Wholecrop BPX
Pea x Barley wholecrop mixture
Ideal Planting Date: Mid-March to Mid-April
Ideal Sowing Depth: 3–4 cm
Why Peas?
✓ Higher protein and ME than straight cereal wholecrop
✓ Potential to add +70kg/ha of Nitrogen to the following crop
✓ Similar harvest date to Spring Barley companion crop
✓ 3–5 weeks earlier than Lupins
Why Maple Peas?
✓ More vigorous than other peas—Easier to establish!
✓ Tannin in seed protects it from pests and disease
✓ Less attractive to pigeons!
✓ Higher protein % than conventional peas
Why Rose?
✓ At 24.8% = Highest grain protein of all varieties on the PGRO list
✓ High grain yield for a Maple Pea, gives optimum nutrient densities
✓ Proven in wholecrop trials
✓ Tall, very stiff-stemmed, semi-leafless variety
✓ Early ripening
✓ Small seeded varieties for easier drilling and low seed rates
✓ More compatible with barley than aggressive forage peas
Why Spring Barley?
✓ Proven high wholecrop yield
✓ Better ‘D’ value than Wheat, Triticale or Oats
✓ Earlier than the other spring cereals
✓ Harvest date similar to peas
Why Westminster Barley?
✓ Good grain yield for optimum energy density
✓ Aggressive tillering and very competitive
✓ Tall, fairly stiff, but highly digestible straw
✓ Excellent Mildew and Rhynchosporium resistance
Mixtures with other cereal and pulse species are also available
Mixture
Planting method | Seed Rate |
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Drill
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70-75* kg/acre (175-190* kg/ha)
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Increase seed rate if sowing after 15th April. Decrease seed rate by 30% if under-sowing.
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UNDERSOWING fertile soils, standard Wholecrop BPX can shade grass seedlings, especially slower growing, longer term species. For these situations there is a version with a shorter, less aggressive barley. To optimise grass establish
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