Winter. Destruction using the frost and/or chemicals MINERALISATION

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1 TECHNICAL GUIDE

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3 WHAT IS A COMPANION CROP? Companion plants ( plantes compagnes in French) are cover crop sown alongside a primary crop to improve its agronomic behaviour and yield. After first developing companion plants for oilseed rape, JOUFFRAY-DRILLAUD is currently also carrying out Plante-Compagne JD experimentation and development operations on other crops, such as wheat, maize and sunflowers at research centres and on large plots of agricultural land. Plante-Compagne JD Colza SEEDING/ESTABLISHMENT SHOOT GROWTH FLOWERING Winter Plante-Compagne JD Colza Destruction using the frost and/or chemicals MINERALISATION N replenishment from companion plants to oilseed rape INCREASED YIELD VALUE WHAT ARE THE DEFINED OBJECTIVES OF PLANTE-COMPAGNE JD COLZA? The benefits of growing oilseed rape alongside a legume-based cover crop has now been demonstrated. The objectives are: 1- To improve the canola yield. 2 - To ensure an improved nitrogen supply to the oilseed rape in late winter by combining it with selected legumes. 3 - To reduce weed competition with the oilseed rape. 4 - To improve soil structure through good aeration in the top 20cm. WHY USE A PLANTE-COMPAGNE JD COLZA SELECTION? Backed by its expertise in cover crops, for 10 years JOUFFRAY-DRILLAUD has been involved in a research and development programme dedicated to companion plants for oiseed rape. This selection programme meets a precise set of specifications for an optimal selection of species and varieties adapted to this agronomic innovation. The main objective remains the improvement of yields by combining with Plante-Compagne JD Colza. Because of their high agronomic value, legumes are an essential basis for this programme, and the varietal type is prioritised over the species. A poor choice of variety could entail severe consequences for the oilseed rape (competition, loss of yields, etc.). 2

4 WHAT ARE OUR SELECTION GOALS FOR PLANTE-COMPAGNE JD COLZA? Rapid establishment and development of companion plants. A high level of soil coverage potential without detriment to the establishment of the oilseed rape. Easier destruction by the gel. A high capacity for mineralisation in late winter, and staggering of the replenishment (C/N ratio) in line with the needs of the oilseed rape. A low TSW for easier joint seeding. JD SOWING ADVICE COULD THIS TECHNIQUE BE SUITABLE FOR ALL OF MY PLOTS? Caution should be taken for plots with high weed pressure : gramineae, particularly dicots; geranium, matricaria, galium, etc... In any case, an appropriate weed control strategy must be adopted under the most difficult conditions. Direct seeding with a lower degree of soil disruption restricts the germination of competing weeds and is well-suited to a Plante-Compagne JD Colza sowing technique. Tilling/Classic Min. Tillage Direct Seeding Low weed risk Medium weed risk High weed risk Appropriate weed control strategy Appropriate weed control strategy Appropriate weed control strategy Not advised Not advised Appropriate weed control strategy Performance of a cover crop combined with canola compared on the geranium control - Direct seeding (2009) g/m² Geranium weed biomass (g/m²) Number of geranium weeds/m² plants/m² 86 g/m² 62 plants/m² 0 Rape pure Rape with Companion Plants Source CETIOM 3

5 WHEN SHOULD I SEED? PRIORITISE EARLY SEEDING: - to promote the growth of the oiseed rape and then of Plante-Compagne JD Colza. - to increase the frost sensitivity of the legumes at the most advanced development stage possible. HOW SHOULD I SOW MY OILSEED RAPE IN COMBINATION WITH PLANTE-COMPAGNE JD? DO NOT ALTER THE RECOMMENDED SEED DOSE OF OILSEED RAPE GRAIN DRILL Single hopper (metering system) Double hopper One-pass (mixture of oilseed rape + Plante-Compagne JD Colza) One-pass or Adjust the drill settings ADVICE: mixture for 4-5 ha maximum. one hopper for the oilseed rape, the other for Plante-Compagne JD Colza PRECISION DRILL One-pass Two-passes if two-box or if using microgranulator (depending on type of grooves) or seed Plante-Compagne JD Colza (reduced spread), then seed oilseed rape 4

