Best crop establishment practice
Case Study
Beds growers focus on the detail
Spring 2018
Practical
Customised OSR drill fits the bill
@FarmSmartPubs
Agronomy Maize stubble alternatives
Big Picture
Flexible approach to soil management Insight Attention to detail counts Agronomy Focus on spring seed rates
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Contents Tillage Matters 4-5
Industry news and comment
Big picture
6-11
AHDB work focuses on flexible approach to soil management
Insight
12-15
Case Study
Attention to detail counts for professionals
Beds growers focus on the detail
Practical
Agronomy
24-29
Customised drill helps maintain oilseed rape in rotation
16-17
Agronomy
18-23
Focus on spring seed rates
30-33
Maize stubble alternatives
Tech update 34-35
The latest developments and preview of the forthcoming edition
Cover and contents pictures kindly supplied by; www.farmingphotography.co.uk
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Tillage Matters
EMBRACING, NOT IGNORING BREXIT COULD BE THE SECRET OF SUCCESS Cedric Porter
By now the word Brexit might have you grabbing the TV remote and switching to something (anything) else or hurling the radio out of the window, but burying your head in the sand and hoping the subject will go away could have a serious impact on your business.
POST BREXIT SIX YEAR ESTABLISHMENT TRIAL STARTS
Vaderstad has committed to a six year field-scale cultivation trial to promote a better understanding of the most appropriate and cost effective establishment systems, that will produce the highest gross margin potential in UK growing conditions.
Cedric Porter
Tackled well, Brexit could be the catalyst for changes that strengthen individual businesses and the whole of the British farming industry. Unlike many of our European neighbours, the UK still has a growing market spurred on by population growth. Meanwhile, the fastest growing markets in the world are in Africa and Asia, which, over time, the UK could access more freely. It is easy for an individual farm business to think there is nothing it can do about Brexit, but while influencing Governments either side of the Channel might be difficult, there is a lot that can be done to protect a business from the risks of Brexit and place it in the best position to benefit from it. Cost management is a key Brexit-proofing strategy and it does not just involve cutting costs, but understanding the value of each cost and maximising the value of that cost. Market-focus is more important than ever, with an understanding what of can be produced on the farm and where that product’s market might be essential. Farmers also need to be thinking about all the assets on their farms and not just the agricultural ones. Under a new UK agricultural policy, support will switch to environmental improvement – providing an opportunity for individuals and groups. Other opportunities may come from land development, tree planting and water or carbon management. Many of the changes and challenges facing farmers would have been there with or without Brexit. For those who embrace those changes, the UK’s departure from the EU could be biggest opportunity of their farming lives. Cedric Porter is a journalist and consultant who published World Potato Markets and Brexit Food & Farming. Email him on cedric@supplyintelligence.co.uk
Timing of the trial coincides with a number of issues likely to affect the approach many cereal farmers take to how they grow crops over the next decade and beyond. The key factors to consider include the possible revocation of glyphosate and the detrimental impact that decision will have on UK agriculture; the outcome of Brexit and how cereal farmers must adapt to improve competitiveness in a potentially unsupported market place; and the inevitable rising cost of production. The 20 hectare trial site is at Mentmore Park Farm near Leighton Buzzard in Bedfordshire, which follows a traditional cereal rotation and has an historical blackgrass problem. Cultivation and seedbed management systems to be tested include direct drilling, shallow and deep cultivation using a number of disc and tined machines including Rapid, TopDown, Carrier and Rexius Twin. The trial is in its second year of growing back to back spring crops to break the blackgrass cycle. The outcome of which should allow winter wheat to be reintroduced as a viable crop. The rotation over the six year trial period is based on spring barley 2016, spring barley 2017, winter barley 2018, winter barley 2019, oilseed rape or spring barley 2020 and winter wheat 2021.
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COVER CROPPING
CAN MAKE A VALUABLE CONTRIBUTION TO SPRING CROPPING PERFORMANCE
HEALTHY SOILS ABILITY TO TRAP CARBON DIOXIDE IS A NO-RISK CLIMATE SOLUTION Why should we care at all about soils? “Soil is amazing, it provides us with food, fuel and fodder, stores water and carbon and supports habitats and infrastructures. It’s like an engine made up of physical, chemical and biological components and it is their interaction that makes it work,” says Professor Jane Rickson of Cranfield University.
Cover crops have little practical contribution to make to soil organic matter improvement, stresses Agrii trials manager and agronomist, Dr Syed Shah. However, his recent trials at the AgriiFocus Technology Centre and eight commercial farms show that, selected and managed correctly, they can trap considerable amounts of nitrogen and make a valuable contribution to subsequent spring cropping performance – although whether this will justify their extra cost in most cases remains uncertain. “You need to introduce around 18 t/ha of carbon into the top 15 cm of a soil to raise its organic matter from 2% and 4%,” he explained. “Our work with a range of cover crops on different soil types shows they can accumulate up to 600-800 kg/ha of carbon in a season. So, even if this is all captured, it would take well over 20 years to achieve the sort of soil organic matter increase we’ve seen from three or four seasons of organic manuring. “Where winter covers can be valuable, though, is in trapping nitrogen and making it available to the following spring crop. Averaged across nitrogen rates, we have recorded March-sown malting barley yielding almost a tonne/ha more after a mid-August to late January fodder radish cover than a traditional winter fallow in replicated trials on our Marlborough AgriiFocus site.
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Professor Rickson was speaking at the annual Institution of Agricultural Engineer’s conference which looked at ‘The role of soil and soil management in decarbonising agriculture.” Professor Rickson opened by immediately altering the conference title, changing the word ‘decarbonising’ to ‘carbonising’. “This year we are in the international decade of the soil and eventually we will probably have the international millennia of the soil because that really is just how important soil is and how it underpins so many of our activities.” REDUCED TILLAGE SYSTEMS So what do we do? “One of the ways we can increase carbon in the soil is to minimise loss due to erosion oxidation of the carbon by exposing soils to the atmosphere through less inversion tillage, more non-inversion, reduced tillage systems, limit soil erosion and avoid draining wetlands.” Planting more perennial crops, instead of annuals could help to store more carbon and reduce erosion by allowing roots to reach deeper into the ground. The second way, which is more positive, increase soil carbon usage and perhaps the easiest way is by changing your land use for example from arable to forestry or agroforestry. Other change suggestions are not so dramatic such as cover cropping, so there is less land bare over the winter when carbon emissions may increase. “I know change of land use has an economic impact on farmers. It’s all very well saying change from arable to pasture but this has an economic impact on farmers’ livelihoods which may not be feasible. So my take home message is if we increase by 4% the quantity of carbon contained in soils we can halt the annual increase in CO2 in the atmosphere which is a major contributor to the greenhouse effect and climate change – and what a claim that is,” Professor Rickson concluded.
