Plants

fodder radish

Raphanus sativus var. oleiferus Stokes

Family: Brassicaceae · Genus: Raphanus

oilseed radish

Placenta I Low Fertilizer biomass

fodder radish — Naturalis Biodiversity Center · CC0 · GBIF

Specific Raphanus cultivar for green manure. Pasini lists it in the medium stratum of Tabela 3. Taproot breaks through compacted layers; sulfur- and nitrogen-rich biomass adds cover.

Götsch succession

Götsch stage: Placenta I
Ecological role: Pioneer
Primary stratum: Low
Strata: Low
Biomass class: Fertilizer biomass

Environment

Light requirement: Full sun
Water requirement: Moderate
Drought tolerance: Moderate
Soil pH range: 5.8–6.8
Preferred soil texture: Loamy, Sandy, Clayey

Morphology

Mature height: 0.2–1.2 m
Recommended spacing: 0.15–0.4 m
Root system: Taproot
Root depth: Deep
Growth rate: Very fast
Lifespan: ≤ 1 year
Time to first harvest: 3 months

Biomes & climate

Atlantic Forest Suitable
Cerrado Suitable

Köppen classes

Tropical savanna with dry winter (Aw) Suitable
Subtropical with dry winter (Cwa) Suitable
Humid subtropical (Cfa) Suitable

Where it fits in a guild

Fodder radish takes the Low stratum in the Placenta I phase of succession — in a guild it shares the line with species from the other strata, each harvesting light at its own height, in its own time.

Design my guild

Free account — and the catalog stays open, no sign-up needed.

🪴 Cultivation

Autumn/winter green manure with a vigorous taproot that decompacts the soil and recycles nitrogen and phosphorus; it explores the 0–90 cm profile. Broadcast or drill-sown at ~25 seeds per linear metre, 3–15 kg/ha; seeds are very small and sometimes mixed with lime/superphosphate for sowing. Produces ~20–35 t/ha green mass and 3.5–8 t/ha dry matter. Valued in rotation with cotton, bean, maize and soybean; flowers supply pollen and nectar to bees.