In the south, stubble turnips should be sown by mid-August, with early September the latest date to consider. For crops drilled into broken stubbles, sowing rates will vary from 4-5kg/ha depending on soil conditions and time of drilling.
Stubble Turnips.
| Yield & Feed Quality | |
|---|---|
| Average Dry Matter Yield | Crude Protein |
| 8-10% | 11MJ/kg |
When should I plant stubble turnips?
Rolling after drilling should also help retain soil moisture. Stubble turnips should be sown 12-14 weeks before grazing is required, crops sown in May should be ready for grazing mid-summer and crops sown in July or August are best grazed from November onwards.
Can humans eat stubble turnip?
A fairly deep rooted plant, stubble turnip is mainly grown as a feed for farm animals though it is also suitable for human consumption, especially if eaten when small[87, K].
What is turnip stubble?
Stubble turnips are a fast-growing and high-protein catch crop, popular with livestock farmers. Stubble turnips can be sown after first cut silage for summer grazing or after winter cereals for autumn utilisation. Also useful as a break crop between grass reseeds.
Are turnips good for sheep?
“Turnips offer a great source of nutrition for sheep and lambs can gain 200-250 grams per head per day from a well-managed turnip crop,” said Ms Williams. “There a number of factors to consider when planning to make the most of a turnip crop for sheep next winter.
How long does it take for stubble turnips to germinate?
Stubble Turnips are very quick to establish and can be sown from the early summer, depending on how much moisture there is in the soil. They take on average 100 days to establish.
Why is stubble turnips a good catch crop?
While they don’t offer the highest yield compared to some alternatives, stubble turnips have endured because they are fast-growing, help to build soil fertility and suppress weeds. Independent grassland and forage specialist Charlie Morgan says they are best suited as a break crop on a lowland farm and block grazed.
How much are stubble turnip seeds?
4.5t DM per ha. 2kg per acre / 5kg per ha. Sowing rates may be lowered to produce less leaf, and allow more space for larger bulbs.
Are stubble turnips a cover crop?
As a popular choice with mixed farms, we included stubble turnips into our trial to test its suitability and viability as a cover crop. This mix is known for its speed of establishment and winter hardiness, making it popular for grazing fattening lambs after Christmas.
Are stubble turnips brassicas?
“A brassica mixture, such as the rape, kale and stubble turnip Autumn Keep – or Meat Maker for those wanting a crop for autumn and winter grazing – can be ready for grazing by October and will provide a high protein and high energy balanced diet.”
How much are turnips per acre?
Plant only 2 to 3 pounds of turnip seed per acre. The seed is very small, so barely cover it. Simply broadcasting seed onto tilled soils works well for many growers, especially on rough seedbeds where rainfall or irrigation washes soil onto the seeds for soil coverage.
Will cattle eat turnips?
Turnips will range from 70 to 80% TDN and 14 to 22% CP. Thus oats and turnips make a great feed source for growing or lactating cattle such as fall calving cows. If we assume 70% TDN for the mix, the cost would range from $0.025 to $0.07 per lb of TDN.
What root veg do farmers feed sheep?
Stubble turnips (bulbing varieties)
Samson – can produce huge tankard shaped purple roots which are very palatable to both sheep and cattle.
Can you direct drill turnips?
Sowing method
The seed can be sown by broadcasting or drilling. Drilling equipment will distribute the seed more evenly, but still requires rolling after sowing.
Can you feed turnips to pigs?
You can feed your pigs pretty much anything that you grow, and the list of things you can’t feed your pigs is shockingly short. We purposely grow turnips, leafy greens, squash, and corn for our pigs. They also willingly gorge themselves on veggies at the end of the season that we don’t have time to harvest.
Do stubble turnips fix nitrogen?
Although having limited data, we have seen similar results with stubble turnips capturing nitrogen and making this available in the following crop.
Do turnips fix nitrogen?
Nutrient increase: Turnips grow very fast, which helps them scavenge high amounts of nitrogen. Weed suppressor: The decomposing residue suppresses weeds until the spring.
How long does it take for cover crops to grow?
When 5-6 inches tall, use a garden fork, shovel, weed wacker or rototiller to turn the cover crop into the ground to break down and enrich soil for planting. The breakdown process takes about a month.
What are forage crops?
Forage crop. A crop of cultivated plants or plant parts, other than separated grain, produced to be grazed or harvested for use as feed for animals.
Lorraine Wade is all about natural food. She loves to cook and bake, and she’s always experimenting with new recipes. Her friends and family are the lucky beneficiaries of her culinary skills! Lorraine also enjoys hiking and exploring nature. She’s a friendly person who loves to chat with others, and she’s always looking for ways to help out in her community.