Types of Crops and Kale Farming

Types of Crops

• Cash crops are grown for profit and sold in the market.
• Catch crops are fast-growing crops grown between main crops, often used for animal feed.
• Energy crops are grown for energy production, such as Miscanthus, which is processed into fuels like bioethanol or biogas.

Kale

• Kale prefers free-draining loam or sandy soil with a pH of 6-7.
• Kale is typically sown between April to July.
• Kale takes 5-6 months to mature.
• Kale is often used as a fodder crop, usually grazed in situ by cattle or sheep.
• Kale can be harvested using a zero-grazing or strip-grazing system.

Grazing Systems

• Strip grazing is a popular method, but requires suitable land to avoid poaching.
• Zero grazing involves cutting the crop and bringing it to housed animals.

Kale Nutrition

• Kale should make up 70% of an animal's diet, supplemented with 30% silage or hay.

Storage and Advantages

• Kale can be stored as bales of 'kaleage' through ensiling.
• Kale reduces winter feed and housing costs, is high in crude protein, prevents soil erosion, reduces nitrogen leaching, increases soil organic matter, and enhances biodiversity.

Disadvantages and Pest Management

• Kale is susceptible to pests and diseases, and may cause land poaching if grazed in situ.
• Club Root, a soil-borne fungus, can be controlled through crop rotation and resistant varieties.
• Flea Beetle can be controlled using contact insecticide.