Wholecrop

Wholecrop Mixtures
Spring 2010

Arable silage mixtures – popular with growers looking to expand the area of wholecrop, particularly with a view to raising the protein content within the forage.

The Twickenham Mix

49 % Spring Triticale
51 % White Lupin

This mixture produces huge yields with minimal growing costs. Dieta white lupin is a tall and bulky plant unlike the blue and yellow lupins which would not compete so well with the tall Logo triticale. The Dieta is however later to mature than other lupins. The crop should be harvested when the triticale grain is firm and the lupins seeds are well formed to ensure a satisfactory dry matter is achieved. Price includes enough inoculant to treat both the triticale and the lupins.

Suggested seed rate – 75 kg (50 kg if undersown)

The Lansdowne Mix

This mixture is popular with those looking to achieve a good protein content but without the high reliance of peas in the Millennium Mix. The dry matter will also be higher allowing direct cutting to be an option in many cases if required. Please be aware that the mixtures are done by weight rather than seed number. Even in a 50:50 blend you should expect to have approximately 5 times as many barley seeds as pea seeds due to the difference in size of the grains.

50 % Protein Pea (Thiraflo treated)
50 % Sp. Barley (Single purpose treated)

Suggested seed rate – 85 kg per acre (50-60kg if undersown)

The Millennium Mix

This mixture is ideal for those who are looking to maximise the protein content of the forage. With a high pea content the crop is likely to need a 24 hour wilt to achieve a reasonable dry matter. This blend will give approximately equal quantities of peas and barley in the field.

80 % Protein Pea (Thiraflo treated)
20 % Sp. Barley (Single purpose treated)

Suggested seed rate – 95 kg per acre. (60kg if undersown)

The Murrayfield Mix (Mega Crop Mix)

This type of mixture has been used for many years within Ridley Seeds. It is popular with those looking for a traditional “wholecrop”. The protein content of the forage will be lower than that of the above mixture but the yield and the dry matter are likely to higher.

20 % Protein Pea (Thiraflo treated)
10 % Vetch
35 % Sp. Barley (Single purpose treated)
35 % Oat seed (Single purpose treated)

Suggested seed rate – 75 kg per acre (50 kg if undersown)

Wholecrop Comparisons

	Fresh Yield	DM Yield	Dry Matter	Cr. Protein	Starch
	t/acre	t/acre	%	%	%
Sp. Barley	10	4	39	9	19
Sp Wheat	10	4	41	10	25
Sp. Triticale	10	4	40	9	20
Peas	12	3	25	16	7
Beans	13	3	21	18	6
Lupins	15	3.2	17	21	4
Lansdowne Mix	11	3.5	32	13	12
Millenium Mix	12	3.3	28	14-15	10
Twickenham Mix	15	3.5	23	17	12
Murrayfield mix	12	3.6	30	12	13

This table shows examples of the typical yields and quality that can be achieved from different wholecops.