Care for rapeseed in the bud/beginning of flowering phase

In mid-April, rapeseed in most regions of Bulgaria has already made buds and is preparing to bloom. The period is very important for the quality pollination of the crop and, accordingly, the high yield from it. It is extremely dependent on the presence of micro and macro elements in its development and reacts strongly to their deficiency. Ensuring the needs for boron during budding is key to the formation of flower buds and the laying of high-oil seeds in the pods. Boron has a direct relationship with the absorption of calcium, which in turn helps preserve the pod and protects it from premature cracking.

Symptoms of boron deficiency in rapeseed - stopping the growth of the main stem, formation of a small number of flower buds and pods, deformation of the leaf petiole, dwarfism, reduced resistance of plants to diseases, hollow stem and root, cracking of the stem.

The favorable climatic conditions currently create an opportunity to provide and stock up on boron needs, as the options we offer from Bulagro are:

• BOROPLUS - a Valagro product, which consists of 11% pure boron, in the form of boronethanolamine, which is its most absorbable form, and guarantees the provision of needs without high doses. This product is unparalleled on the market, because there is no other boron that is as absorbable and with such a high content. We recommend applying Boroplus in a dose of 100ml. If microelements have not been applied to the field at an earlier stage, the product can be combined with Valagro EDTA Mix in doses of 100ml Boroplus + 100g EDTA Mix.
• CODAMIN B-Mo is the new product from SAS, which contains 6.45% Boron, 0.2% Molybdenum and 12.3% amino acids. This biostimulant creates a unique synergy that improves the transport and movement of elements in the plant. Kodamin B-Mo preserves the energy of plants by stimulating their resistance to adverse conditions. The overall effect of the product, in addition to correcting boron and molybdenum deficiencies, favors an increase in yields and quality of production.

For overall strengthening of plants and maintaining good flowering in this phase, you can also apply the biostimulator MEGAFOL at a dose of 100-150 ml/ha. It will also help overcome stress conditions, such as large temperature amplitudes.

With the flowering of beautiful rapeseed plants, two important enemies of the crop appear - Rapeseed flower beetle and Cabbage pod borer.

The rapeseed flower borer is observed when temperatures rise above 15°C and causes damage with the adult by gnawing the buds to reach the pollen. The economic damage threshold for the flower borer varies from 2-6 pcs./plant, depending on the phenophase and the density of the crop. The fight against the enemy can be easily carried out with Sumicidin / Sumi Alpha, which provides complete control of the pests with only 20-30ml/decar. Alternative options are Biscay 240 OD at a dose of 25ml/ha and Avant 150 EC at a dose of 17ml/decar.

More dangerous for the crop, however, is the cabbage pod borer. It appears at an average daily temperature above 13oC, with the adult beetle feeding on the flower buds, and the larva - on the seeds. The direct damage from this species is not great, but it creates conditions for the appearance of the cabbage midge, which lays its eggs in the pods and can lead to a total loss of yield. To control its development and spread, you can use Proteus 110 OD at a dose of 50ml/decar.

Due to the heavy rainfall in recent weeks in most regions of the country, it is possible that the Sclerotinia / White rot disease may be detected in rapeseed fields. High humidity is a prerequisite for the multiplication of the mycelium, and the short crop rotation preserves the outbreaks. The fungal pathogen persists in the soil for 6-8 years, which is why it is extremely important to react quickly and precisely when it appears. Our agronomists recommend the product Mirador Forte 160 EC at a dose of 175ml/decar, because it is a two-component fungicide with preventive, curative and systemic action.

We advise you to inspect your rapeseed crops frequently and if you have any questions or doubts, you can contact our regional sales representatives and agronomists.