MAINTAINING A CRACK-FREE FIELD HOW TO PROTECT RAPESEED FROM CRACKING?
Maintaining a Crack-Free Field How to protect rapeseed from cracking?
How to prevent the problem and avoid the consequences
Time flies, and the bright yellow rapeseed, attracting bees and countless other insects, forms pods that promise a rewarding harvest when mature. However, the pleasant feeling of waiting for a rich harvest can be somewhat spoiled. Many people are familiar with the situation when two or three weeks before the harvest the field literally begins to “crack” - the pods burst and the seeds generously fall on the ground. This means a below-average harvest and profits, as well as fallen seeds, which we will have to deal with next year. And it is not the owner’s fault, who did not take care of something or did not finish it. The fact is that rapeseed as a cultivated plant was bred from its “wild” ancestors. Therefore, as soon as it ripens, the plant naturally begins to crumble, because the natural mechanism is activated - to give “new life” by scattering the seeds. This is relevant for nature but causes losses in agriculture. Even the cultivation of varieties that have a certain resistance to premature cracking does not completely solve the problem.
What about rapeseed: cultivation features Another reason for the cracking and premature falling of the pods is such a biological feature of rapeseed as uneven ripening, in which the lower pods may already be dry and fall off, while the upper ones are still green and raw. As a result of the pods shattering, crop losses are usually about 5–10% of the total yield (see the table). One of the reasons of the shattering is that during ripening they dry out during the day and absorb moisture at night. Such fluctuations in humidity lead to their deformation and weakening of the seams that hold the valves of the pods. This is especially noticeable in unstable weather conditions (especially hot and windy) when losses can reach 50–80%. And premature cracking of the pods can be caused by pathogens. Alternaria is especially dangerous forrapeseed. This pathogen affects stems, pods, and leaves, leading to the formation of underdeveloped seeds and bursting of the pods. Alternaria "dries" the pods so that they lose their elasticity and open prematurely. The disease can lead to losses of up to 30–50% of the total yield.
How to prevent the problem and avoid the consequences
The pods on the lower level begin to turn brown and bend into a U-shaped bend, without tearing along the seam - it's time to apply bio-glue. It is still possible to prevent premature bursting of the pods - the main thing is to provide timely and comprehensive protection of the plants from diseases, and in addition, at the right time, about 2-3 weeks before harvest, treat the plants with special glue. Usually, farmers use chemical glue. Chemicals form a solid, impermeable film that sticks the pods together and dries them out. However, this film makes respiration and photosynthesis impossible, which affects seed ripening and lowers their quality indicators. Biological analogues do not destroy the covering tissue and do not prevent the continuation of vegetation, that the natural ripening of the rapeseed.A natural solution
The natural, universal, ecologically safe product LIPOSAM® bioglue (natural biopolymers of different molecular weight in different ratios) produced by BTU company is a product of the metabolism of microorganisms intended for gluing pods of rapeseed, mustard, peas, beans, vegetable beans, flax and cotton bolls. The solution of the biological product covers the pods with an elastic net like a bandage, which prevents cracking, does not destroy the covering tissue and does not interfere with the main processes of plant growth and development. This, in turn, contributes to the extension of the growing season, the normal accumulation of oil in oilseed crops and ensures natural ripening of both the lower and upper layers of plants. The bioglue LIPOSAM® regulates the amount of moisture in the pod, preventing it from penetrating inside and at the same time freely exiting to the outside. That is why the valves of the pods do not get wet. In addition, the film formed by the bioproduct to a certain extent ensures the strength and resistance of the pod to mechanical damage (hail, plant-to-plant contact, working parts of mechanisms) and prevents its cell layer from rupturing in the “opening zone”. At the same time, the water-repellent function of the biofilm helps to reduce the moisture content of the seeds before harvesting. The use of this biological can reduce crop losses by 30–50%LIPOSAM® is used in the form of solution. Dissolution occurs gradually. First, the required amount of product should be mixed with water (1:1) until homogeneous solution. Only after it is thoroughly mixed with water, water must be added in small doses to the volume required for treatment.