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Big Picture
FLEXIBLE APPROACH TO SOIL MANAGEMENT LIKELY TO YIELD BEST RESULTS Are you thinking about changing your soil management approach? If so, what should be considered along the way? AHDB resource management scientist Amanda Bennett explains how long-term experiments are providing answers to the challenge of optimising a crop production system.
The view across the agricultural landscape is shifting: There’s an increased diversity of crops in rotations, stubble left standing in the field, cover crops in place of bare soil and various degrees of soil disturbance. The consequence is a rich tapestry of colour and texture visible across the land, all associated with an ever-expanding array of cultivation approaches. Such approaches, however, often arrive ahead of the know-how needed exploit them to best effect. And, of course, it’s the long-term impact of switching to a new approach that frequently yields the biggest unknowns. Costs and benefits, whether it be economic or environmental, all become a little fuzzier and harder to account for over a longer period. How many times have you looked back on a decision made several years ago and wondered, with hindsight, if it was the right one? That’s why AHDB is investing in the GREATsoils activity to help growers make more informed decisions. But a word of warning before you read further: there are no simple solutions.
LONG-TERM EXPERIMENTS AHDB-funded work at long-term experimental sites* has provided insight into the effect of cultivation practice on soil physical and chemical conditions, along with the knock-on effect on soil biology. Trials conducted at some of these sites compared plough (inversion) with deep and shallow non-inversion tillage, as well as with a ‘managed’ approach – where the annual cultivation decision depended on soil conditions, weather, previous cropping, weed burden and soil assessments. *Long-term experimental sites are part of The New Farming Systems (NFS) project (Norfolk), the Sustainability Trial for Arable Rotations (STAR) project (Suffolk), which are both supported by agricultural charities and managed by NIAB, and the Mid-Pilmore and Balruddery sites (in Perthshire).
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Resource management scientist Amanda Bennett manages soil research at AHDB
A MANAGED APPROACH Data, collected over several years at the Suffolk-based site (heavy clay loam soils), showed yields were frequently lower in non-inversion systems than in plough-based systems. The former system, however, was associated with more favourable gross margins – due to lower fuel and labour costs. In terms of crop choice, the optimal rotation depended on many factors but the managed approach was more likely to generate higher gross margins. At the Norfolk site (sandy loam soil), where the rotation focused on winter wheat and spring-sown combinable crops, the deep non-inversion system led to the highest cumulative yields. Once again, the managed approach – where the cultivation system used in any given year was made in response to soil, weather and agronomic factors – resulted in the highest margins. The inclusion of cover crops at this site was also found to reduce variability in performance associated with shallow (10cm) non-inversion techniques in the following crops.
As part of the research, soil cores were extracted at the trial sites throughout the season. These were then analysed to measure the effect of tillage on soil quality and function.
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Big Picture
VARIETY-CULTIVATION INTERACTION The power of a variety to stand up to multiple pressures is detailed in the AHDB Recommended Lists. But growers are hungry to know even more about the potential of genetics to provide a consistency in performance in the field. Our long-term trials found winter wheat yields were fairly robust across all cultivations systems, whereas a drop-off in yields of some other crops was found. In Perthshire, for example, 35 commercial and experimental cultivars of spring barley were sown in a replicated plot trial and this showed a clear tillage effect. Markedly lower yields were observed frequently under minimum tillage (10cm, non-inversion) compared to other approaches (Figure 1). Some varieties performed more consistently and such findings can be used to develop of more resilient varieties, which could be used to offset the impact of sub-optimal soil conditions.
Lead researcher Blair Mckenzie (JHI) conducts a field evaluation at a long-term trial site
Figure 1
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Big Picture
IMPACT OF POTATOES IN THE ROTATION
The long-term site at the Centre for Sustainable Cropping at Balruddery is also being used to improve soil management decisions associated with potato production. SITE FACTS • Six-year rotation: potatoes, winter wheat, winter oilseed rape, winter barley, spring beans and spring barley • Fields split into conventional and sustainable (includes compost applications) management regimes
FINAL THOUGHTS
The more we know about soil and its interaction with the cultivation system and crop, the more challenging it is to generate one-size-fits-all recommendations. One thing for sure, getting the approach right requires effort, big decisions (eg machinery choice) and a myriad of ‘tweaks’ along the way (e.g. from crop and variety choice to the use of cover crops and organic matter). At times, the list of options can seem endless. But the top lesson is to be flexible. Always be willing to change tack and work through your options with likeminded people. On that note, why not attend one of the many Monitor Farm and Strategic Farm meetings? Soil management approaches are discussed frequently and options mulled over with experts on hand to help you cost out the alternatives.
• Soil physical properties assessed at various time points (includes pre-potatoes, post-planting, pre- and post-harvest)
SITE FINDINGS • Tests of cultivation and bed-forming approaches showed no significant difference between them, in relation to their impact on soil structure and stability • Analysis of data from a large number of sites showed no significant difference to soil conditions between shallow and deep destoning practices • More uniform, stable soils, with a better environment for potato root growth and tuber expansion, were found under the sustainable approach • A decrease in soil quality at the surface (but not at depth) was observed immediately after potato harvest • Where organic matter (as BSI PAS 100 compost) had been added to the soil for several years, the soil was more stable and better able to resist slumping and raindrop impact • Soil samples taken up to three years after inclusion of potatoes within the rotation showed, if soil conditions were optimal, there was no detrimental legacy for subsequent crops As part of the soil platforms’ research, soil cores were extracted throughout the season at the trial sites. These were then analysed to measure the effect of tillage on soil quality and function
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Big Picture
CASE STUDY:
LONG-TERM FLEXIBLE APPROACH Brian Barker, who hosts AHDB’s Strategic Farm East for arable growers, places flexibility at the centre of his cultivation decisions and maintains a long-term plan to get the best from his soils and crops. A 12-year rotation is in place across the 513 hectares at the Suffolk-based family farm partnership, which incorporates winter wheat for feed, herbage grass seed and break crops of spring barley, beans, oilseed rape and linseed. Dual or multiple species cover crops are also incorporated to improve general soil health. “A long-term flexible approach to low-risk crop production with an eye to diversify is critical now and into the future,” says Brian. His strategy is ‘to do the best for every field’ and to not fixate on one or two cultivation systems but to adapt the approach depending on the season. MEASURE YOUR NUMBER ONE ASSET Brian feels soil is the farmer’s greatest asset but it is often not fully understood or appreciated by all. Making the best cultivation decisions requires attention to detail, Brian believes. He measures soil physical, chemical and biological properties to improve his understanding of the impact of cultivations across the farm.
