Take a look at the images below, if your Oilseed rape looks like any of the pictures, we have written what the likelihood deficiency would be, read more to find out the solution to get your oil seed rape growing to its maximum potential.
Manganese
A feint and diffuse yellowing or mottling that occurs between the leaf veins. On certain soils, with high Iron or Magnesium indices Manganese and Magnesium shortages occur together causing similar visual symptoms.
First seen on the older leaves of the plant, a yellow marbling effect at the leaf edges between the veins. This increases as the plant develops. On certain soils, with high Iron or Magnesium indices Manganese and Magnesium shortages occur together causing similar visual symptoms. Other metals have an antagonistic effect if they are too abundant.
Visual symptoms of sulphur shortages are hard to find in the field. Rape flower colour is a useful indicator of sulphur status. If the flower is intense yellow when held to the sun it is ok. If is pale yellow with white tips to the petals it is lacking. The photo shows a good comparison of this colour difference.
Copper is crucial for pollination sites. A shortage of copper in Oilseed Rape can have a profound effect on the yield of the crop as the pod development sites are reduced.
So much Boron has been applied in the UK since the eighties that it is almost impossible to find this deficiency in the field. If you see it let us know – we’d love to look! Typical symptoms range from leaf cupping and poor vigour with slow development to stem cracking, growth point die off, and internal stem cavities with corky malformed growth.