Rapeseed Veles

Veles rape is an annual plant of the Brassicaceae family, used as a cover crop, green manure, fodder, and honey plant. It is valued for its ability to quickly build up significant green mass, especially during cold autumn and spring periods, making it effective for improving soil structure. Rape enriches the soil with organic matter, phosphorus, and sulfur, and its deep, branched root system helps loosen and structure the soil, increasing its aeration and water-holding capacity. Biomass after decomposition becomes easily accessible fertilizer, contributing to the accumulation of humus and organic matter in the soil. The Veles variety belongs to spring rape type 00, which means the absence of erucic acid and low glucosinolate content, as well as reduced fiber content in the seed coat. The vegetation period is 103-110 days, which corresponds to medium-early maturing varieties. Average seed yield over three years of testing reached 3.28 t/ha, exceeding standard indicators. Seeds are characterized by high raw fat content (47.4–48.8%) and protein (19.7–24.4%), as well as reduced fiber levels (6.52–7.62%). Moreover, oleic acid content in the composition of fatty acids is higher by 7.15% compared to the original variety, improving oil quality. The green mass of Veles rape is a highly nutritious feed, easily digestible by animals, while seeds contain twice as much protein as green corn or sunflower mass, making it valuable for livestock feeding. Moreover, rape serves as an excellent honey plant, which contributes to beekeeping development. Thanks to its agronomic and fodder qualities, the Veles variety is recommended for cultivation in various regions, providing both improved soil fertility and quality raw materials for feed and oil production.