisation is carried out with DAP in the 50/50 method: 50 % of the nutrients are placed on the surface for a quick starter effect, the other 50 % are placed deeply as a depot fertilisation. This encourages the young rapeseed plant to form deeper roots to make optimum use of the nutrients.
The two updates with regard to the development of the rapeseed root impressively show that the Focus concept works. The plants have a distinct, deep taproot which does not only give them access to water and nutrients but also ensures a high degree of stability.
Rapeseed was drilled on 9th August after winter barley – an ideal time for the region: neither too early nor too late. An optimum population density was achieved with a seed rate of 40 grains/m². The preparatory work was carried out using a chain disc harrow for an ultra-shallow stubble cultivation, followed by the Cruiser 10 XL before sowing with the Focus to incorporate organic fertiliser and create a fine seedbed. After seeding, a measure was carried out against the cabbage stem flea. In the future, it is to be replaced with dressed seed to save passes and break work peaks. In spring, rapeseed started with a starter input of SA and ammonium nitrate to encourage growth at an early stage. Three weeks after stretching had started, another nitrogen input was applied in the form of ammonium nitrate. With regard to crop care, the population was treated in two passes against weevils as well as with an additional targeted measure against sap beetles and weevils. Blossom treatment was used as a protection against cabbage seed weevils as well as to fight the brassica pod midge. A fungicide against sclerotinia with a growth-regulating effect was used to safeguard growth combined with a grass agent and foliar fertiliser.
Spring was characterised by changeable weather conditions: a total of 137 mm of rainfall fell from February to May, the distribution of the precipitations, however, was irregular. Several frost nights in April and May with temperatures of up to -4 °C were particularly challenging. The average monthly temperatures ranged from -1.3 °C in February to a maximum of 8.7 °C in May.
Despite these challenges, the population was in a very good condition at the end of May.
Read more about the farm and its experience with HORSCH in the current issue of terraHORSCH: Click here for the article.