When appropriate (based on straw, pest and moisture data), direct-drilled or strip-tilled one-pass planting strategies are used. If soil compaction is limiting crop potential, full disturbance non-inversion cultivations are used. These fields are subsequently lifted and consolidated before drilling with a low-disturbance disc drill. In subsequent years, Brian is usually able to return to strip tillage. When weed pressures are high, Brian presses the ‘reset button’ and returns to the plough to bury the seeds for as long as possible – some of his fields have not been ploughed since 2010. Brian admits his flexible cultivation strategy has not been without its challenges. He says: “Moving to a lower disturbance cultivation system has seen yield become less stable but this is not due to crops, it is due to our mistakes. The margin of error is much smaller when planting in one pass but you learn very quickly.” As a strategic farmer, Brian has a good handle on the full operation costs over the rotation. Overall, on-farm yields under reduced tillage systems are consistent with conventional deep tillage. Establishment costs under a one-pass system, however, average £87/ha and not £235/ha as seen under conventional tillage. cereals.ahdb.org.uk/strategicfarm
AHDB research shows the physical condition of soil can deteriorate over time under intensive tillage and Brian’s own findings back this up. For instance, the more intensively his fields are cultivated, the fewer earthworms are found. Assessments, carried out as part of the Strategic Farm programme, found fields established using direct drilling were associated with around one million more earthworms per hectare (around 0.5 metric tonnes) than fields established using ploughing or strip tillage. CULTIVATION STRATEGIES To decide on the best cultivation strategy for any given field, in any given season, Brian starts with a spade to unearth the condition of his fields. He then considers previous seasons’ weed and pest burdens, crop rooting, water filtration and biological activity.
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@UKSprayer
Spring 2018
Insight
WHAT DOES ATTENTION TO DETAIL MEAN?
It’s a phrase that appears many times and in many guises. But what does ‘attention to detail’ actually mean? Jonathan Wheeler find outs.
“Attention to Detail” can mean many different things. When applied to long term planning, consultant Gary Markham from Churchgates suggests it amounts to a fortnight’s difference between when the business completes crop establishment. But when applied to day to day operations, cultivations consultant Philip Wright says it can be explained as having the time to check that all tyre pressures and machine settings are correct for every job. And there are a host of other interpretations concerning all parts of arable production. PERSONAL QUALITIES The personality and capabilities of the individual are important, says Gary: “Some people run around like headless chickens and are never on top of their work; others are always in control and ahead of it. The difference may be whether or not they pay attention to detail”. He sees two pressure situations, which might cause farmers to lose that control – these being as their
acreage grows or as they become involved in diversified businesses: “A farm of 1,000 – 1,500 acres with diversified enterprises can be very difficult for one person to manage. “In my experience it is pretty well impossible for normal people to run several different businesses simultaneously. They need to choose which side to run and employ someone else to run the other”. In times of low profitability there is added pressure: “According to recent Farm Business Survey figures, only the best people are actually making money from growing crops. “It’s pretty hard to maintain real attention to detail then, although that is probably when you need it most”.
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CORRECT TYRE PRESSURES
Ensuring every vehicle – especially those of contractors – is running on the correct tyre pressures is also essential:
DEALING WITH BLACK-GRASS
For Philip Wright, attention to detail has many faces – whether its referring to issues like controlling Black-grass or maintaining good soil structure: “When dealing with Black-grass, ‘attention to detail’ means getting all parts of your control plan and practice right. “Chemicals are meeting their match, but if all other elements of the system are working correctly, the chemicals have a chance to complete the job”. When applied to crop establishment it means ensuring the soil is well-structured and that disturbance at drilling is minimised to avoid encouraging weeds to germinate with the crop: “That can be done with a chitting/cultivation pass before drilling so you can spray them off. Disturb the soil ahead of drilling, not when you are drilling”.
“Over-inflated tyres leave deeper marks than correctly inflated ones, and will leave a deeper, damper track, which is exactly the sort of environment in which Black-grass – a marsh weed – likes to germinate”. Under-inflated tyres cause problems too, potentially creating less traction so fuel costs and soil disturbance are increased. An example of the over-inflation problem has been evident at Agrovista’s Lamport trial site, where the company tested a range of Black-grass control regimes, says the company’s Mark Hemmant. One drill was worked without the tyre pressures being reduced from road to field pressures: “The result was clear stripes of Black-grass running the full length of the plot”. And seed from those lines can soon be spread right across the plot by the combine, says Philip, who says time spent planning and preparing is usually well invested: “It certainly does that in a challenging season, because the well organised farmer will achieve better grassweed and slug control and leave the soil in better condition”.
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Insight
DON’T RETURN TO AUTUMN CROPPING TOO SOON Another observation from the Lamport site is the in-advisability of returning to autumn-sown crops too soon, says Agrovista’s Stewart Woodland:
“On one of the plots we planted cover crops in the autumn before sowing spring wheat. That seemed to have controlled the Black-grass, so we returned to autumn cropping in the third year. “But we had only controlled it in the shallow layers. When we ploughed for an autumn crop we got a huge flush of deeper buried seeds. “We did a lot of good work over the first two years, but one poor decision put us back where we started”. Mark adds that farmers can help the chemicals by using other ideas. That could include choosing vigorous, hybrid cereal varieties that crowd out competing weeds; using more cultural methods of weed control, and using effective trash management so the chemicals can perform: “With many inputs, how you make the application has a significant impact on its efficacy. Timing is crucial, as is using the right equipment. With sprays, correct nozzle choice is essential. “The focus on tyre pressures used to be because of their potential to cause soil compaction, but is now switching to consider their contribution to Black-grass germination. “When cultivating it is making sure you are using the right tool to work the soil at the right time”. And if a field has variable soil types or areas that naturally tend to be damper than others, that may mean cultivating most of those fields one day and coming back another day to work the other parts.
