GLORY

The demand for organic cultivation of rapeseed and legumes is expected to increase in the coming years, particularly due to the anticipated rise in consumption of plant-based foods. Legumes are an essential source of protein, and rapeseed is a key edible oil. At the same time, it is vital that these crops are grown in an eco-friendly way with a low climate footprint relative to yield. Organic farmers face challenges with the cultivation of winter rapeseed and peas related to weeds, diseases, and pests, and rapeseed especially relies on a good nitrogen supply. Improved weed management and better utilization of nutrients are needed to achieve higher and more stable yields, and robust crop rotations are crucial to accomplish this.

The Purpose of GLORY

This project investigates how winter rapeseed, combined with either peas for human consumption or clover grass, can best fit into crop rotations while keeping nitrate leaching - and thereby greenhouse gas emissions - at low levels. New digital tools based on camera technology for mapping perennial weeds will be tested and used in experiments. A new machine (RootUp) for effective control of perennial weeds will be tested and compared with the use of shallow plowing or cutting harrowing. The impact of nitrogen transferred from peas to weeds will be examined in detail, including the significance of different weed control methods. Building on the conducted experiments, field demonstrations for interested parties will be organized, and recommendations for farmers on robust crop rotations with low environmental impact for the cultivation of rapeseed and peas will be provided. It is expected that the GLORY project will contribute to increased yields and reduced environmental impact in organic systems with winter rapeseed and peas for human consumption, resulting in more economically sustainable and environmentally and climate-friendly organic farming systems".

Step-by-Step of the Project

GLORY will:

• examine the effects on diseases, yield, and nitrate leaching when placing winter rapeseed after peas or after plowed grass-clover

• investigate nitrogen transfers from peas to perennial weeds or from peas to winter rapeseed

• compare a new machine for controlling perennial weeds with shallow plowing

• test camera-based equipment for mapping perennial weeds

• conduct field demonstrations with optimized cultivation of peas and winter rapeseed, as well as control of perennial weeds