The application of the bioadhesive is carried out in dry weather by air spraying In organic farming, bioadhesive LIPOSAM® is applied independently. In the integrated agriculture, it can be used both independently and with a desiccant, depending on weather conditions. For example, if prolonged wet weather is expected during the harvest period, which makes harvesting impossible, it is better to apply bioadhesive LIPOSAM® together with a desiccant and harvest before the rains. If it was not possible to apply bioadhesive LIPOSAM® to a particular crop at the optimal time, it can be done a little later (before harvesting). But at the same time, the application rate should be increased to the recommended maximum.It should be noted that the application rate of the bioadhesive LIPOSAM® may vary depending on the spraying method and the biomass of the plants. When using aerial treatment of crops with small biomass, you can use the minimum rate (0.7 l/ha), when using ground spraying with the same biomass, the average rate should be1 l/ha. If there is more phytomass of plants on the field, the application rate of the bioglue should also be increased proportionally for both application methods. The maximum application rate is 1.5 l/ha. It should be noted that when using the bioadhesive LIPOSAM® a single-stage treatment is sufficient, while when using many chemical adhesives, a double cross-treatment is required. Stir the required amount of the product with water (1:1), thoroughly mixing to get a homogeneous solution. Then add water to the required volume.
Using drones for cost-effective glue application can reduce trampling and crushing of pods and beans by up to 15%. It also saves up to 50% of the crop from seed shedding and decreases the volume of the working solution by up to 90% without any loss of efficiency.
Practice confirms:
The use of the bioadhesive LIPOSAM® reduces crop losses by 30–50% The study of the effectiveness of the bioadhesive LIPOSAM® was carried out with Kozak variety of soybean in the Vinnytsia region. The glue was applied a week before harvest, usually 1.5 l/ha + desiccant 2.5 l/ha. The yield on the control plot was 1.94 t/ha. The yield on the experimental plot was 2.28 t/ha. Thus, thanks to the bioadhesive LIPOSAM®, 0.34 t/ha of soybean seeds were saved.
The study was also carried out with winter rapeseed, Rohan in Vinnytsia region. The bioglue was applied 21 days before rapeseed harvest at the rate of 1.5 l/ha. The yield of the control plot was 3.1 t/ha. The yield of the experimental plot was 3.5 t/ha. Thus, the use of bioadhesive LIPOSAM®, allowed to save 0.4 t/ha of rapeseed.
Podillia AgroProduct LLC, whose lands are located in six regions of Ukraine, grows corn, wheat, sunflower, rapeseed and soybeans. Rapeseed is one of the most productive crops. The farm usually carries out eight treatments with plant protection products, the ninth treatment is bioadhesive LIPOSAM®. In total, the farm has been cooperating with BTU for eight years and has been using our products for almost all this time, particularly bioadhesive LIPOSAM® in rapeseed. The product is effective, it is used in a maximum dose of 1.5 l/ha, the effect lasts at least two weeks. The farm mentions that a few years ago a hailstorm swept over the rapeseed, which had previously been treated with bioadhesive LIPOSAM®. The upper layer was damaged, but the middle and lower layers survived, the product worked well.
The opinion of an agronomist Viktor Zinevych, chief agronomist of “Tkachenko Family Farming”: — Every year we allocate 250–280 hectares of arable land for rapeseed. We sow mainly hybrids of German selection from DSV. The average yield in good years is 4,5–4,8 t/ha, in bad years 3,8 t/ha. Weather conditions are different every year and the rapeseed ripen unevenly in the rows, so for several years in a row we have been using bioadhesive LIPOSAM® to preserve the crop. It has become an obligatory part of the rapeseed cultivation technology on our farm. We apply bioadhesive LIPOSAM®, as an independent product, considering the condition of the plants and the weather, about 8–12 days before harvesting at the rate of 1.5 l/ha. Once they tried 2.0 but realized that there is simply no point in increasing the amount recommended by the manufacturer - 1.5 l/ha is quite enough to achieve the desired effect. Great product at a reasonable price, 100% worth the investment.
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