TECHNOLOGY SIMPLIFIES THE JOB
Agronomist Mark Hodkinson from Soils4Life, says modern tools make paying attention to detail simpler: “The first aim has to be to maintain the soil in good condition, but the ethos has to run on right through the system. “Some farmers are dubious about using contractors because they fear they will not work with the required attention to detail”. Soil and yield mapping can provide important data, as can detailed soil tests: “One client raised crop yields from a particular area from 650 to 1,000 tonnes of wheat just by soil mapping and then correcting faults in the drainage system and getting the NPK and magnesium back in balance”. He says the best farmers view their farms more like a big market garden rather than broad acre farm,, but different farmers pay attention to different details: “For some it’s a figures and finance issue. They run things from a purely financial point of view; are totally figures driven and know what their crops cost and will sell for down to the last detail”.
SEED RATE ADJUSTMENTS
Among the services Soyl offers is a test that measures the soils electrical conductivity of the soil between 40cm and 1.2m depth. The company’s David Whatoff says this provides an accurate picture of soil type and structure, and enables farmers to select soil sampling sites so they reflect the whole field accurately, and then manage inputs: “It enables them to adjust seed rates and even out the field in terms of yield.
“IF A FIELD HAS VARIABLE SOIL TYPES OR AREAS THAT NATURALLY TEND TO BE DAMPER THAN OTHERS, THAT MAY MEAN CULTIVATING MOST OF THOSE FIELDS ONE DAY AND COMING BACK ANOTHER DAY TO WORK THE OTHER PARTS”
“Farmers may feel they know their fields, but this system enables them to quantify and clarify that knowledge. They may already vary seed rates according to what they see; this system would help them make decisions on a factual and scientific basis”.
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NUTRITION PLANNING
Paying attention to detail really pays off in plant nutrition. Mark Tucker, from Yara, says having a fertiliser plan and preparing properly are crucial: “That plan should be to choose the right product for each job; the right application rate and making the application at the correct timing. “Have a plan but be tactical about how you apply it, and be prepared to re-assess and adjust the details during the season”. Tools like the company’s N-Sensor – which assesses a crop’s nutritional needs by measuring leaf colour – can help make those adjustments.
Mark Tucker, Yara
Ian Robertson, from Sustainable Soil Management, stresses the importance of assessing a complete range of nutrients rather than the basics: “If you are paying Attention to Detail you look at minor nutrients and trace elements as well as the major nutrients. And you do it for each different crop you grow, and then make sure you supply what your crops need. “Farmers also need to assess how available the nutrients are and plan the timing and scale of applications carefully, or risk wasting the time and money invested in fertiliser”.
EFFICIENCY OF TRACTION As well as affecting the depth and nature of soil compaction, tyre company Trelleborg has highlighted its effect on the efficiency of traction at a range of field events in recent years.
At Tillage - Live 2017 Trelleborg ran two identical New Holland T7/270 tractors with the same tyres, with one tractor being run at 2.0 bar (road pressure) and the other at 0.8 bar (field pressure).
Ian Robertson, Sustainable Soil Management
The tractor on field pressure tyres completed the track in one minute 28 seconds while the tractor on road pressure tyres took one minute 45 seconds to complete the same work. Trelleborg’s Bruce Lauder says the greater footprint made by the lower pressure tyre (7332 square cms v 4,500), means it generates greater traction and better weight distribution, so it suffers less wheel slip and leaves a shallower mark.
Both tractors pulled identical Kongskilde 7400 cultivators up a 250 metre track at a target speed of 6kph.
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Case Study
WHAT DOES ATTENTION TO DETAIL MEAN? To James Ream attention to detail means that while other farmers spend well over £100/hectare and more containing Black-grass using conventional methods, he controls it for around £25/ha using human hands.
He has Black-grass corralled into a few problem patches, and uses a combination of methods to keep the corral gate slammed shut.
‘CLEAN’ BEFORE ‘DIRTY’
James helps run some 600 acres of mainly lighter soil types at his family’s Portobello Farm, Biggleswade, with his father and a cousin.
In respect to field operations this means working ‘clean’ areas first and ‘dirty’ areas second, even if other factors like time, labour and fuel efficiency would suggest otherwise.
And he manages 720 acres of mainly heavier soil types split between several sites around the town, which he took on from a retiring farmer.
So for instance, on one long thin field that is mostly clean but has weed issues at one end it is managed as two separate fields most of the year.
While neither farm has had a serious problem with Black-grass, he follows a strict hygiene regime to ensure he stays on top of it and other grassweeds, which he says is essential as some 80% of their crops are grown for seed.
But after any Black-grass is hand rogued he is happy to harvest it as a single unit because the seed return risk has been eliminated.
CROPPING FOCUS When applying this attention to detail to cropping it means using fallows, over-wintered cover crops and spring cropping, as well as selecting hybrid varieties to shade out competitive weeds. And as well as a conventional sprayer, he has a buggy-mounted mini-sprayer to do the last lap around the field to prevent weed ingress from hedgerows and field margins.
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Post-harvest the two field system re-starts to make sure un-germinated seeds lurking in the soil are not moved onto the clean section. When applying attention to detail to machines it means fitting them all with the highest spec tyres available so they can run at low pressures and reduce compaction and rutting risks. He doesn’t raise tyre pressures for road work as journeys are generally short and he’s happy to accept running slightly slower on the road for saving the time adjusting pressures on arriving in and leaving the fields.
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Case Study
THOROUGHLY CLEANING MACHINES It also means thoroughly cleaning vehicles after they have worked ‘dirty’ areas. The extra time taken cultivating and cleaning machines earns its reward, he says, in ensuring that weed problems are controlled and transfer of weed seeds to clean areas is avoided. James admits having a variety of soil types and a spread of ideal cultivating/drilling dates helps, and accepts the system might not work for someone who has uniform soil types and much tighter working windows. But some elements should, he suggests, such as thoroughly cleaning the combine after harvesting ‘dirty’ areas: “We don’t normally start combining until mid or late morning, so we get going early and make sure we clean it thoroughly”.
COMBINE HYGIENE And while he uses his Claas Lexion 660’s blowing system to clean its interior and sieves, he feels he needs to do a much more thorough job: “We have the optional compressor and air lance fitted so we can get around all those ledges and catch points around the combine where chaff and seeds can collect, be carried to the next field and then dis-lodged when you start work again”. Cultivators are also cleaned after working ‘dirty’ land, and while some farmers might baulk at what seems like extra down time in a busy season, James says the process normally takes five minutes: “We always brush all the soil off the frame and out of the trapping points around the machine, as well as cleaning the discs and working legs. If necessary we will take it back to the farmstead and power-wash it as well”. The regime is also applied to visiting machines, including those of the contractor who buys his straw in the swath and the neighbour to whom he occasionally rents land for onion production: “If their machines aren’t completely clean they don’t come on the farm”.
