turkeyreaper

The first year I planted Rape seed it grew up to my knees, the deer ate it to the dirt. Last year it did not grow as good but the deer still ate it to the dirt. This year it is only up half as much and alot of it is starting to turn brown and this summer has had more ran than ever.
Any ideas??

greg-dude

No ideal what exactly it is, but can give you some posibilities. First would be fertility, but I don' t think it is. Second could be disease or insect buid up which could effect the growth. Third, is that the plant itself produces some type of toxic which inhibits its growth in future years.

Most likely it' s number two. Try to rotate the plot with a legume or a grain crop which could break a disease or insect cycle. I am sure others on this site will have more specific information.

farm hunter

I assume you replanted each year?

If so, and you did not do a soil test, you would probably be surprised how much Nitrogen and Phosphorous were needed each year - especially if it was " eaten to the ground" . It sounds like N deficiency, but could be a disease or pest as well (like cutworms). Rapeseed has a big Nitrogen requirement.

Dan O.

I agree with farm hunter. If you' ve had the field stripped without fertilizing the crops will get smaller. What is the maturity date for the Rape in your area? Is it over mature?

Dan O.

wigmap

I was thinking that I read somewhere that rape, turnips, things of this nature should not be planted in the same plot more than 2 years because of a fungal disease that happens to them if planted in the same plot year after year. Maybe that is it. Next year if you can try a different plot or rotate what you plant as was suggested in one of the other posts.

lunchbucket

Do soil samples...