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T RADE N E W S
Winter grazing gap fillers:
What are the options?
J
apanese Radish and all the
winter grazing crops (stooling rye, triticale and black and
white oats) can be used to supplement potential gaps in your fodder flow programme at the end of
autumn, through the winter and
in early spring. These crops are
usually cultivated under dryland
conditions should moisture preservation be applied. Alternatively,
irrigation or supplementary irrigation will be required for successful
cultivation.
JAPANESE RADISH
Japanese radish is probably the
most underrated fodder crop
in South Africa. No other crop
can convert water and fertiliser into fodder as effectively as
Japanese Radish. It is a juicy
food source for cattle during
the dry winter months. It is
particularly useful when little or
no grazing under irrigation is
available. It is well adapted for
the cooler eastern parts and can
be utilised from autumn to early
spring. It is not frost-sensitive
and requires about 350 mm of
rain over its four-month growing
period. Japanese Radish grows
best in light sandy soil or sandy
loam soil. Avoid areas that tend to
get waterlogged. The fine seeds of
Japanese Radish need a well-prepared, firm seedbed for successful
establishment. Apply moisture preservation practices in the
months before planting. It could
be beneficial to put a roller over
the seedbed after planting.
Planting in cooler production
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areas should take place from
early to mid-December, although
January until the end of February
is generally the best time. Plant in
rows with spacing of 45 cm to 90
cm and no deeper than 25 mm.
In dryland conditions use about 2
kg of seed per hectare and 3,5 kg
of seed per hectare under irrigation.
The dry material is highly
digestible and a good food source
for cattle and sheep. It is best
to pull out or plough out and
feed the whole radish to cattle,
sheep on the other hand do well
by grazing it in the field.
It is more acid-tolerant than
maize for example. Fertilise the
plant