Brassica Reference Manual - Agricom

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4. BRASSICA CROP HUSBANDRY 4. Brassica Crop Husbandry 23 Planting Conventional cultivation Conventional cultivation is generally the most reliable way of eliminating weeds and establishing brassicas. Best practice is the broadcasting of fertiliser prior to planting. For a minimal pass operation pull hoses out of coulters and drop fertiliser in a surface band, with incorporation by light harrowing and rolling. Direct drilling Direct drilling with modern drilling equipment is suitable if spray control of weeds is successful and fertiliser applications are considered carefully. For detailed information on no-tillage and direct drilling refer to “Successful No-Tillage in Crop and Pasture Establishment”, Ritchie et al, 2000. Nitrogen applications are a key component of successful establishment from direct drilling. Under no-tillage regimes crop residues are broken down by microbial activity (not burning, oxidation or mineralisation as in tillage systems) that temporarily locks up nitrogen. Therefore N will not be available at the time of the brassica establishment, and hence this delay in N availability needs to be compensated for at sowing time. Broadcasting Broadcasting, (the scattering of seed onto a worked seedbed), can be successful, but a higher sowing rate and subsequent light harrowing and rolling is recommended. Refer to individual species for specific sowing information. Best practice establishment techniques should include the use of a commercial seed treatment for seedling protection. Sowing rates and timing Refer to individual species for specific sowing information. Sowing depth Brassicas have a small seed, thus sowing depth can play a critical part in crop establishment. A maximum sowing depth of 2cm is recommended for all brassica species. Having a fine, firm, even and moist seedbed will allow greater control of sowing depth and subsequent successful establishment. What is vernalisation? Vernalisation is the requirement of some plants to have a period of cold temperatures in order to trigger the flowering process. The actual length of the cold period needed to trigger the flowering process will differ between cultivars and species. Most forage brassicas have a high requirement.
4. Brassica Crop Husbandry 4.2 Winter gross margin comparison per hectare Gross Margin Analysis: Winfred Forage Brassica Vs Coolabah Oats Cattle Grazing - Steers Rate Income Oats Brassica A. Oats + hay 6000kg/dm/ha @ 70% utilisation 4200 kgDM per ha / 8kg per head per day = 525 steer grazing days 525 grazing days / 150 days = 3.5 steers/ha Gross Return = 3.5 steers/ha x 1kg/head/day x 150 grazing days x $2.00/kg B. Brassica + hay 8000kg/dm/ha @ 70% utilisation 5600 kgDM per ha / 7kg per head per day = 800 steer grazing days 800 grazing days / 150 days = 5.3 steers/ha Gross Return = 5.3 steers/ha x 1kg/head/day x 150 grazing days x $2.00/kg 525 2 1050 795 2 1590 Total Income $/ha 1050 1590 Variable Costs Rate Cost $/ha $/ha Glyphosate 0.8L/ha $13.00/L + $6.50/ha 17 17 Cultivation 0.17hrs/ha $50/hour 9 9 Sowing 0.20hrs/ha $55/hour 11 11 Gaucho Treated Winfred Seed 4kg/ha $10/kg 44 Graded Coolabah Oats Seed 80kg/ha $0.80/kg 64 Fertiliser (DAP) 125kg/ha $1400/t 175 175 Urea 100kg/ha $700/t 70 70 Insecticide (Fastac) 0.3L/ha $9/L 3 6 Grass Weed Control (Glean) 20g/ha $0.10/g + $6.50/ha 9 Grass Weed Control (Trifluralin) 1L/ha $7.00/L + $6.50/ha 14 Broadleaf Weed Control (MCPA 750) 0.7L/ha $10.50/L + $6.50/ha 14 Broadleaf Weed Control (Lontrel) 0.3L/ha $49/L + $6.50/ha 21 Vaccine (6 in 1) 8-16ml/ha $0.60/head 2 3 Drench (Genesis) 40-80ml/ha $2/head 4 8 Pasture Hay (2kg per head on oats, 3kg per head on brassica) 2 - 3kg/head/day $0.18/kg/dm 189 429 Total Variable Costs $/ha 567 807 Gross Margin (Income - Variable Costs) $/ha $483.00 $783.00 Gross Margin Analysis: Winfred Forage Brassica Vs Canola Sheep Grazing - Lambs Brassica A. 6000kg/dm/ha @ 70% utilisation 4200 kgDM per ha / 1.5kg per head per day = 2800 sheep grazing days 2800 grazing days / 150 days = 19 lambs/ha Rate Income Canola Gross Return = 19 lambs/ha x 0.25kg/head/day x 150 grazing days x $1.80/kg 713 1.8 1283 B. Short Fallow Canola Yields 1.8t/ha $600/t on farm 1800 0.6 1080 Total Income $/ha 1080 1283 Variable Costs Rate Cost $/ha $/ha Glyphosate 0.8L/ha $13.00/L + $6.50/ha 17 17 Cultivation 0.17hrs/ha $50/hour 9 9 Sowing 0.20hrs/ha $55/hour 11 11 Canola Gaucho Treated Seed 3kg/ha $15/kg 45 Winfred Gaucho Treated Seed 4kg/ha $10/kg 40 Fertiliser (DAP) 125kg/ha $1400/t 175 175 Urea 100kg/ha $700/t 70 70 Insecticide (Fastac) 0.3L/ha $9/L 6 6 Grass Weed Control (Trifluralin) 1L/ha $7.00/g + $6.50/ha 14 14 Broadleaf Weed Control (Lontrel) 0.3L/ha $58/L + $6.50/ha 23 23 Insect Control (Fastac) 0.3L $9/L + $15 18 Vaccine (6 in 1) 46ml/ha $0.25/head 6 Drench (Genesis) 184ml/ha $0.13/head 3 Contract Windrowing & Harvesting 85 Crop Levies & Insurance 40 Total Variable Costs $/ha 513 374 Gross Margin (Income - Variable Costs) $/ha $567.00 $909.00 24 4. BRASSICA CROP HUSBANDRY
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Page 3 and 4: 1. Introduction The plant breeding
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Page 7 and 8: 2. Brassicas Forage Rape - Winfred,
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Page 17 and 18: 3. Companion Species with Brassicas
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Brassica Reference Manual - Agricom

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