How to influence oilseed rape quality
Achieving the required quality targets for oilseed rape can greatly affect the value of the harvested crop, depending on the intended market The main quality targets to consider are glucosinolate levels and percent oil content. Crop nutrition influences both of these traits so it is important the crop receives the correct balanced nutrition.
Balanced crop nutrition is important
Oilseed rape quality targets will depend on the end user’s required specification . The main traits to consider are glucosinolate levels and percent oil content. Crop nutrition will have influences on both of these traits and to achieve the required specification it is important the crop receives the correct balanced nutrition. The use of the oil depends on the contents of these two factors, in addition to erucic acid which no longer is present in the plant material.
Oilseed rape has the following uses:
- Oil for human consumption
- Renewable raw material for the chemical industry
- Source of renewable energy – Biofuel
- Source of high energy and protein content for animal nutrition in the form of cake and meal
- Catch crop for green manure and as a forage crop
Oilseed rape oil was formerly considered unfavorable for human diet because high content of erucic acid resulted unpleasant taste. Breeding programs have decreased erucic acid from 40% to 0%, while polyunsaturated fatty acids (linoleic acid and linolenic acid) of the total fatty acids have increased from 15% to 20% and from 8% to 12%, respectively.
Compared to other vegetable oils it has the lowest saturated fatty acids (6 – 8%) of the total fatty acids and it is rich in plant sterols. There is a high proportion of mono unsaturated oil acid with 58 – 60% of the total fatty acids. It has a sufficient content of linoleic acid (20 – 26%) and linolenic acid (10%) of the total fatty acids and the proportion of linoleic acid to linolenic acid is favorable (2.5:1).
Oilseed rape oil contains adequate levels of tocopherols, i.e. Vitamin E. The table shows a comparison between different oil crops.
Related articles
How to improve oilseed rape establishment
Autumn nutrition is important to get the oilseed crop off to the best possible start. Getting OSR established and away rapidly is the best way to try to counteract the various pests that are rife at that time of year.
How to optimise oilseed rape green area index
The construction of the oilseed rape canopy and development of green area index is greatly influenced by nutrition, from fertiliser application at drilling through to applications of the key nutrients in the spring.
How to influence glucosinolate levels in oilseed rape
Glucosinolates are secondary plant metabolites that occur naturally in all brassica species. They are important for defence against insect pests and diseases but if present at too high a concentration they can cause health issues in humans and livestock.
How to increase oilseed rape oil content
The oil content in an oilseed rape crop depends on seeds per pod, pods per plant and plant per area. To obtain a good quality crop with the desired oil content, the photosynthetic activity must be maximized.
Identify and diagnose oilseed nutrient deficiencies
Identify and diagnose if your oilseed rape is suffering from nutrient deficiencies and learn more about the symptoms and causes and how to control or correct the deficiency
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More oilseed agronomy advice
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