Key Points
- An autumn sown oilseed rape trial was established at FAR’s Chertsey arable site to assess optimal time of cutting.
- Twelve cutting dates, from 27 November to 30 December, at intervals of 3-5 days, were assessed for yield and seed moisture.
- The highest seed yields of 4.0 to 4.5 t/ha were achieved when the crop was cut between 60 and 67 days after mid-flowering, with a thermal time requirement of 805-870 growing degree days (GDD).
- Optimum seed yield occurred when seed had a seed moisture content of 44% at cutting.
- Cutting early reduced thousand seed weight and hence seed yield. Cutting later increased the risk of seed losses through factors such as shattering and bird damage.
- Cutting four days early or later than the optimum can reduce revenue by 30 to 50 percent.
- Further work will be carried out in the 2016-17 season to compare cutting and chemical desiccation.