Cruciferous green fodder crops
Cruciferous green fodder crops (turnips, leaf cabbage and marrow-stem kale) are a valuable alternative in roughage production, especially in years with abnormal weather conditions. These crops allow to obtain maximum quality roughage production in an economical way. They can also supplement the grazing ration and extend the grazing period.
Turnips
Turnips are mainly grown on sandy soil. They are mainly fed fresh. The best time to sow is the end of July and the first half of August. When choosing a variety, preference is given to varieties with a high DM yield, a low tare content, good frost resistance (fresh feeding over a long period), good leaf abundance and long green foliage (mechanical harvestability). Clubroot (Plasmodiophora brassicae) can cause serious damage, but this disease is no longer common.
Main characteristics of turnip varieties1
| Variety | Year of admission | Total DM yield2 | DM yield of leaf2 | DM yield of tuber2 | Leaf density (1-9)3 | Tare (%) | Greenness of leaf at harvest (1-9)3 | Evergreen during winter (1-9)3 | Frost-resistance of the tuber (1-9)3 | Degree of clubroot sensitivity (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DURMELANDER | 1991 | 104 | 107 | 98 | 8.7 | 3.7 | 8.1 | 8.3 | 7.5 | 64 |
| LEIELANDER RvP | 1961 | 97 | 93 | 102 | 7.9 | 4.6 | 6.8 | 6.9 | 3.8 | 56 |
| 100 = ... ton/ha | - | 6.4 | 3.9 | 2.6 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
1 Publication of the entire table from the Belgian descriptive and recommended variety list is allowed when given proper reference; publication under own name is not.
2 100 = average of all varieties of turnips on the Belgian variety list
3 The higher the number, the better
Marrow-stem kale and leaf cabbage
Cabbage leaves generally yield less than turnips but leave more stubble in the soil. As with turnips, it is recommended to sow leafy cabbage at the end of July to the first half of August. When sown during the second half of July, marrow-stem kale yields more than leaf cabbage and turnips. With early sowing, some varieties can form rather coarse stems. Contamination with soil, such as can occur during harvesting under wet conditions, is detrimental to feed intake. When choosing a variety, in addition to the DM yield, digestibility (quality roughage), good lodging resistance (little harvest loss and soil contamination during chopping) and good winter resistance (feeding fresh over a long period) are important.
Main characteristics of marrow-stem kale and leaf cabbage varieties1
| Variety | Year of admission | Total DM yield2 | Digestibility (%) | Early growth (1-9)3 | Winter hardiness (1-9)3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DINO | 1997 | 96.5 | 78.8 | 7.9 | 7.4 |
| WILMA | 2001 | 96.4 | 79.9 | 7.2 | 7.5 |
| NAPOLEON | 2005 | 107.1 | 80.5 | 8.8 | 7.7 |
| 100 =...ton/ha | - | 4.25 | - | - | - |
1 Publication of the entire table from the Belgian descriptive and recommended variety list is allowed when given proper reference; publication under own name is not.
2 100 = average of all varieties of marrow-stem kale and leaf cabbage on the Belgian variety list
3 The higher the number, the better