DR RAJA HARUN, SENIOR HORTICULTURE TECHNOLOGIST, GREENMOUNT CAMPUS
Mustard crops are normally used for green manures to add organic matter to the soil, but research the U.S.A. and Europe has shown that they also have the potential to suppress weeds and soil-borne pests.
Horticulture technologists at the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE), have been evaluating the above claims at Greenmount Campus and with local vegetable and strawberry growers.
Mustard as a winter crop takes 25 weeks from an autumn sowing to incorporation in early April, or as a summer crop, which takes only 8 weeks. The crop is cut and chopped when in full flower bloom (as this is the most effective stage) and immediately incorporated into the soil. In the presence of water the chopped material produces isothiocyanate gas, which destroys weed seeds and soil pathogens.
The results so far have shown that there are reductions in weed germination at two weeks after incorporation.
Teresa Maguire, Horticulture Technologist at Greenmount said that: "In conjunction with local growers, we are continuing the project in 2007. This project will verify the findings in a range of crops, including an organic crop. In addition, the contribution to nitrogen and organic matter by the mustard crop will also be assessed."
For further details please contact Teresa Maguire, Horticulture Technologist on 028 9442 6694 or Joan Hamilton, Edible Crops Adviser on 028 9442 6683 or 077 7575 7251.
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. Photo captions:
Photo 1: CAFRE staff in a mustard crop in Comber just before incorporation in July 2006. Left to Right: Teresa Maguire, Horticulture Technologist, Colin Alexander, On-Farms Team Manager and William Warwick, On-Farms Team Assistant Manager.
Photo 2: A mustard crop in Comber just before incorporation in July 2006. Left to Right: Teresa Maguire, Horticulture Technologist, Martin Donnelly, strawberry grower, Tandragee and Joan Hamilton, Edible Crops Adviser.
2. All media enquiries to DARD Press Office, Tel: 028 9052 4619.
