Maximizing Crop Yield: Testing a Winter Wheat Catch Crop
The recent weather conditions may have posed challenges for combining, but they have been favorable for the establishment of cover and catch crops. The moisture and warmth have created an ideal seed-bed for our main cover crops, which were drilled on 2 August after winter barley. These crops are now thriving, with the soil underneath being friable, indicating a promising crop going into the winter.
A new experiment for us this year is the introduction of a catch crop of mustard and buckwheat, which was drilled on 20 August after winter wheat and before winter barley. This practice, which we had not tried before, aims to avoid excessive soil disturbance that may have affected crop performance in the past. The mustard and buckwheat are showing early growth, and we are hopeful for a successful outcome by early to mid-October.
In terms of our recent harvest, the wheat yielded around 8.5-9.0t/ha at 16% moisture, which is satisfactory considering the conditions. The straw yield was also good, providing valuable additional income in our area. Additionally, we have invested in improving our drainage and ditch systems with the purchase of a digger, uncovering and clearing old drains and ditches that were previously neglected.
The linseed has been treated and is looking promising, although we remain cautious given the unpredictability of this year’s crops. Our focus now is on maintaining the health and development of all our crops as we head into the winter season.
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Maria Sanchez completed her Bachelor’s degree in Plant Sciences from the University of California, Davis, in the USA. Her studies focused on plant genetics and biotechnology, with an emphasis on developing disease-resistant crop varieties. Maria has contributed to several research projects aimed at improving crop resilience to climate change and is now pursuing her Master’s degree in Plant Breeding.