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Agronomy
ON-THE-MOVE SEED RATE TWEAKS CAN EASE SPRING CROP MANAGEMENT – AND SO BOOST YIELDS
Variable rate seed sowing of spring crops may be less rewarding than for winter-drillings, but it is well worth considering, according to several sources. Andrew Blake finds out more.
Indeed trials show advantages from both spring and winter variable rate drilling, notes SOYL’s Simon Griffin. A key benefit – potentially more uniform establishment is that crops become easier to manage because subsequent inputs can be timed more accurately.
Most crops, regardless of sowing time or location, are affected by variable establishment, says Mr Griffin.
Stuart Alexander, Agrii
“Having even establishment means fertiliser, herbicide and fungicide plans can be managed better through the growing season,” explains Agrii’s Stuart Alexander.
“This is the culmination of many factors such as soil type, aspect, pest pressure, weed competition, seed-bed quality, nutrition and so on.
Simon Griffin, SOYL
“So if one part of a field establishes at a rate of 90% then clearly, to ensure the same plant population, less seed is required than in another area where the establishment is likely to be only 60%.”
“I’d say that there’s less to gain from variable seed rates in the spring, but I’ve seen yield lifts of up to 15%.”
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Agronomy SEED RATE VARIATION Rates vary by crop, by year and indeed by season, he notes. “Winter and spring crops perform differently as the latter don’t have winter to contend with. We’ve found that the average establishment of UK winter sown crops is around 75%, but this may vary between 55% and 95% in any particular field. “Spring crops tend to have a narrower band of variation in their establishment but addressing it is still worthwhile.” Soil type is likely to be the prime driver of seed rate adjustments.
SOIL TYPE AND SEED RATE A SOYL spring barley trial in 2014 highlights the potential yield benefit of linking seed rates to soil type. It was carried out on a 23ha field having an east facing slope of shallow soils over chalk or flint with a slight plateau of heavier soil and some clay cap to the west. The field was zoned according to soil type using conductivity to map the boundaries, and a seed rate allocated to each type with chalkier or heavier soils receiving a higher seed rate. A uniform control strip was drilled 250kg/ha to cut across as many soil types as possible.
If there are known soil type variations where germination is expected to be lower, then increasing the seed rate makes sense, says Agrovista’s Chris Martin. “Just because the growing season is shorter doesn’t mean the same rules as for winter sowings don’t apply; but with spring crops I think more emphasis should be on increasing rates rather than decreasing them.”
Chris Martin, Agrovista
Agrii’s Soilquest system measures soil variation down to a single percentage rather than simply showing a classification, says Mr Alexander. “The main driver is clay content but the percentage of silt is being used more and more.” SOYL’s trials over a range of soil types show that based on thousands of plant counts establishment can be predicted within 5%, adds Mr Griffin. Soil texture affects winter cereals establishment as follows, according to ADAS: sand 90%, loam 70%, clay 60%. “It’s likely that similar effects will be seen for spring cereals,” says Pete Berry. “Crops grown in drought-prone areas and soil will need seed rates upped, as will later sowings, because both conditions are less conducive for the production of compensatory tillers. But we have no evidence for the exact percentage adjustment.”
Pete Berry, ADAS
Overall the variable rate yield was 0.2t/ha more than that from the control strip.
SEED RATE MAP
YIELD MAP
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OTHER ASPECTS TO CONSIDER: Beyond soil type a wide range of other factors may need considering, suggests Agrii’s Stuart Alexander. In no specific order he lists: • • • • • • • • • •
Satellite imagery of previous years’ establishment Headlands and wet areas Drainage Old field information Stone content Yield potential Multi-years’ yield data Farmer and tractor-driver knowledge Turning headlands Grass weeds
BLACKGRASS ADVICE If growers use newer higher tillering varieties in a blackgrass situation, standard seed rates of 350 -400 seeds/sq m are still applicable, in that it will have the same competitive effect without the concern of increased lodging/brackling and lower specific weight problems seen in several circumstances last season.” In general spring cereals require higher plant populations than winter cereals because they have less time to produce tillers, notes Mr Berry. “For example, spring oats don’t tiller as well as winter oats, so it may be beneficial for seed rates to be increased. “It’s important to calculate seed needs on the basis of a target plant population, expected % plant establishment and seed Thousand Grain Weight.” (See formula below).
Seed rate (kg/ha) = Target plant population (plants/sq m) x TGW (g) Expected establishment (%)
Ron Granger, Limagrain
Limagrain spring barley trials show drilling date also affects final yield potential, although patience in waiting for good sowing conditions is important, notes breeder Ron Granger. He suggests a rate of about 350 seeds/sq m as a starting figure for spring barley sown in mid-March in good seed-bed conditions. However, many growers are using the crop to help counter blackgrass, he notes. “It would appear to be extremely effective and competitive compared with other spring options, offering high yield potential at relatively low cost.” He says results from various organisations suggest anti-blackgrass seed rates should be increased significantly – with up to 450-500 seeds/sq m being quoted. “My view is that rates may need increasing significantly, especially in a late spring sowing situation with lower tillering varieties such as Concerto or continental types. PGRO spring bean density trials
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Agronomy The seed rate for spring beans can be adjusted to give a better economic return by taking into account the seed size and cost, % germination, likely losses, inputs and likely produce value, notes the PGRO’s Steve Belcher.
“There are precision farming companies that will prepare seed rate maps to match soil changes; but I believe a good operator reacting to changing conditions is more effective. Conditions on the day can be very different to those predicted by soil types.
An Excel-based calculator derived from data obtained from the OTIBEAN project offers guidance on seed rates based on those factors, he says.
“I think more emphasis could be placed on seed-bed quality and adjustments made accordingly.”
“The PGRO Agronomy Tool is available from the PGRO website.” Steve Cook of Hampshire Arable Systems is unconvinced that spring seed rates merit much adjustment to enhance establishment.
Spring linseed crops have been too thin in recent years, he notes. “More farms are using no-till techniques that seem to give lower establishment rates, and in these cases all crops should have seed rates increased by 10%.”
“Rates have been tried and tested over many years and there is no need to change in most cases.
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Steve Belcher, PGRO
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Agronomy
UNIFORM ESTABLISHMENT IS KEY BENEFIT ON SCOTTISH UNIT Alastair Gall and son Steven first adopted variable rate seed sowing for their 40ha of spring barley in 2015.
