Article taken from the Agronomist & Arable Farmer
Companion plants, a relatively recent innovation, have been trialled extensively in Agrovista’s Growcrop Gold programme, where they have often improved establishment and ultimately yield.
Berseem clover has been shown to deliver significant benefits in crops planted at optimum wide-row rates of 15 seeds/m of row. “This combination typically increases OSR root mass by 20%,” says Mr Martin.
Companion plants are sown at the same time as the oilseed rape, either alongside in separate rows or mixed with the seed. “On average, companion plants provide a 0.3-0.4t/ha benefit, and this can be considerably more in trickier establishment conditions, where yield increases of 0.75 t/ha are not uncommon.”
Thanks to their erect growth habit they don’t increase early competition, he explains. “But they do help improve soil structure and organic matter and help reduce slug damage.
“There is evidence from France, where companion plants are used widely, that they also reduce damage caused by cabbage stem flea beetle. It’s not clear why, but it could be a confusion factor. Growers typically save at least one flea beetle spray.”
The plants also mop up nitrogen, which is released back into the soil in the spring after they die. Once winter closes in, their job is done and the berseem clover dies as soon as the first frosts arrive.
Companion plants, a relatively recent innovation, have been trialled extensively in Agrovista’s Growcrop Gold programme, where they have often improved establishment and ultimately yield.
Berseem clover has been shown to deliver significant benefits in crops planted at optimum wide-row rates of 15 seeds/m of row. “This combination typically increases OSR root mass by 20%,” says Mr Martin.
Companion plants are sown at the same time as the oilseed rape, either alongside in separate rows or mixed with the seed. “On average, companion plants provide a 0.3-0.4t/ha benefit, and this can be considerably more in trickier establishment conditions, where yield increases of 0.75 t/ha are not uncommon.”
Thanks to their erect growth habit they don’t increase early competition, he explains. “But they do help improve soil structure and organic matter and help reduce slug damage.
“There is evidence from France, where companion plants are used widely, that they also reduce damage caused by cabbage stem flea beetle. It’s not clear why, but it could be a confusion factor. Growers typically save at least one flea beetle spray.”
The plants also mop up nitrogen, which is released back into the soil in the spring after they die. Once winter closes in, their job is done and the berseem clover dies as soon as the first frosts arrive.