Summer Brassica Forages in Northland

G.J . Piggot, C.A. Farrell, G.L. Stebleton and P.W. Shannon

Proceedings Agronomy Society of New Zealand 1980, 10: 13-15

ABSTRACT

Trials in Northland assessed the production of October-sown forage brassica crops – turnips, kale, rape, wairoa brassica, and fodder radish. Mean yields in mid-February to early March ranged from 6 to 10 t DM/ha at five sites alhough an exceptional yield (20 t DM/ha) was obtained at a sixth site. No significant differences were measured between crops harvested during late February or early March. Turnips yielded significantly more dry matter than kale or wairoa brassica when harvested in early February while kale yielded more than rape or wairoa brassica if harvested in April in 2 out of 4 trials. Wairoa brassica regrowth following a February harvest (when harvested in April) was significantly greater than kale or rape regrowth in 2 out of 5 trials. Fodder radish needed to be cut prior to bolting to maximise yield  of  reasonable quality dry  matter at a mid-February harvest.

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