Rape, oddly enough, belongs to the genus Cabbage and the Cabbage family. Since about the end of the 20th century, it has been ranked among the plants of important economic importance and actively participating in the formation of the consumer stock of food on the planet. What does rapeseed look like, where is it grown?
What is rapeseed
This is an annual herb, resistant to cold and unpretentious in relation to the presence of moisture, as well as to the fertile characteristics of the soil. It is because of this that rape grows well in the temperate zone, which is characterized by strong annual temperature fluctuations from very warm in summer to rather low in winter.
Rapeseed fields can be recognized by their yellowness, as bright as the summer sun itself. At the same time, in agriculture, there are two varieties of this plant - winter and spring. It propagates by seeds, and seedlings can bear fruit even at sub-zero temperatures (up to -5 degrees), and adult plants can withstand up to -8 degrees Celsius, although a range of 14-17 degrees is considered optimal for growth and fruiting.
Agrarians also plant several varieties of rape, which are divided into late-ripening, mid-ripening and early-ripening. It rises quite quickly - literally on the fourth day after planting, and by 30-40 days it already bears fruit. According to the Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation, in 2006 the area of rapeseed cultivation was only 432 thousand hectares throughout the country, and by 2009 this figure had already exceeded 690 thousand hectares. The main planting areas are concentrated in the Stavropol and Krasnodar regions of Russia.
What is rapeseed used for?
First of all, of course, for the production of rapeseed oil, on the basis of which margarine is prepared, as well as washing mixtures used in metallurgy, textile and leather industries. Prepared on the basis of rapeseed and products of the soap industry.
In addition, this plant is practically waste-free. Rapeseed cake contains 32% protein and 9% fat, therefore, very valuable concentrated feed for livestock is prepared from it. Rapeseed meal is also used in the preparation of high-calorie feed and premixes.
In recent years, more and more projects have emerged in which rapeseed oil is an important component of the biofuels of the future, which will someday be fueled by biodiesels.
Rape is also a very important melliferous plant, the productivity of which from one hectare of crops of this plant can reach 45-50 kilograms. Rapeseed honey is whitish-yellow in color and is regarded as one of the most beneficial in all honey production. But, unfortunately, its presence in honeycombs makes them unsuitable for wintering insects, therefore, rape honey is not so widespread.
