MASTER will conduct collaborative field experiments to 
compare two pest management systems for winter oilseed 
rape within a cereal rotation and on a farm-scale, in five 
European countries (Estonia, Germany, Poland, Sweden, UK):
a Standard European Farming System (STN) and an Integrated 
Crop Management System (ICM). Crop management and data 
collection will follow agreed protocols.  Evaluation of crop 
performance will be by means of agreed indicators.  Results will
be assessed collaboratively and be made widely available to End-Users.

The STN System will use current conventional practice for the European Oilseed
Rape Crop as defined by the EU Concerted Action, COST-project AIR 3 
CT 94-2231: Research for the Adaptation of Oilseed Crops Management to 
the new requirements of the Common Agricultural Policy. This network collated 
information on oilseed rape husbandry practices used in all 15 EU Member 
States (Arthur et al., 1999; Christen et al., 1999). Tillage will be by ploughing, followed
by harrowing. Nitrogen application (150-230 kg/ha according to soil analysis), 
will be principally applied in spring with sufficient in the autumn to compensate for 
winter uptake.  Seed will be drilled at a standard seed rate with a 0.12m row width 
from mid-August to mid-September depending on locality and conditions to give a 
final plant population of 50-60 plants m2.  A standard hybrid cultivar will be used in 
all experiments.  Crop protection will follow current commercial practice and will 
rely heavily on pesticides.  These will include application of pre-emergence 
herbicide to control broad-leaved weeds and if necessary a post-emergence 
graminicide to control grass weeds and volunteer cereals. Fungicides will be applied 
in autumn to control light leaf spot (Perenopeziza brassicae), in early spring to 
control light leaf spot and stem canker (Leptosphaeria maculans) and during 
flowering to control stem rot (Sclerotinia sclerotiorum).

The ICM System will modify conventional practice to enhance bio-control of
Rape Pests.The definition of ICM used in this project description is that of the
Integrated Crop Production Alliance (IACPA), i.e. ‘A whole farm policy aiming to
provide the basis for efficient and profitable production which is economically viable
and environmentally responsible.  It integrates beneficial natural processes into
modern farming practices using advanced technology and aims to minimise
environmental risks while conserving, enhancing and recreating that which is
of environmental importance’. Husbandry protocols will be defined using existing
knowledge of partners, information from published literature, and suggestions from
the EU Concerted Action: FAIR-PL96-1314  ‘Minimising pesticide use and
environmental impact by the development and promotion of bio-control strategies
for oilseed rape pests, acronym: BORIS' (Alford et al., 2000).  This latter programme
identified conventional practices (crop rotation, tillage, sow dates and rates,
row spacing, cultivar choice, nutrient use, timing of pesticide inputs, choice of
insecticide and pest thresholds) with potential for modification for an ICM System
to enhance the integration of beneficial natural processes.  Farming system and crop
performance will be analysed using methods developed in the EU project 
AIR 3 CT920755 'Research network on integrated and ecological arable 
farming systems'.