Archive Article: 1997/09/06
OILSEED RAPE
THERES little to choose between conventional oilseed rape varieties on NIAB trial yields this harvest. As with the cereals, its also been a tough season for rape plots, with lodging. But in this case the spread of results seems to have been squeezed together, rather than stretched apart. So it is difficult to distinguish between the front-runners and the also-rans.
However, Apex continues to justify its huge popularity by giving consistently high yields in the southern regions. Its current performance looks somewhat better than last years. With widespread lodging in other varieties, this is one season where Apexs short, stiff straw certainly boosted its yield rating.
Only one point below the top yielding conventional varieties (Bristol, Capitol, Contact and Huron), Apex regains a strong position in the yield ranking.
Excellent results from composite hybrid Synergy should allay any lingering doubts as to pollination capacity. The early summer drought did affect performance on some sites, but Synergy keeps well ahead of conventional rapes overall. Of the fully restored hybrids, Pronto has done better than weaker strawed Artus.
In an effort to make variety trial results more meaningful next year, some plots will be double-width. Currently rape plots are 2m wide, which favours taller varieties. This is because tall plants are able to bend over and shadow their shorter neighbours.
Some Scottish results are still to come in as Crops goes to press.