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24/05/2011 16:54:24
The next generation low biomass oilseed rape
Farmer and seed grower, Chris Butler started growing Astrid seed for Grainseed 4 or 5 years ago and is now growing the new variety Cubic.
"I have always rated Astrid and have got on really well with it. But a step up in my view is the new low biomass variety Cubic, which I have grown as a seed crop for a couple of years. In fact I have been impressed enough with it to start growing it as a commercial crop on the farm," says Chris.
Chris considers Cubic to be a very good all round variety, with as good disease resistance as Astrid (with a 7 rating for Phoma and a 5 for Light Leaf Spot). "Just like Astrid, Cubic is a short variety that is easy to grow and much quicker to combine. Both these varieties leave much less stubble behind which can be ploughed straight in, saving time, wear and tear and money. High biomass rape varieties can leave between 1 and 1½ feet of stubble, which needs costly additional cultivations to deal with, especially with the rising cost of diesel."
"Both Astrid and Cubic are much quicker to harvest, saving time and money. Both also have excellent stem stiffness and resistance to lodging, so stand well making management and combining easier. We have never had a crop lean, let alone lodge on the farm."
"Under ideal growing conditions I have grown 5 t/ha of Cubic and even in some fields with severe rabbit damage Cubic has yielded 4.5 t/ha off the combine meter. It has also produced excellent oils. Few other varieties, conventional or hybrid, perform as well in my view," says Chris.
"Being a direct descendant from Astrid, Cubic can claim its position as the next generation low biomass rape variety. It yields well - in HGCA trials in 2009 Cubic had 6% more yield and 1.8% more oil than Castille and in 2008 5% more yield and 2% more oil than Castille. Overall Cubic has an excellent oil content of 45%." says Neil Groom of Grainseed.
Neil Groom points out that in Official trials Cubic was the highest yielding variety in the NIAB TAG West Region last year. "In addition it flowers early and shows early seed maturity, allowing earlier harvest and fitting in well with most arable rotations."
"I have always rated Astrid and have got on really well with it. But a step up in my view is the new low biomass variety Cubic, which I have grown as a seed crop for a couple of years. In fact I have been impressed enough with it to start growing it as a commercial crop on the farm," says Chris.
Chris considers Cubic to be a very good all round variety, with as good disease resistance as Astrid (with a 7 rating for Phoma and a 5 for Light Leaf Spot). "Just like Astrid, Cubic is a short variety that is easy to grow and much quicker to combine. Both these varieties leave much less stubble behind which can be ploughed straight in, saving time, wear and tear and money. High biomass rape varieties can leave between 1 and 1½ feet of stubble, which needs costly additional cultivations to deal with, especially with the rising cost of diesel."
"Both Astrid and Cubic are much quicker to harvest, saving time and money. Both also have excellent stem stiffness and resistance to lodging, so stand well making management and combining easier. We have never had a crop lean, let alone lodge on the farm."
"Under ideal growing conditions I have grown 5 t/ha of Cubic and even in some fields with severe rabbit damage Cubic has yielded 4.5 t/ha off the combine meter. It has also produced excellent oils. Few other varieties, conventional or hybrid, perform as well in my view," says Chris.
"Being a direct descendant from Astrid, Cubic can claim its position as the next generation low biomass rape variety. It yields well - in HGCA trials in 2009 Cubic had 6% more yield and 1.8% more oil than Castille and in 2008 5% more yield and 2% more oil than Castille. Overall Cubic has an excellent oil content of 45%." says Neil Groom of Grainseed.
Neil Groom points out that in Official trials Cubic was the highest yielding variety in the NIAB TAG West Region last year. "In addition it flowers early and shows early seed maturity, allowing earlier harvest and fitting in well with most arable rotations."
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