Combinable break crops

Abstract This chapter opens with an introduction to the concept of world markets for oilseeds and proteins and how this affects farmers decisions to grow break crops. It then tackles the agronomy of the main combinable break crops including oilseed rape, linseed, field peas and field beans. It briefly covers more esoteric crops such as flax, lupins, navy beans and sunflowers. Each crop is dealt with by describing the variety choice, tire establishment, crop nutrition, crop protection, and harvesting and storage, as well as a brief discussion of their markets and quality aspects requited. 

Key words odseeds, proteins, oilseed rape, peas, beans, markets, quahty. 

The range of crops, often with autumn- and spring-sown varieties, offers an option for most soil types, pH and crop rotations. Seasonal weather may adversely influence crop establishment, harvesting and sample quality. Home-saved seed has been an option for some of the crops but with specific quality requirements for the harvested product, and a trend to lower seed rates/plant populations, high quality seed with an appropriate treatment is advisable. 

The bnrgeoning economies of coimtries such as China and India, and their rapidly increasing populations, are influencing the market. The issne of GM crops is yet to be resolved and has the potential to impact even further on both the qnantity and qnality of oil produced. In the EU 27, the major oilseed crop is rape followed by sunflower and a smaller area of soya. The UK is the fourth largest producer of rape after France, Germany and Poland, whereas Romania is the largest stmflower producer with Italy and Romania being the main soya producers. 

The crop will grow in a wide range of soil and climatic conditions provided the land is well drained, pH over 6, and the soil and subsoil structure is good. 

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Combinable break crops 355 Table 14.5 Field beans indicative yields (t/ha)... 

The disease Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is important in oilseed rape and a number of other crops as well. It infects the stems of crops during flowering and has a substantial effect on yields. During combining, fragments of the sclerotia of this fungus often break away from infected stems and become mixed in with the harvested seed. There are no field standards for the incidence of this disease but the permissible number of sclerotia in a lOOg certified seed sample is 10 (5 in a 70 g sample for turnip rape varieties). 

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