Kale Production Notes - Complete.docx

**[Kale Production (Catch Crop)]** **Cover Crop:** In agriculture, cover crops are plants that are planted to cover the soil rather than for the purpose of being harvested. Cover crops manage soil erosion, soil fertility, soil quality, water, weeds, pests, diseases, biodiversity and wildlife in an...

**[Kale Production (Catch Crop)]** **Cover Crop:** In agriculture, cover crops are plants that are planted to cover the soil rather than for the purpose of being harvested. Cover crops manage soil erosion, soil fertility, soil quality, water, weeds, pests, diseases, biodiversity and wildlife in an agroecosystem---an ecological system managed and shaped by humans. Cover crops may be an off-season crop planted after harvesting the cash crop. They may grow over winter. **Cash Crop:** A cash crop or profit crop is an agricultural crop which is grown to sell for profit. **Catch Crop:** A catch crop is a fast-growing crop that is grown between successive plantings of a main crop. They are usually cultivated for animal feed, where they can be grown quickly for **winter** **feed**. For example, if a farmer has time between harvesting barley in the autumn and sowing a new crop in the next spring, they can sow a catch crop. ***Our example is Kale. This is also considered a cover crop.*** Other examples of catch crops: Cabbage and rape. *Note: Ploughing a catch crop back into the soil can help improve soil structure.* +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | **Advantages of a Catch Crop | **Disadvantages of a Catch Crop | | (Kale)** | (Kale)** | +===================================+===================================+ | 1. 2. 3. 4. a. | 1. 2. 3. | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ **Energy Crop:** Energy crops are low-cost and low-maintenance crops grown solely for energy production by combustion (not for food), e.g. Miscanthus. The crops are processed into solid, liquid or gaseous fuels, such as pellets, bioethanol or biogas. The fuels are burned to generate electrical power or heat. ***We can choose either an 'Energy Crop' or a 'Catch Crop'. As we have chosen Kale as our 'Catch Crop', we will not study an 'Energy Crop'.'*** **Catch Crop - Kale.** 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. **The Growth Cycle of Kale** 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. (Breaking Ground, 3rd Edition, 2019) **Cultivation of Kale:** - - - **Seedbed preparation:** - - 1. Soils that are well structured: 2. - - **Fertiliser Requirements:** - - - - - - - - - **Weed Control:** Good germination and a well established crop is essential in controlling weeds. The seed bed and sowing of the crop is crucial to achieve good establishment. This ensures the crop and emerge well and it does not give time for weeds to grow and out compete the main crop. Spraying a glycophosphate prior to sowing is essential to remove weeds and any dormant weed seeds in the seedbed. Herbicides prior and post sowing/cultivation may be used but the list suitable for kale production is limited. **Disease Control:** Club root is the main threat to Kale. Club root is a fungal disease that is within the soil. It causes the roots to swell and rot. Hence, reducing the yield. A one in five year rotation for brassicas like kale to keep club root levels low is suggested. If present, club root can last 20 years in the soil. **Pest Control:** Flea beetles can attack as the crop emerges. They eat small holes in the leaves. Treat with insecticide. Slugs can be problematic but can be treated with slug pellets. The diamond back moth (caterpillar) is the most damaging pest to Kale. It lays eggs on the underside of the kale leaf. This pest is prone in warm weather. Treat with insecticide. **Harvesting of Kale:** - - - - - - **Sample Paper 2020** **Q4**  **NOTES:**