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Catch Crop - Kale Biennial plant, Mr P Reynolds - Coggle Diagram
Catch Crop - Kale
Biennial plant
Sowing
Method
Broadcast or sown at Seed rate of 4-5kg/ha
depth of 10mm
Soil test carried out 8 weeks before sowing,
spray glyphosate to kill previous pasture
70 plants/m2
Timing
Sown in May and June, for feeding between November and February.
Fertiliser requirement
30kg/ha of phosphorus - 170kg/ha of potassium - Nitrogen 130kg/ha,
F.Y.M in high volume
Sustainability
Prevents nitrogen leaching, sustainable as land does not lie fallow.
Soil Conditions
Free-draining (dries out quickly) loam or sandy soil,
pH 6-7 (ideally 6.5),
Weed Control
Seed Selection
Maris Kestrel
Pests
Flea Beetle
spraying with contact insecticide
Sow Resistant Variety
Crop Rotation
Biological Control - Ladybird, Wasps
Symptom - attack at emergence - eat small holes in the leaves.
Caterpillar of Diamond Back Moth
Symptom
lay eggs on the underside of each kale leaf.
Caterpillar feeds on leaves when it hatches
Spraying with contact insecticide
Sow Resistant Variety
Crop Rotation
Biological Control- Ground Beetle (Increase FYM)
Storage
Can be stored like silage in bales or pit
What is a catch crop?
Any crop that is grown between 2 main crops is called a catch crop.”
Seed Bed Preparation
Ploughed, power harrow, roll after sowing
Firm, fine and level seedbed is required
Disease
Fungal
Prevention
five year rotation
Sow resistant varieties
Club root
Causes root to clump and prevents nutrient uptake from soil
Reduces Yield
Leaf Discolouration
Bacterial Leaf Black Spot
Prevention
Spraying with contact bacterial
Sow Resistant Variety
Crop Rotation
Symptom
Tiny black to purplish spots appear on leaves
Yellow halos appear around the spots
Yield
Factors Affecting Yield
6-10t DM/ha,
High feed value = early spring grass.
Kale is a high-energy feed source (1.12UFL),
crude protein level of 16%-18%
dry matter digestibility of >80%.
high sugar content
Growth Cycle
Seedling - 5 true leaves grow.
True leaves present - Uptake of nitrogen/vegetative growth.
First harvest - Leaves have grown to stage where can be harvested/grazed.
Stem elongation
Plant decline - No longer suitable for harvesting/grazing.
Bolting - Main shoot starts to elongate.
Harvesting
Can be baled or zero grazed
Grazing Method
trip grazing in situ or zero grazing to animals indoors
cattle should be offered 3% of their bodyweight in dry matter (DM) each day
70% of the animal’s dry matter intake
set up short, wide strips to prevent damage and utilisation
Access to roughage (Silage/Hay bales placed in summer or at sowing)
Hay/Silage to provide fibre/prevent acidosis
Gradually introduced to kale in order to prevent Anemia
Herbicide Resistance
Kale
Benefit to Animals/Farmer
High crude protein content - 16%-18%
High DMD – 80%
High Energy -
Less Disease Spread
Provide additional winter feed
High yield. 6-10t DM/ha
Disadvantages
Very labour intensive (strip or zero grazing).
Low in fibre - silage/hay must be provided to prevent acidosis
Produce toxin which causes red blood cells to burst - Nutritional red water,
Low in Iron - Anemia deficiency.
Land may be poached
Mr P Reynolds