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Oilseed Rape in Fife
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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
This is a picture of a field of oilseed rape, just coming into flower. It was taken yesterday luchtime whilst travelling up through Fife on the A91, not far from Gauldry. I rather think I should try to take some more pictures from this spot in a week or two to try to catch the flowers in full bloom.
What I did not know was that rape is a type of brassica. I found some basic information on this site: www.ukagriculture.com/crops/oil_seed_rape.cfm:
Oilseed rape
"The word "rape" as applied to oilseed crops is derived from the Latin word rapum that means turnip. Today turnip rapes and the similar but more common swede rapes are grown for their oil and are widely recognised by their bright yellow flowers that can be seen from late april onwards.
"Rapeseed crops have been cultivated throughout much of the world for at least four thousand years although it was not until the 13th century in Europe that this was done on a commercial scale. At the time its primary use was as a lamp oil but prior to this the oils had been used in soaps and for other purposes.
"In 1740 Carl Linnaeus noted that the crop had a useful soil improving role that aided the performance of following crops. This is a role that is still vital today and oilseed rape is known as a "break crop" - one that helps improve the yield of the following cereal crops, in particular wheat.
"Despite its useful role as a break crop, oilseed rape cannot be grown too regularly in the same field for the risk of a serious disease build up. Oilseed rape is always grown as part of a farm rotation and rarely returns to the same field more than one year in six. Other important break crops include, potatoes, sugar beet, grass leys, peas and beans all of which allow insects and fungal pests to die out between cereal crops.
"In the UK the oilseed rape crop was barely known until the 1970's when the explosion in commodity prices and targeted support from the CAP raised the price to a sufficiently high level that farmers chose to grow it. Now, around 400,000 hectares of oil seed rape is grown annually, roughly one eighth of the area of wheat and barley. Most of this is autumn sown and known as winter oilseed rape.
"Oilseed rape is not a very high yielding crop by comparison with cereals. Typically winter rape yields around 3 tonnes per hectare compared with 8 tonnes per hectare for wheat. However, with a higher price and the "break crop" benefit to the following wheat crop, oilseed rape remains an important crop in the arable rotation and currently the UK is about 90% self sufficient.
"Today's varieties of oilseed rape have been bred to provide an oil that is suitable for use in cooking and food processing. Known as vegetable oil, the oil is widely used by the food industry and is now being increasingly processed for use as biodiesel."
Picture shot in RAW using my new wide-angle zoom and a polarising filter. Converted and edited in PSE6.
All comments/critiques/advice welcome! |
dareco, lrw1966, jean11-3 has marked this note useful
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- dareco
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(8266) - [2008-04-29 0:32]
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This picture is absolutely beautiful!!! Perfect color and sharpness. A really pretty scene. TFS
John Hi:
Wonderful POV, colors and clariy with an excellent note, as well. I look forward to the next shot in a week or so.
Larry
United States
TFS!!
Hello John,
I think I prefer this image to your TL posting taken at the same time.
The green of the plants looks particularly succulent here, before the yellowness of the flowers has appeared, which can overwhelm the senses of both sight and smell in full bloom.
The superb sharpness of your 10mm lens has made itself evident again. I think the polariser has probably helped the green of the plants as well as the blue of the sky here.
The small trees punctuate the sky line neatly, to make a fine composition.
Out of interest, I posted a rape field picture myself about a year ago.
Regards,
Peter.
Superb dof. Love the composition with the one slightly taller flower in the front.
Spring is here!
Hello John,in this shot you have managed to have the fg plants perfectly in focus and all the bg too,wonderful job.I like that the field isn't fully yellow, just a hint of what is to come.
The blue sky, the hills and the trees add to the scene.
Excellent notes.
Tfs, regards Jean.
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