6 Selective herbicide The choice of product must consider a compromise between the effectiveness of the weed control and selectivity with regards to Plante-Compagne JD. Destruction of the Companion plants. In the absence of frost.. If the Plante-Compagne JD Colza cover reaches sufficient biomass by the beginning of winter (1-1.5 t DM/ha). WHICH WEED CONTROL STRATEGY SHOULD I USE? Application of herbicides should be considered on a case-by-case basis, according to the risk of contamination of the plot, the growing practices in use and the allowed products. Companion plants used as cover crops significantly reduce weed pressure in the autumn : this technique must be accompanied by an adapted weed control programme, particularly under more difficult conditions! Antigraminaceous weed control is recommended, depending on the conditions. New herbicides pending approval for post-emergence application are currently being tested. They appear to be advantageous solutions going forward to supplement the concept of combining oilseed rape with legumes. PRIORITY: weed control PRIORITY: respecting the cover crop Plante-Compagne JD Colza Plante-Compagne JD Colza Pre-emergence Predicted reduction in plant cover volume: up to 10-20% from 20% to 40% Dimethenamid-p + Metazachlor 2 l* * Metazachlor + Quinmerac * 1 l* Dimethenamid-p + Metazachlor + Quinmerac Oilseed rape + cover crop = POSSIBLE HOW TO FERTILISE? APPLICATION PERIOD Post-early-emergence (seedling stage) Dimethenamid-p + Metazachlor Metazachlor + Quinmerac Dimethenamid-p + Metazachlor + Quinmerac Post-emergence Imazamox + Metazachlor + adjuvant Imazamox + Metazachlor + Quinmerac + adjuvant Oilseed rape + cover crop = POSSIBLE with significant reduction in plant cover volume while retaining the benefits of crop combination *: even greater impact in the event of difficult conditions (hard rain, fast-draining soil, poorly-covered seeds) 2 l* 1 l* 2 l 2 l 2 l 2 l + 1 l + 0,75 l + 0,75 l + 0,75 l Highly effective Highly effective Plante-Compagne JD legume-based cover crops, destroyed during the winter, contribute to the assimilation by the oilseed rape of an additional units of nitrogen. This objective can obtained with a biomass of Plante-Compagne JD Colza of 1 t DM/ha (i.e. 600 g organic matter /m 2 ). This input can be explained by: - the mineralization of the cover crop in above-ground and root biomass. - the improvement of the oiseed rape s rooting thanks to the Plante-Compagne JD root system. - the general improvement of soil function. The oilseed rape thus receives the benefits of its cover crop until flowering, allowing the optimisation of nitrogen fertilisation. Combined oilseed rape plants may present a slightly lower biomass at the start of the winter. Their greener colour, however, often translates into a higher nitrogen content. Depending on the climatic year, companion plants promote the growth of the oilseed rape up to +20% above-ground biomass at stage 60/65. The mineralisation and replenishment dynamic of Plante-Compagne JD is directly linked to the C/N ratio of the selected plants at the time when they are destroyed. 5 Témoin colza seul Plante-Compagne JD Colza 2 Control oilseed rape alone

7 NITROGEN REPLENISHMENT IN OILSEED RAPE For a measured biomass: Organic Matter 600g/m2 i.e. 1 t D.M./ha (ref. 17% D.M.) PLANTE-COMPAGNE JD Colza % Biomass/ entire plant Above-ground biomass 94 % 6 % Root biomass REPLENISHMENT IN OILSEED RAPE (ref. 3.9% N D.M.) (ref. 3.9% N D.M.) 31 kg/ha Nitrogen captured AERIAL BIOMASS 37 Kg/ha Témoin ROOTS non traité + RHIZOSPHERE STRUCTURE 2 Kg/ha Nitrogen captured Indicative data - Source J.D IS THERE AN IMPACT ON OILSEED RAPE PESTS? Some measurements and observations have provided interesting information regarding changes in the behaviour of insect pests in the presence of Plante-Compagne JD. The attack rate is consistently lower in the presence of a cover crop. These observations apply in particular to leaf beetles, sawflies and Ceutorhynchus picitarsis in autumn, whose egg-laying activity is disrupted. Still, it is important to remain vigilant, and the decision to intervene should always take into account the severity of the attack and the harmfulness of the insect. Leaf beetles IS THERE AN INCREASED RISK OF DEVELOPING DISEASES? Sawflies Sensitivity to diseases specific to oilseed rape, such as sclerotinia, does not increase when sowing Plante-Compagne JD Colza. WHAT ARE THE RESULTS? Ceutorhynchus picitarsis Over the past 3 years, experiments and trials on large plots of agricultural land have yielded very encouraging results. Potential gains of up to 3 quintals/ha are regularly obtained in comparison with oilseed rape alone. Under all circumstances, the cost value of the oilseed rape was higher. These yield results can be explained in particular by the development of a higher number of siliquae/m 2 with Plante-Compagne JD Colza. Siliquae 6

8 PLANTE-COMPAGNE JD COLZA Combinations of selected legumes Common vetch NACRE PMG 60 gr Purple vetch BINGO PMG 50 gr Berseem clover TABOR PMG 3 gr Autumn APPROVED JD SOLUTIONS NACRE (Very early common vetch) BINGO (Purple vetch) TABOR (Berseem clover) APPROVED Plante-Compagne JD Colza 1 «Complementary plants, excellent vigour, guaranteed value Source: OLEOTECH August years of testing Plante-Compagne JD Colza 2 BINGO (Purple vetch) TABOR (Berseem clover) 20 kg/ha 160 seeds/m 2 12,5 kg/ha 200 seeds/m 2 Limited plot contamination Improved oilseed rape growth from autumn Improved rooting by the oilseed rape In the winter BENEFITS OF COMPOSITIONS 1- Rapid soil coverage. 2- Secure planting. 3- Improved soil structure. 4- Strong autumnal biomass. 5- Excellent nitrogen replenishment for the oilseed rape. FOR INCREASED OILSEED RAPE YIELD Destruction of the Plante-Compagne JD Late winter ,2 q/ha + 2,4 q/ha + 2,8 q/ha OILSEED RAPE CP yield results JD Vienne en Val (45) Better nitrogen supply to oilseed rape during shoot growth At harvest Oiseed rape alone Oiseed rape + Plante-Compagne JD Colza Improved oilseed rape yield 7 JOUFFRAY-DRILLAUD 4 avenue de la C.E.E CISSE - FRANCE Tél : +33 (0) Non-contractual data provided as indication only AVRIL JD