Characteristics of Brassica Crops
Cool-season perennial grass and grass-legume pastures typically become less productive as the grazing season advances from June to November. Forage brassica crops such as turnip, swede, rape, and kale can be spring-seeded to supplement the perennial cool-season pastures in August and September or summer-seeded to extend the grazing season in November and December. Brassicas are annual crops which are highly productive and digestible and can be grazed 80 to 150 days after seeding, depending on the species. In addition, crude protein levels are high, varying from 15 to 25 percent in the herbage and 8 to 15 percent in the roots depending on the level of nitrogen fertilization and weather conditions.
Adapted Brassica Species & Varieties
Kale (Brassica oleracea L.)
Varieties of kale differ markedly in rate of establishment, stem development, time required to reach maturity, and in winterhardiness. The stemless type kale (e.g. Premier) has a faster rate of establishment than varieties which produce stems. Crop height of the stemless type is approximately 25 inches, whereas that of marrow stem kale is 60 inches with primary stems often 2 inches in diameter. Stemless kale attains maturity in approximately 90 days, allowing two crops/year, whereas varieties that develop stems require 150 to 180 days to attain maximum production. Premier has consistently survived winters in central Pennsylvania, whereas other varieties of kale usually are winter-killed in December.
Rape (Brassica napus L.)
Mature forage rape is one of the best crops available for fattening lambs and flushing ewes. Rape is a multistemmed crop with fibrous roots. The stems vary in length, diameter, and in palatability to livestock. Forage yields of spring- planted rape increase until plants become physiologically mature. Growth slows or ceases at maturity and yields plateau until leaves senesce and die. Varieties differ in when this occurs, however, Rangi rape retains its leaves longer than most varieties. Generally, yields of rape varieties in Pennsylvania are maximized with two , 90-day growth periods. However, performance of Emerald and Winfred rape varieties, is best with one 180-day growth period, and yields of rape hybrids were greatest with 60 days of growth before the first harvest and a 30-day growth period before the second harvest.
Swede (Brassica napus L.)
Like turnip, swedes produce a large edible root. Yields are higher than those of turnip, but they grow slower and require 150 to 180 days to reach maximum production. Swedes usually produce a short stem (neck), but can have stems 2 1/2 feet long when grown with tall crops which shade the swede. Unfortunately, stem elongation is at the expense of root development. The variety Calder was found to be cold hardy in central Pennsylvania and thus ideal for stockpiling and late fall or early winter grazing. In general, all swede varieties are recommended for late fall grazing.
Turnip (Brassica rapa L.) or Turnip Hybrids
These crops grow very fast, reaching near maximum production levels in 80 to 90 days. Studies in southwestern Pennsylvania showed that turnip can accumulate dry matter in October as fast as field corn does in August. Growing "out of season" (October/November) makes turnip a valuable crop for late fall grazing.
The proportions of tops and roots varies markedly depending on variety, crop age, and planting date. Research by the USDA Pasture Laboratory showed that turnip crops can vary from 90 percent tops/10 percent roots to 15 percent tops/85 percent roots. Some hybrids have fibrous roots which will not be readily grazed by livestock. All varieties produce primarily tops during the first 45 days of growth. Sixty to 90 days after seeding, turnip varieties such as Savannah and All Top continue to produce a high proportion of tops. During the same period, other turnip varieties have nearly equal top and root production and Purple Top has a greater root than top production. The significance in the proportion of tops and roots is that the crude protein concentration (8 to 10%) of roots is approximately one-half of that in turnip tops. Therefore, greater root production tends to reduce the crude protein yield of the total crop. On the other hand, stockpiled tops appear to be more vulnerable to weather and pest damage than roots. Varieties differ in resistance to diseases, but this often is not evident until the crop is more than 80 days of age and the plants are reaching full production.
Other Forage Brassicas
Several hybrids of brassica species are also used as forage crops, however, there is limited research information on the production and management of these hybrids. The more common hybrids include a cross between Chinese cabbage (Brassica campesteris sensulato L.) and rape (Perko), turnip (Tyfon, Buko), and swede (Wairangi).
All brassica crops require good soil drainage and a soil pH between 5.3
and 6.8 for optimum production. Good stands can be established by planting 3.5 to 4 pounds
per acre of kale or rape, or 1.5 to 2 pounds per acre of swede or turnip. The higher
seeding rates are recommended for spring plantings. The seeds should be planted in rows 6
to 8 inches apart and not more than one-half inch deep. However, brassica seed can also be
broadcast and incorporated into tilled seedbeds by cultipacking. When preparing a tilled
seedbed for brassica planting, plow the ground several weeks before planting to allow weed
seeds to germinate before secondary tillage is completed to form a firm and fine seedbed
that is free of weeds. In addition, the preplant incorporated herbicide, Treflan
(Trifluralin), is labeled at 0.5 to 1.0 pint active ingredient per acre for control of
annual grass and small seeded broadleaf weeds in brassicas.
Brassica stands can also be established by no-till planting in grass sod that is
suppressed with paraquat or glyphosate herbicides. Read pesticide labels and precautions
before using either of these herbicides. Ideally, the grass sod should be grazed through
June with the grazing prior to brassica seeding being very close. Approximately two weeks
before planting the herbicide should be applied to the grass sod. Another option for
no-till establishment would be to apply a manure slurry to the sod, which will burn the
sod back, and then no-till seed the brassicas seeds through the slurry. In addition to
reduced erosion concerns with no-till planting, there are generally fewer insect problems
than with conventionally seeded brassicas. The following recommendations will improve the
chances of successful brassica establishment.
