FIELD LAB EXAMINES WHETHER CROP COULD BE USED FOR CATTLE FEED AFTER HELPING BATTLE POTATO CYST NEMATODES
A TEAM of lab growers and research at Innovative Farmers are investigating using potato trap crops for cattle silage, which, if successful, could bring about cost savings for growers and make trap cropping a more viable alternative to PCN control.
The group is growing the trap crop DeCyst Broadleaf (Solanum scabrum), to both reduce potato cyst nematode (PCN) and experimenting with using it for cattle feed.
This project seeks to investigate whether it is possible to generate a silage from DeCyst Broadleaf, determine the nutritional value of the silage, determine the feed safety of the silage, and
determine the palatability of the silage.
Trap crops have been proven to be a non-chemical alternative to controlling PCN, with a previous Innovative Farmers field lab showing they can offer up to 80% efficacy. However, they cost the grower in both money and time, and since they are grown in the field the year before the potato crop, they use land which could be used for other crops.
“Trap crops have good levels of protein and calcium, and are leafy, which could make them a viable feedstock for cattle in the UK,” a team statement said. “If trap crops could have other uses such as cattle feed it will enable a single crop to do two jobs in an integrated farm system.”
During the experiment, the DeCyst Broadleaf trap crop will be grown and yield will be assessed (t/ha). The group will then carry out different chopping treatments to discover the best way to process the plant for effective drying. A minimum of 10 bales per treatment will be made. Dry-matter will be assessed prior to baling to ensure the plant material is in a fit state to be baled.
To determine the nutritional value and feed safety of the silage: Three composite samples from bales will be sent for analysis and to determine the palatability of the silage, a cattle experiment will be established (subject to the safety of the silage) comparing trap crop silage, grass silage, and a mix of trap crop with grass. If there is any doubt about the safety of the silage to cattle, the palatability section of the trial will be reduced in scope or dropped in favour of more intensive toxicity assessment of the silage.
More details about the experiment will be included in British Potato Review magazine. To order the digital version for free, sign up for updates here.
Source and photo: Innovative Farmers
