Companion Crops

 

Fix and Protect - Fenugreek - N Fixing Root

Photos: Boston Seeds

 

Thinking about growing a companion crop with OSR this year? Here are a few mixtures that might be useful, and the reasons why it might be beneficial for you!

Companion cropping has several benefits for the oilseed rape crop:

Improving the soil

  • Improving soil organic matter with added biomass.

  • Storing or utilising nutrients that could be leached.

  • Companion crops act as a root pathfinder for the OSR, which typically would be a ‘lazy rooter’.

  • They can also be of use thorough drainage or holding the soil together.

    Flea Beetle deterrent

  • Species such as Fenugreek omit a smell to deter flea beetles.

  • Other species used can mask the rape plants, acting as a sacrificial crop to the OSR.

Beneficial insects

  • Certain species used can also attract beneficial insects to the crop.

         Canopy cover    

  • Providing competition to weeds

  • This can also deter pigeons from landing

 

Key species information:

These species and varieties have been selected as they fit best with OSR.

Varieties that will naturally die in the winter or cold weather reduce costs of destroying the crop.

TABOR Berseem Clover

  • Tabor is the only single-cut berseem clover variety available in the UK. 

  • Killed by frost and does not regrow.

  • Easy to incorporate.

  • Grows vigorously.

  • Fixes nitrogen.

  • Deep tap roots

  • Flowers that are attractive to beneficial insects and pollinators

FENUGREEK

  • Natural odour to deter flea beetle.

  • Grow with buckwheat for a double-edged defence. 

  • Rapid growth with good ground cover

  • Competes well with weeds.

  • Stands later in the autumn.

LIFAGO Buckwheat

  • Smaller seeded and easier to drill with oilseed rape than standard buckwheat.

  • Grows more vigorously with a canopy to protect the oilseed rape plant from flea beetle.

  • Great phosphate scavenger

  • Susceptible to frosts

  • Nectar rich flowers for pollinators

SFI

Now under the IPM3 section of the updated SFI agreement

Aims:

  • Support IPM for pests or weed suppression

  • Habitat for invertebrates, pollinators and natural pest predators

  • Manage nutrient efficacy

  • Protect soil

What to do:

Establish a companion crop so that it is growing with the main crop.

The companion crop does not have to be present from the full growing period, as long as it is managed in a way that will achieve the aims.

A companion crop is classed as either – trap cropping, inter cropping or undersowing.

Payment - £55 / ha / year

 
 
Bartholomews