OSR is making a comeback across the UK, with growers returning to a crop that has faced plenty of challenges.
For a number of seasons, cabbage stem flea beetle, cabbage stem weevil and difficult establishment conditions have made OSR a challenging choice. Dry late summers and autumns have also made it harder to establish strong crops before winter arrives.
Now, however, the crop is returning to more rotations, with some growers calling OSR the UK’s “boomerang crop”. After years away from the rotation, OSR is coming back onto the agenda.
That makes August an important time for growers considering their next crop. Establishment remains crucial, but nutrition also deserves attention as the crop moves towards winter.
Getting OSR Off to the Right Start
The first challenge for any OSR crop is establishing enough growth before winter. A strong, well-rooted plant has a better chance of coping with the conditions that follow.
However, establishment does not end once the crop has emerged. As the plant develops through autumn, it needs access to the nutrients supporting healthy growth and strong development.
This is particularly important as the crop moves through periods of rapid growth, more so than nearly any other arable crop in the UK. Nutritional deficiencies can affect plant health and development, potentially leaving the crop less prepared for the colder months ahead.
That is where a well-planned nutrition programme can make a difference.
Why Boron Matters Before Winter
Boron plays an important role in OSR development, particularly as the crop builds its structure before winter.
Good boron availability supports cell wall development and helps the plant produce stronger, healthier stems for better growth. For OSR, that makes it an important nutrient when building stem strength and preparing the crop for challenging winter conditions.
The timing matters too. Applying nutrition during the mid to late autumn growth period gives growers an opportunity to support the crop before colder and wetter weather places additional pressure on it.
This is one reason why Fielder recommends Embrace as part of an OSR nutrition programme.
Embrace: Supporting OSR Through Autumn
Embrace is a liquid nutritional solution designed to provide the key nutrients OSR needs during periods of rapid growth.
Its formulation combines nitrogen, magnesium, sulphur, boron and molybdenum with 19 amino acids. Together, these nutrients support healthy crop development while helping address potential deficiencies during the growing season.
The product’s high boron content has an important role within the OSR crop. Boron supports cell wall development and contributes to stem stiffness, helping the crop build stronger growth as it heads towards winter.
By containing magnesium and sulphur, Embrace supports important processes within the growing plant. Molybdenum supports establishment and development, while the amino acid content helps support plant health during periods of stress.
The biostimulant Amino Acids play a vital role in helping the plant in potentially stressed situations. They are also excellent at helping the crop transport different nutrients around the plant itself.
The result is a more comprehensive approach to OSR nutrition, rather than focusing on one nutrient in isolation, such as Boron on its own.
Planning Nutrition Before the Weather Turns
OSR can move quickly through autumn when conditions are favourable. That means growers need to think ahead rather than waiting until the crop shows obvious signs of nutritional stress.
This is particularly relevant after the difficult establishment conditions experienced across recent seasons. A crop that has already faced dry weather or uneven establishment may need closer attention as it develops.
Embrace is designed to be quickly absorbed by the growing crop, providing nutrients when the plant needs them. Its liquid formulation also makes it easy to include within an existing crop protection programme, for both the Autumn and the Spring.
For OSR, Fielder recommends applying Embrace at 2.5 to 3.5 litres per hectare during the growing season. Applications can repeat after 14 days if required, with a maximum of two applications per crop.
Order Embrace Now for the Autumn
With OSR returning to more UK rotations, growers have another opportunity to make the crop work on their farms.
The comeback also brings a reminder that successful OSR production depends on getting the fundamentals right. Establishment remains critical, but nutrition has an important role as the crop develops towards winter.
Embrace provides a straightforward way to deliver key nutrients during the autumn growth period, with a high boron content supporting strong crop development and stem stiffness.
If OSR is making its return to your rotation this year, now is the time to review your nutrition programme. Embrace is applied during the mid to late autumn, so ordering ahead means you have the product ready when the crop needs it.
Find out more about Embrace and speak to the Fielder team about your OSR nutrition programme.