Trial Report Summary

Wheat-Phacelia Intercrop

Crop Type(s):
Wheat
Centre(s):
PCDF
Year(s):
2020-2021
Collaborators(s):

PCDF

Objective(s):

To evaluate intercropping potential for wheat and phacelia.

Project Findings:

Please see the attached report.

Background:

Phacelia is a flowering broadleaf plant that may be included in cover crops mixtures as an outstanding pollinator species with moderate soil texture-building characteristics. Honey producers prize the crop for its long flowering period and light honey quality. Conversely, cereals crops such as wheat rely on wind for pollination, and do not provide good habitat for pollinators. Intercropping wheat and phacelia increases in-crop diversity, provides pollinator habitat in cereals crops (which are usually less attractive to pollinators), and can attract beneficial predators, such as wasps that predate wheat midge. This trial evaluates the potential for intercropping wheat and phacelia, and the effect of different rates of phacelia on wheat yield in particular.

PDF:

Entire findings are available by downloading the report PDF.

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