The uniformity of the resulting crop and a valuable yield lift has since encouraged them to introduce the technique on the winter wheat in their six-year rotation which also includes potatoes. “We were already doing variable rate with SOYL for lime, P and K,” says Alastair. The soil on their 160ha all-arable Glenskinno Farm, Montrose in Angus, Scotland is mainly medium old red sandstone, but conductivity scans by SOYL’s Aidan Monaghan found enough differences within the fields to map zones meriting specific seed rates for each. “To achieve an even number of plants in every part of a field you need to adjust seed rates for soil type,” says Aidan. “Most farms have a range of soil types within each field and Glenskinno is no different. We mapped the soils and allocated an establishment percentage to each zone with input from Alastair’s farm knowledge and experience.” The farm’s standard cereal starting rate is 400 seeds/sq m depending on thousand grain weight and time of sowing, but depending on soil type as shown by the zones that is raised or lowered by as much as 30%. Spring seed-beds are created after winter ploughing by a single-pass with a 3m Lemken Solitair combination drill, seed delivery being automatically adjusted to the various zones via GPS. “We get SOYL to draw up the plans for the seed rates on the different zones, and these can be adjusted manually for weather delays if necessary on the drill box as you go,” says Steven. “Using variable rate seed hopefully puts the required optimum seed rates on different soil types in the field, so creating even crop establishment over the whole. We can then fine tune fertilizer application accordingly and get an even crop through to harvest.” Average output is now 10 and 6.9t/ha respectively for wheat and barley – up 10% before starting variable seeding. “Dad has a yield monitor on the combine, and we have a 100t weighbridge to confirm yields as the loads come in.”
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“TO ACHIEVE AN EVEN NUMBER OF PLANTS IN EVERY PART OF A FIELD YOU NEED TO ADJUST SEED RATES FOR SOIL TYPE” “WE GET SOYL TO DRAW UP THE PLANS FOR THE SEED RATES ON THE DIFFERENT ZONES”
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Practical
CUSTOMISED DRILL HELPS MAINTAIN OILSEED RAPE IN ROTATION Establishing oilseed rape can be challenging under any circumstances, but to achieve consistent results on heavy land where blackgrass is a perpetual menace requires extra dedication. Tillage magazine reports.
That’s certainly the position for Cambridgeshire farmers Robert Eayrs & Partners who are on a mission to perfect a drilling method that will deliver even plant populations – season after season – and give an important crop the start it needs to hold its own in the rotation. Working with their ProCam agronomist Ian Jackson, the Eayrs have settled on a drill type and carried out their own adaptations to create the best possible seedbed conditions and row spacing for oilseed rape whilst minimising overall soil disturbance. “I’d seen tines used in the potato industry that were along the lines of what we required but the options available for establishing rape were disappointing,” explains Ian. “My first step was to fit the tines to a Horsch CO 3, with excellent results, so the task was to find a drill on
the second hand market that they would be happy to buy. I found a 4m Simba Freeflow that had the potential to work as we wanted so then it was over to Stephen Eayrs, son Jon and some friends to make the adaptations in the workshop.” FAVOURABLE DRILLING RESULTS With drilling results from 2017 comparing favourably with two other comparative systems, they are confident of being well on the way to finding a solution to a perennial problem. “Our aim is to create the ideal conditions for the rape plant to flourish whilst at the same time avoiding the excessive soil disturbance that encourages blackgrass to chit,” explains Stephen Eayrs. “Oilseed rape is deep rooting and will put a tap root down to a metre
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given the chance – so can be a very effective natural sub-soiler – but it is a lazy rooter, taking the path of least resistance, and will grow sideways if it can. “The other considerations are speed of operation and horsepower, but ultimately we need strong establishment of a good even crop, year after year.” Based at Home Farm, Graveley, near St Neots, the Eayrs family run a 365ha (900 acre) combinable crop business on their own land and farm a further 200ha (500 acres) on a contract farming basis with a business partner. The rotation on the home farm includes first and second wheats, oilseed rape, and winter barley. More recently, spring barley has also been introduced.
Jon Eayrs
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Practical DRILL ADAPTATION “The Simba drill that Ian sourced has a front cultivation bar that is suitable for adapting, with a rubber roller before and after the drill coulters,” explains Jon Eayrs. “We have bolted on longer cultivation legs and reformatted the drilling rows to 420mm so now have ten coulters across the width instead of 32. The are aligned directly behind the cultivation legs, to minimise the overall soil disturbance. In addition, we’ve split the hopper to create the ability to apply slug pellets at the same time. “The unit will operate comfortably on a 200 – 220hp tractor and copes perfectly well in stubbles and even chopped straw. We estimate it to be 25% quicker and uses about 45% of the diesel.” The ultimate test is to compare establishment in the same season with that achieved by other drills working under the same conditions. The Eayrs have therefore drilled 50ha of oilseed rape this season with their adapted Simba Freeflow and drilled a further 50ha with a Vaderstad Rapid disc drill and 18ha with an Amazone Cayena tine seeder. Drilling was intentionally later at around the end of August, and at a standard seed rate of 5kg/ha. Crops compared two months after drilling showed a significantly more even and consistent establishment from the adapted drill, as ProCam’s Ian Jackson explains.
“The drill worked well from the start, with the optimum row spacing allowing the straw residues to flow through,” he says. “It’s was clear to see from very early on from the rapid and even emergence of seedlings that there had been good soil-to-seed contact. This early development has been followed through to the establishment of a good crop canopy. “There was certainly no problem with the speed of operation and, with a relatively small power unit required, fuel use will have been lower than many alternative options. Apart from a following pass with the Cambridge rolls, the pass with the adapted drill was the only operation required. The adapted tines had a relatively low wear-rate, covering 80ha before they needed replacing, so overall establishment costs are well under control with this system.” Of course, the final judgement comes once the crop has been harvested next July, but with the critical establishment phase proving a total success the Eayrs are optimistic of having found the solution they were looking for. “Later drilling, and choosing your timing to coincide with there being moisture in the seedbed, are also factors, as well as the format of the drill,” concludes Stephen Eayrs. “These are all factors that help to achieve the strong and even establishment that we need to overcome flea beetle attack and blackgrass, which are two of our biggest challenges. We’ll apply nitrogen at around 70kgN/ha in early February, to give the crop the kick-start it’ll need after the winter, and then work with Ian on the agronomy to ensure we achieve the best possible outcome.”
