The autumn-winter period of 2017–2018 in terms of temperature and precipitation was on the whole favorable for normal overwintering of winter rapeseed across almost the whole territory of our country. This gives hope that the crop will please producers with a generous yield, of course provided the spring growing technology is followed. One of the important elements of spring care of winter rapeseed plants is foliar feeding, with which mineral nutrition conditions in the critical plant development phases can be improved. Along with powerful nitrogen feeding of plants, one should not forget phosphorus, which ensures root system growth and takes part in nucleic acid synthesis, magnesium, which takes part in the synthesis and function of chlorophyll and in the synthesis of ATP, the energy carrier in plants, and boron and manganese.
The positive effect of products with amino acids and phytohormones
For plants under stress caused by unfavorable weather, using products with amino acids and phytohormones has a positive effect. Their use ensures intensive root system growth, activates nucleic acid synthesis and promotes intensification of physiological processes and raises plant resistance to unfavorable environmental factors.
Phosphorus shortage shows as a violet colour of leaf blades and petioles. Magnesium shortage in winter rapeseed shows on older leaves as yellowing and sometimes reddening. Signs of boron shortage in spring are not as clear as in autumn, but supplying plants with this microelement during budding is no less important. Sufficient boron nutrition improves the uptake of calcium compounds from the soil. Boron shortage most often shows on soils of light texture, waterlogged, acidic and limed soils, especially in periods of severe drought.
Results of field trials in Rivne and Ternopil regions
In 2017 winter rapeseed trials were set up on demo plots in Rivne and Ternopil regions. At the demo plot of Pioneer Nasinnia Ukraina the hybrid PR 46 W20 Pioneer® was sown.
Assessments we carried out in the trial fields in Rivne and Ternopil regions (table) showed that, thanks to the feedings carried out, plants entered winter in a more developed state than in the control variants.
| Indicators | Rivne region | Ternopil region | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Control | Ecoline Boron (Premium) 1.0 l/ha | Ecoline Boron (Premium) 1.0 l/ha + Ecoline Phosphite-K 1.0 l/ha | Control | Ecoline Boron (Premium) 1.0 l/ha | Ecoline Boron (Premium) 1.0 l/ha Ecoline Phosphite-K 1.0 l/ha | |
| Root collar diameter, mm | 9 | 10 | 11 | 6 | 9 | 14 |
| Plant mass per 1 m2, g | 1814 | 1760 | 2628 | 840 | 2108 | 2254 |
| Root mass per 1 m2, g | 80 | 93 | 294 | 173 | 373 | 494 |
The figures given are quite clearly illustrated by photos of plants from the trial variants.
Considering moisture availability and the forecast rapid rise of positive temperatures from the end of March, there is a high probability of development of fungal diseases of the roots and aboveground part of winter rapeseed plants.
Thus, to preserve the yield potential of winter rapeseed under the existing weather conditions, we recommend carrying out the first foliar feeding based on the actual condition of plants in a particular field.
- On poorly developed crops insufficiently fertilized since autumn, apply GROS Phosphito-LNPK at 1.5–2.0 l/ha in the first foliar feeding.
- On normally developed crops: ECOLINE Phosphite-K at 1.0–1.5 l/ha.
Other fertilizers produced by ECOORGANIC can also be used if the plants' need for feeding with individual nutrients is established by diagnostic methods. These include in particular: ECOLINE Boron (Organic), ECOLINE Boron (Premium), ECOLINE Boron (Light), ECOLINE Magnesium (Chelate), ECOLINE Molybdenum (Complex), ECOLINE Copper (Chelate), ECOLINE Manganese (Chelate), ECOLINE Zinc (Chelate), GROS Rootgrowth.