Strong winter rape variety survives pigeon stress

Don’t get too paranoid about pigeon damage this season, oilseed rape growers are being urged.

Well-established rape crops will be quite capable of delivering the goods even after almost complete defoliation, according to Philip Marr, technical development manager for Masstock.

“Despite our very best endeavours with the shotgun, the far edge of the variety demonstration area at our Brotherton SMART Farm was home to almost as many foraging pigeons as Trafalgar Square during the winter snow,” he said.

Pigeons had played havoc with Excalibur oilseed rape, removing almost the entire leaf area. But closer inspection revealed no growing point damage whatsoever, said Mr Marr.

“The vigorous crop was very well rooted. It will clearly take a little more spring nitrogen than we’d otherwise have used. But knowing the variety I have no doubt it will go on to crop well despite the battering it’s taken.”

To assess the variety’s survival capability, Mr Marr removed all growth down to the ground from a trial plot sown at just 25 seeds/m2 in late August. Despite removing foliage in November, regrowth saw 22 plants/m2 in early February.

“That’s the clear benefit of a vigorous variety established well, and why it’s so important to put sufficient emphasis on both oilseed rape variety choice and establishment agronomy.

Growers who paid attention to crop establishment were likely to reap dividends, Mr Marr said. Get it right from the start and a crop would be able to withstand an almost unbelievable amount of stress above ground, he added.

“In my experience, hybrids generally have a far greater ability to survive early stress than pure lines – whether it be from late sowing, poor seedbeds or frost kill,” said Mr Marr.

“Our SMART Farm studies show it’s as much about the specific variety as it is about the type, though. Some hybrids just don’t seem to cut the mustard while some pure lines can be almost as vigorous as the best hybrids.”