Rapeseed (Brassica napus) — an annual herbaceous plant of the family Brassicaceae, widely used as an oilseed crop. It is characterized by a well-developed taproot system penetrating the soil to a depth of up to 3 meters, a cylindrical stem reaching a height of 1.3 to 1.8 meters, and blue-green leaves with hairy undersides. The flowers are yellow, four-petaled, arranged in racemose inflorescences, and the fruits are pods 6-12 cm long, containing 18 to 40 dark-brown seeds weighing 3-5 grams per 1000 seeds. Rapeseed is a cold-tolerant plant requiring moisture and fertile soil, thriving in temperate climates and belonging to long-day plants.
This crop is valued for its high oil content in seeds, which is used for producing food oil, technical oils, biodiesel, cosmetics, and detergents. All parts of the plant have applications: green mass is used as a balanced animal feed, while rapeseed meal, rich in micronutrients and vitamins, promotes rapid and high-quality weight gain in animals. For spring rapeseed sowing, the norm is 6-8 kg per hectare, and for winter rapeseed — 5-6 kg per hectare. Spring rapeseed reaches a height of about 1-1.3 meters, while winter rapeseed can grow up to 1.8 meters. Spring rapeseed is sown in April-May, winter rapeseed in August-September, and harvesting occurs when seed moisture is 9-12%.
Rapeseed is susceptible to several diseases, including alternaria, powdery mildew, false powdery mildew, blackleg, and root rots, requiring careful crop care and protection. Winter rapeseed seeds are available from producers Limagrain and Pioneer, confirming a wide selection of quality planting material for farmers.
