Oilseed Rape Crop Residues: Decomposition, Properties and Allelopathic Effects

Abstract

Oilseed rape, Brassica napus L., is an important crop for producing edible oil, biofuel and fodder. Oilseed rape is not only useful as a commercial plant, but it also improves the structure of the heavy granulometric soil fraction, activates microbiological processes, and reduces weed growth and disease rates. Oilseed rape belongs to the oil crop group, which increases soil fertility during crop rotation. Maintenance and restoration of soil fertility is one of the most relevant topics in agronomy science. One way to increase soil fertility is to increase organic matter content. In agriculture, the amount of organic matter in the soil depends on the crops grown and the residues that they leave. Crop residues of the previous harvest left on the soil surface interfere with soil tillage and sowing operations and can cause problems during application of environmentally sustainable tillage technologies.