Oilseed Rape Trials highlight varieties for later drilling

Field-Scale OSR Trials

Field-scale Agrii trials with 14 leading and up-and-coming winter OSRs across four late-sown iFarms from Yorkshire to Angus have highlighted DK Exsteel as one of only two varieties delivering gross outputs of over 6t/ha.

A seed yield of 5.54t/ha and 47.8% oil gave the grower favourite an average gross output of 6.19t/ha – 7% ahead of the trial mean and fully 9% up on the current UK Recommended List leader.

Performing even more impressively at 119% of the RL leader in the two iFarm trials in which it was grown, RL candidate DK Exposé produced a gross output of 5.94t/ha from a seed yield of 5.33t/ha and oil content of 47.6%. In these trials, it even outperformed DK Exsteel.

“With so much ground continuing to be too dry for reliable OSR sowing well into mid-August, a high-reliability hybrid like DK Exsteel with its especially rapid speed of development before winter as well as establishment vigour really comes into its own,” points out DEKALB head of seed, Adam Nears. “As does one with the particular growing resilience and sowing date flexibility of DK Exposé.

“While well-suited to early drilling, varieties with less rapid autumn development or a less flexible early growth habit can struggle when sown towards the end of August and into September. This season, in particular, it’s good to have confirmation of how relatively well these two key hybrids do from sowing as late as September 9.

“As well as the critical importance of sowing OSR into sufficient moisture, our annual benchmarking study with growers across the country shows that where CSFB pressure isn’t intense, later sowing can be very effective. It is also recognised as helping to limit any larval problems.

“It does require the right type of variety, though,” he stresses. “And one – like all DEKALB hybrids this autumn – covered by a first-class establishment assurance scheme …… just in case.”

ESTABLISHMENT ASSURANCE

All DEKALB hybrids are now covered by Bayer’s market-leading establishment assurance scheme, offering growers refunds of £100 per 1.5 million seed bag through their suppliers for any blocks of more than 6ha sown before September 20 that fail to establish by the endof October. Full details of the minimum hassle scheme are available here.