The cultivation of biorape is associated with high risks. The risk of crop failure due to pest infestation is high.
The risk of crop failure should be mitigated with a mixing partner that is harvested at the same time as the rape. Ideal mixing partners are winter oats and winter wheat. The partner is sown between the rows after the last hoeing pass and serves as an undersow to suppress weeds. If the rape is weakened, the mating partner benefits and grows upwards. This compensates for any loss of oilseed rape. Another variant is the sowing of mechanical barriers in the form of strips to prevent pests from entering. The cultivation of strips is very demanding from a technical and planning point of view. Precise tracking requires a satellite-controlled RTK guidance system, which is only available on a few farms.
The occurrence of pests is climate-dependent and strongly seasonal. It is important to carry out the trials in successive years in order to determine the effect on a yearly basis. The trials will take place over a period of 4 years. The trial network that has been set up will be used for information and field events.
