Do you think you have clubroot in your oilseed rape crop? Do you think you might have clubroot?

Clubroot can decimate oilseed rape crops. It can result in complete fields being lost or in yield reductions which can be massive.

It is a soil-borne disease which stops the root from growing and eventually the plant. Plants appear stunted and die away. Roots cannot move through the soil and access nutrients.

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Club root impacts brassica crops and can be prevented by having a rotation in place. That rotation needs to be five years at least and longer if possible.

In recent years, club root has become more prominent in Ireland. There looks to be a link between brassica catch crops and club root incidence. Farmers growing oilseed rape need to rotate oilseed rape crops at least every five years and should not plant brassica catch or forage crops in fields where oilseed rape is planted.

It should be noted that clubroot can also be spread on boots and tyres and transferred to another field.

Clubroot sampling

If you think you have clubroot on your farm you then Teagasc want to hear from you. You can volunteer your field for sampling and this will help to gather information on clubroot and inform research.

Click here to sign up for sampling.