Biocrops

(View product guide)

Bi-cropping combines a spring sown cereal (wheat, barley, oats, triticale) and a spring sown legume (peas, lupins) crop. The cereal crop provides energy in the form of starch and the legume crop provides protein. This cropping system has been around for many years but only now is its full potential being realised. Modern harvesting machinery allows the crop to be taken at a later stage, when the nutrients such as starch and protein are at their optimum level.

Bi-crops are very versatile, choosing the right cereal and legume variety combination allows the crop to be grown in a number of locations and soil types. This means that the crop can be grown and fed by dairy, beef and sheep producers. Bicropping not only combines the nutritional benefits of cereals and legumes but also the agronomic benefits. Greater competitiveness against weeds and less susceptibility to disease improve establishment and reduce growing costs. Legumes also have the ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen. This provides some nitrogen for the growing crop but more importantly there is a high level of residual nitrogen for following crops.

Crop selection, harvesting and ensiling are important areas to get right when growing bi-crops. Ensuring good fermentation and preventing aerobic spoilage will maximise forage protein and energy content. wholecrop legume contains specific bacteria to improve fermentation and aerobic stability which leads to better forage utilisation.