Ian Jackson with Stephen and Jon Eayrs
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Row spacing on the adapted drill has been set at 420mm, with just 10 cultivation tines replacing 32 on the standard 4m machine.
“THE UNIT WILL OPERATE COMFORTABLY ON A 200 – 220HP TRACTOR AND COPES PERFECTLY WELL IN STUBBLES AND EVEN CHOPPED STRAW. WE ESTIMATE IT TO BE 25% QUICKER AND USES ABOUT 45% OF THE DIESEL.”
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Practical
THE CASE FOR OILSEED RAPE ProCam’s 4Cast big data benchmarking database makes a compelling case for growers to maintain acreages of winter oilseed rape in their rotations, despite the potential challenges created by the loss of neonicotinoid seed treatments. The latest harvest figures from ProCam 4Cast (2016) showed winter oilseed rape to be more profitable than winter wheat and the most profitable of 11 different crops examined. It has also been the most profitable break crop compared with peas, beans and spring oilseed rape for most of the last 17 years. “Growing winter oilseed rape as a previous crop has also consistently improved winter wheat yield over the last two years on ProCam 4Cast,” adds Ian Jackson. “Growers may question whether to plant winter oilseed rape because of the challenge of preventing cabbage stem flea beetle eating into crop emergence with the loss of neonicotinoid seed treatments. However, results show clearly that winter oilseed rape not only has the potential to be a highly profitable crop in its own right but also to bring a yield uplift to the following winter wheat crop.
Images taken by Ian Jackson in early November show the successful establishment of oilseed rape using the adapted drill (far right) compared to the more patchy results using the conventional disc (left) and tine drills (centre).
“Benchmarking and big data help you assess these types of wider benefits. They obviously need to be used in conjunction with agronomy knowledge and experience, but they provide a sound starting point,” he adds.
Soil between the 420mm rows is undisturbed whilst the cultivated strips have created an ideal seedbed for the oilseed rape (12 September 2017).
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Agronomy
ALTERNATIVE TO OVERWINTERED MAIZE STUBBLES Undersowing maize with grass can provide a valuable green cover crop after harvest to reduce damaging soil erosion and nutrient loss often seen in over-wintered bare stubbles.
Provided the right species are sown at the right time in the right place the technique does not affect maize yields and can even enhance them, ongoing trials led by Agrovista in partnership with Reaseheath College and Pottinger UK have confirmed. “Growing maize and grass together is gaining favour in Europe with farmers who need to keep in line with tightening environmental legislation,” says Agrovista agronomist John Ball. “It is a technique we’ve been keen to examine here to help future-proof the crop. Concerns over the environmental impacts of maize are increasing. Leaving bare maize stubbles may soon no longer be allowed.” FIELD SCALE TRIALS Two years of large-scale in-field trials at Reaseheath College, Cheshire, based on several years of earlier small plot work, are producing new recommendations to help growers achieve optimum results, says Mr Ball. Sowing the grass at the same time as the maize has produced the most consistent performance, but
maintaining a 15cm gap between maize and the companion plant is key. “In both years we used a Pottinger Aerosem seed drill to establish the maize in 75cm row widths and sow grass in three rows spaced equally between the maize. “This achieved the all-important 15cm gap between the different species, to prevent the grasses from smothering the crop.” To help further, the maize variety Pioneer P7326 was chosen for its good early vigour. In 2016 a range of grass-based mixtures were tried, but tall fescue produced the best results in terms of cover and also produced the best yielding maize crop, at just over 21t DM/ha (see graph 1 on p.32). “The other grasses were not far behind in terms of maize yield, and overall we saw a small uplift from sowing companion mixtures with the maize. However, these grasses were nowhere near as good as tall fescue in terms of providing cover once the maize had been cleared.
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John Ball, Agrovista
“The ryegrass grew too rapidly and ran out of steam in mid-August, so there was much less green material present after harvest, while creeping red fescue was mulched by harvest traffic. The tall fescue had a much bigger root system and grew more steadily, so was able to pick up quickly once the crop was gone.”
Although including vetch to the mix increased yields, the resulting cover crop was poor and thin. “It brought nothing to the party but added to the seed cost,” says Mr Ball.
The increased maize yield was probably due to the grass roots improving soil condition, allowing the crop, which is a weak rooter, to exploit more of the soil profile, says Mr Ball. The tall fescue was also good at smothering weeds. In 2017 the mixtures were fine-tuned, based on two Agrovista Technisward mixtures. Soil Max is a mix of tall fescue and Advanced tall fescue, which is a tall fescue/ryegrass cross with good persistence and stress tolerance, important under maize where moisture and nutrients can be scarce. Enviro Max is a mixture of late perennial ryegrass and Advanced tall fescue. Soil Max produced the best maize yield of the two grass mixtures, at 18.5t DM/ha (see graph 2), and produced the best over-wintered cover crop by far, says Mr Ball.
Pottinger’s Aerosem drill was used to sow maize and grass at the same time
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Agronomy
Yield Results 2016 Yield DM/T/ha 21.5 21.0 20.5 20.0 19.5 19.0 18.5 18.0 17.5 17.0
At drilling
Undersown @ 6-7 leaf
Graph 1
Reaseheath College Companion Plant Yield Results 2017 8500 8000
Dry Matter Yield Tons/Acre
7500 7000 6500 6000
5500 5000 4500 4000 Soil Max
Enviromax
Enviromax + vetch
Soil Max + Vetch
Adv Fescue + Clover
Control
Trials Plots
Graph 2
Grass was either drilled with maize (pictured) or at the 4-6 maize-leaf stage
Achieving a grass cover after harvest can reduce soil erosion and nutrient loss
Spring 2018 32
Tall fescue at germination
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Agronomy
COMPANION CROP OF CHOICE
“As a result of these trials, we are now recommending Soil Max as the companion crop of choice when drilled at the same time as the maize. “As well as providing the best yield/cover combination, the slow-growing tall fescue and Advanced tall fescue help to suppress weed emergence and retain residual nutrients post harvest, thanks to a large and deep root structure that also benefits the soil profile.” The mixture also offers good grazing for sheep, an added benefit of this technique, says Mr Ball. Standard herbicide treatments can be used successfully with the one-pass establishment technique. In 2016, a post-em strategy was employed using mesotrione, which generally worked well, although control was less effective in some areas. In 2017, a pre-em treatment of pendimethalin followed by mesotrione + pyridate at the three- to four-leaf stage was used. “We achieved better weed control and the grass came though well – we didn’t see any adverse effect in terms of establishment,” says Mr Ball. Growers without access to a Pottinger drill could adapt other maize drills to sow grass between the maize rows and preserve the 15cm gap, he adds. “However, the key is to drill the seed or at least ensure it has good seed-to-soil contact, rather than using a seeder box where establishment can suffer and you lose the gap between the maize crop and grass, so competition and shading losses increase.”