As previously mentioned, forage brassicas can be grown to supplement perennial cool-season pastures in August and September or to extend the grazing season in November and December. In the first instance, brassicas would be planted in May or early June when spring rains will help assure production for August and September grazing. Turnip, rape, or stemless kale could be used for this purpose. In the second instance, swede or kale would be planted in spring, or rape, turnip and turnip hybrids would be planted in late July or early August, and growth allowed to accumulate until November or December.
Brassicas can be harvested for greenchop or silage but are most
frequently grazed. Grazing management is important to optimize the true potential of these
crops. Strip grazing small areas of brassica at a time provides the most efficient
utilization. Grazing large areas increases trampling and waste of the available forage.
Rape is more easily managed for multiple grazings than are the other brassica species.
Approximately 6 to 10 inches of stubble should remain after grazing rape to promote rapid
regrowth. Regrowth may be grazed in as few as 4 weeks after the first grazing. Graze rape
close to ground level during the final grazing.
When turnips are grazed twice, only the tops should be grazed during the first grazing.
Turnip regrowth is initiated at the top of the root, so this part of the plant should not
be removed until the second and final grazing when the whole plant can be consumed. Like
rape, regrowth of turnips can be sufficient to graze within 4 weeks of the first grazing.
Brassica dry matter yield will depend on the production potential of the
soil and environment, and the brassica species. Average yields in Pennsylvania have been
3.1 tons of dry matter per acre at 90 days after planting. Slower maturing kale and swede
average over 4 tons per acre at 120 days after planting. For a grazing situation, an
average carrying capacity of a good brassica stand would be approximately 1550 ewe- or 160
cow-grazing days per acre.
Dry matter digestibility generally exceeds 90 percent for all plant parts except kale
stems at maturity. By comparision, dairy quality alfalfa hay is approximately 70 percent
digestible. With adequate fertility, brassicas can produce equivalent amounts of
digestible energy per acre as corn yielding 115 bushel per acre. Unlike perennial forage
crops, the dry matter digestibility of brassicas does not decrease markedly with
increasing plant maturity. This characteristic makes them ideal for stockpiling. Ruminant
diets should not contain more than 75 percent brassica forage because the fiber content of
brassica crops is too low for maintenance of proper rumen activity. With their high
digestibility and low fiber content, brassicas should actually be considered as
"concentrates" rather than "forage" in nutritional planning for
livestock. Crude protein concentration of brassicas range from 8 to 10 percent in turnip
roots to 30 percent in rape leaves.
Brassica crops can cause health disorders in grazing animals if not managed properly. The main disorders are bloat, atypical pneumonia, nitrate poisoning, hemolytic anemia (mainly with kale), hypothyroidism, and polioencephalomalacia. Researchers have discovered that these disorders can be avoided by adhering to a couple management rules:
Phosphorus and potassium soil test levels should be in the optimum range
prior to planting. If the phosphorus level is below 55 pounds per acre, the application of
phosphorus during brassica development may be warranted. Application under this condition
tends to increase yield if nitrogen is not limiting growth. However, phosphorus
applications decrease crude protein concentration of the brassica forage.
In addition to the nitrogen applied at planting, when multiple grazings are planned an
additional 70 pounds should be applied between 60 and 80 days after seeding to increase
yield and crude protein level of the brassica tops. Unfortunately, the nitrogen induced
yield increase in turnip and swede tops causes a reduction in root yield. When seeding
into a suppressed grass sward, nitrogen application tends to increase the efficacy of the
suppressing herbicide and reduces the proportion of grass in the brassica-grass sward.
Once established, brassicas are very competitive with weeds. However,
precautions should be made prior to planting to reduce weed competition during brassica
establishment.
Insects, such as aphids, flea beetles, and imported cabbage worms, that feed on brassicas
are not consistently a problem in Pennsylvania. However, appropriate use of insecticides
may be warranted if insect populations become severe.
Diseases such as bacterial soft rot of brassica roots and leaf spot are generally not a
problem until the plants near maturity. Stockpiling (delaying grazing until a later date
than maturity) should not be attempted in fields were brassicas have high levels of foliar
disease at maturity. Research has shown yield reductions of 40 percent when disease
infected brassica crops were stockpiled for 45 days. Generally, Forage Star turnip and
Rangi rape are better suited for stockpiling than other varieties because of lower disease
infestation. To reduce disease occurrence, brassicas should not be grown on the same field
for more than two consecutive years.
Brassica crops can produce high yields of highly digestible forage during periods when perennial forages have limited production. In addition, the digestibility of the forage remains high over a relatively longer period than perennial crops. Few crops offer as much potential as do brassicas to improve livestock carrying capacity from August through December. Spring-seeded brassicas can be used to supplement low producing cool-season pastures or as insurance against summer drought. Summer-seeded brassicas can extend the potential grazing season by providing forage for fall and winter grazing. These characteristics make the use of brassica crops in grazing situations very flexible and appealing to producers utilizing pastures in their livestock operation.
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This page was last updated on November 16, 2002