Production capabilities of catch crops

Within the period of 2011–2014, production capabilities of catch crops were evaluated after two dates of their sowing. The field experiment was established on the field experimental station in Žabcice (South Moravia, Czech Republic). The station is situated in a maize-growing region that is one of the warmest and the driest regions in the Czech Republic. The experiment was performed with the following six species of catch crops: Sinapis alba, Raphanus sativus v. oleifera, Phacelia tanacetifolia, Secale cereale v. multicaule, Malva verticillata and Phalaris canariensis. Catch crops were sown in August and in September, after the harvest of winter wheat. The growth of catch crops was affected by weather conditions. Higher yields were obtained in variants with the first date of sowing. It was concluded that August was the optimum date of their sowing. In this case the plants could maximally manifest their production potential. This concerned above all plants of Phacelia tanacetifolia and those belonging to the family Brassicaceae. Keywords: catch crops, sowing date, yields, weather conditions