The use of canola as an alternative forage crop to oats and vetch was investigated in research conducted at Curyo in 2017.
Considering the smaller seed size of canola, there could be significant benefits for storage, but understanding canola as quality feed in the Wimmera and Mallee is still relatively unknown.
Being able to use canola in a pasture phase could also assist with grass weed and root disease control.
Canola was sown in this trial as a mono-culture, and in combination with vetch and oats. The purpose of the research was to determine what the quality and quantity of the resulting feed is with regards to these combinations of crop species.
Because of the early vigour and rapid biomass accumulation of oats, they dominated the plant number in the crop mixtures.
Vetch produced the lowest biomass, with canola biomass lying between that of oats and vetch. Limited vetch production may have been due to the high levels of soil nitrogen (N), considering the paddock had previously been a mechanical long fallow.
Biomass cuts were taken twice, 17 July and 2 October, as these represented the start of grazing and potential hay cut in the absence of grazing, respectively.
The first cut showed that all species had a high protein content, which may be due to the high mineralised N at the location. Plots that contained oats had a higher energy content compared other species.
Canola was high in protein at the October biomass cuts, but it had the lowest metabolisable energy content. While vetch had the highest protein and energy content.
Calculation of the land equivalent ratio (LER) helps determine if species are better cropped in combination or individually. The reason for investigating this is that intercropping can result in greater yields than if crops were grown separately.
Results showed that there was a positive effect on LER when vetch and oats are grown together, but this was not the case for oats and canola.
These results show that forage production could benefit from having a portion of the system in monocultures and intercropped mixtures to fill the feed gap.
Further analysis and results from this research are presented in the 2017 BCG Season Research Results compendium, and this topic will also be presented at the BCG Trials Review Day on Friday 16 February at the Birchip Leisure Centre.
This is a members only event, but memberships can be purchased prior to, or on the day. For more information phone BCG on 03 5492 2787.
