POPANY is a purple vetch (Vicia benghalensis) variety. POPANY is a late-maturing variety, requiring more than 130 days from seeding to podding.
It is a good variety in mid to high-rainfall areas for hay/ silage. Seeds are smaller than common vetch, therefore the seeding rates are lower at approximately 30 to 35kg/ha. POPANY possesses five to 10 per cent hard seeds. It can be grazed only from 10 nodes (40cm high) to podding stage. It is not recommended for grazing to occur earlier, or once plants have formed pods. Grain yield is significantly lower than for common vetch. Grain from this variety can be used as a bird feed in mixtures with other recommended grains. It has a black seed coat with distinctive white hilum.
Growing Conditions
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Soil Type
Popany is suited to a wide range of soil types from sandy loam to clay loams. Popany is moderately tolerant of waterlogging soils
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Sowing Rate
Grain 25 - 40kg/ha
Hay/ Silage 30 - 45kg/ha
Grazing 30 - 45kg/ha
Green Manure 30 - 45kg/ha -
Rainfall
450mm+
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pH
5.0 - 8.0 (CaCl2)
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Inoculant
Group E Rhizobium
Advantages
- Late maturity 130 days
- Soft Seeded Type
- Mostly grown with cereals as combination for hay operations
- Suitable grazing type
- Generally, utilised in high rainfall/ irrigation areas due to its later flowering characteristic