OVER-SOWING GRASS
Further work during 2016 showed it is possible to establish the grass post drilling of the maize crop. In 2016 several grass and legume mixtures were over-sown when the maize had four to six leaves, using an Aitchinson direct drill. “It produced some good results, but it was more difficult to maintain the maize/grass gap and shading of the companion mixtures was more of a problem at this stage,” says Mr Ball. “The perennial ryegrass/tall fescue mix achieved the best results. The ryegrass established more quickly and, because it was sown at a later date, did not suffer from early senescence. The mixture produced a good carpet of grass post-harvest.” However, maize yields can be reduced by up to 7% using this later technique, probably due to disturbance of the young maize roots at drilling, and the fact that the less developed grass roots provided less benefit for the maize roots. Herbicide application can be tricky, as it can clash with the sowing date of the grass seeds, but minimal effects
were seen on the companion crop even when vetches and clovers were included. Although a further overseeding trial had been planned in 2017, the narrow drilling window was missed. “The maize had been drilled into a dry seed-bed, but took off when rain arrived,” says Mr Ball. “It rushed through the 4-6 leaf stage and we would have ended up causing more harm than good.” Mr Ball recommends growers planning to establish grass at this stage should use the Enviro Max mixture. This has the best chance of establishing before the maize canopy develops fully, enabling it to produce excellent, ground cover with a fibrous root system for soil stabilisation that is also suitable for grazing. Further work in 2018 will look at developing the potential of over-seeding, examine the suitability of new companion crop varieties and investigate further mixtures.
POTENTIAL UNDERSOWING BENEFITS: • Reduced nitrate leaching • Allows earlier applications slurry/ digestate applications • Improved slurry/digestate utilisation • Improved soil structure • Reduced soil erosion • Improved organic matter levels • Winter grazing for livestock.
TRIAL SUMMARY: SOWING GRASS WITH MAIZE: • Pottinger Aerosem drill can establish companion plants consistently • No detrimental effects on crop yield • Grass selection needs to account for early vigour and persistent growth • Fescue seem to have best mix of vigour and persistence • Pre-em herbicide showed no effect on establishment • Clovers and vetches not effective with this system OVER-SOWING WHEN MAIZE AT 4-6 LEAVES • Additional operation requiring man and machine increases costs • Tall fescue gives best growth and deeper rooting • Herbicide timings can be a problem • PRG gives best ground cover and fibrous roots stabilise soil
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Tech Update
SEED PLACEMENT ACCURACY AND COST SAVINGS FROM NEW ONE PASS DRILL Mzuri, a British producer of specialist agricultural machinery, will be showcasing its latest drill at LAMMA 2018. Visitors to stand G41 will be able to see the new Pro-Til 3T Xzact one pass drill. The new drill combines the accuracy of seed placement of a conventional precision seeder with the benefits of a Mzuri one pass striptill drill which include moisture retention, improvements to soil condition and significant fuel and time savings. The Xzact precision technology is an optional extra that can be fitted to most Mzuri’s Pro-Til standard models, thus broadening their versatility to include crops such as grain and forage maize, sunflower and soya. The machine can be just as easily converted back to a striptill drill.
seed placement whilst the constant hydraulic pressure exerted onto each coulter arm ensures the seeding depth accuracy. The system uses adjustable-pressure vacuum metering to accurately space crops, regardless of the seed size. Each unit contains a metering disc and a singulator to prevent skips or doubles and is driven by an electric motor which maintains the same seeding distance at variable speeds. Unlike with conventional precision seeders, the mini hoppers on the Pro-Til 3T Xzact drill are automatically replenished by a bulk fill mechanism on each metering unit directly from the Pro-Til’s main tank, thus extending the drilling time and reducing downtime.
The Xzact conversion features an electronic precision seeding unit and coulter assembly to deliver single
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Tech Update
NEW DISC HARROWS LAUNCHING AT LAMMA
Based on the success of the smaller Rebell Classic T disc harrows Kockerling have launched a 12.5m Version. The 12.5m Rebell Classic T is equipped with 98 individually sprung 510mm diameter discs, with a disc spacing of 130mm. This machine has full hydraulic depth control and is fitted with the new Kockerling double STS Contour roller, this works on same principle as the widely renowned double STS roller, but now has the ability to follow land contours, creating more even reconsolidation. Despite this machines size it still folds to 3m transport width using a double fold. The transport wheels are inboard to aid maneuverability and weight distribution. Visitors can see the new 12.5 m Rebell Classic T at LAMMA on Stand G52.
In the Summer edition we are looking at diagnosing soil issues ahead of harvest.
‘tillage’ is published four times a year and is available on subscription for a cost of £15/year. Contact FarmSmart Publishing Ltd 13 Kings Yard, Sedbergh, Cumbria, LA10 5BJ t: 0845 6522 326 f: 0845 6522 327 precisemag.net Editor: Andy Newbold - andy@farm-smart.co.uk Publisher: Andy Newbold - andy@farm-smart.co.uk Design: Kate Mason - design@smartoffice.org.uk Advertising sales - admin@farm-smart.co.uk News: Marion King - press@farm-smart.co.uk All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be copied in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, this includes photocopying or on any information storage or retrieval system without the prior consent of the publisher. We accept no responsibility for unsolicited features or photographs, which will not be returned. By submitting copy, text or pictures to the magazine you are agreeing to their publication either in full or edited.
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PROLANDER Multi-purpose cultivator
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KUHN’s PROLANDER has the versatility to perform multiple cultivation operations, working at speeds of 12km/hour and with a power requirement of just 25–35 horsepower per working width metre. • 5 rows of staggered vibrating S tines with progressively increasing spacings to ensure unimpeded trash flow. • Robust frame strength allows work in stubble or seedbed.
• Continuous hydraulic working depth adjustment from the cab • 15cm working depth range • Precision adjustment according to soil type or field conditions
• Tines can be fitted with 60mm shares (seedbed preparation)or 180mm duck-foot shares (shallow cultivation). • Choice of rollers, with the double-U being suited to stubble and general tillage work whilst the tube roller (with the option of levelling harrows) is ideal for fine tilth work on light soils for root crops. • 6m and 7.5m trailed models with 2.85m transport width.
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