Crop establishment
It can be said that establishing the crop in the soil is the most important operation on the farm as it sets the table for the entire crop year.
Decisions made at the time of crop establishment affect every other aspect of the farming operation during the year both in the field and on the balance sheet.
The optimization of planting operations results in not only a more profitable bottom line in the short term, but also greater sustainability both financially and environmentally well into the future.
Cover crops boosts yield potentialIn the case of cover crops, an early establishment is crucial to maximise the potential of the crop in terms of contribution to soil health. A fully established cover crop returns more nutrients to the soil from nitrogen fixation, adds more organic matter, improves soil structure and stimulates greater microbial activity; these benefits are all carried forward into the next growing season and the following crops.
“An outstanding emergence gives preconditions for success
Precision placement for powerful performance
When it comes to residue management and weed control, the first steps begin right at harvest with the combine itself. Utilizing quality straw chopping equipment during harvesting reduces residue density and volume which allows for quicker breakdown in the soil.
Also, it is important that the combine settings are optimized to reduce the amount of grain spread on to the field as well. The grain can germinate in the fall, spring or in future years and will use valuable nutrients and moisture that is allocated for the current crop.
Taking these steps towards a higher level of field hygiene, is an important foundation for the next crop.
The position of the seed in the soil directly impacts the performance of the plant throughout the course of the growing season. For a seed to germinate, emerge and maximize its growth potential, the three main placement factors are consistency of depth, evenness of spacing between seeds in the row and distance between the rows themselves.
Evenness of germination requires that each seed is placed at the same depth across the entire field regardless of terrain, residue and changes in soil types or field conditions. It is also important that the seed is placed into moisture with the trench closed to consolidate the soil around the seed to produce the seed to soil contact for moisture and nutrient uptake.
Seed and fertiliser placement adapted to local conditions.
When it comes to the position of the seed in the row, it is very important to allow each plant the space it needs to absorb moisture and nutrients through its root system. This requires placing the seeds as evenly apart as possible to minimize competition between plants.
A weed is defined as a “plant out of place” and if plants are placed too close together, the competition between plants will result in the uptake of valuable nutrients and moisture with little to no yield production.
As moisture can be scarce in dry years and fertilizer is one of the more expensive inputs on the farm, the evenness of plant spacing in crops is crucial to return on investment. This is also true of seeds that are spaced too far apart as this reduces the overall profitability of the crop by not maximizing field space to its full potential. Additionally, uneven plant spacing produces uneven maturity amongst crops which can reduce yield potential and crop quality later in the season.
The PowerShoot singulation metering system, found on Tempo and Proceed, uses positive air pressure to meter out seeds evenly to produce an evenly spaced plant stand across the field.
In terms of volumetric metering, the Fenix metering system found on Väderstad seed drills, delivers market leading precision, to meter out seed that produces the evenly placed and accurate plant population required toproduce a successful crop.
It is common knowledge that all crops require sufficient nutrients throughout the season to germinate, grow and produce successful yields at harvest. Achieving this goal requires applied nutrients to be placed in the proper position in the soil. The proper balance must be taken to ensure that nutrients are close enough for the seed to access them early on in growth to produce quick germination and growth, yet at a safe distance so that the nutrients do not cause damage to the seed or emerging plant.
As fertiliser is one of the larger input costs on the farm, and the environmental impacts of fertiliser waste have taken on greater importance, proper placement ensures that nutrients are taken up by the crop instead of absorbed by weeds or lost to the air or groundwater. This is especially important for soil-mobile nutrients such as nitrogen and sulfur, whereas proximity to the seed is very important for immobile nutrients such as phosphorous and potassium
A quick germinating, emerging crop has a greater ability to compete with early germinating weeds as well as damaging insects. Additionally, crops that grow and mature quickly reduce the risk from heat-sensitive crops during the summer and potential early frost damage in the fall. Consistent placement in terms of distance, as well as the correct rate of product being metered, is essential for producing an evenly maturing crop across the entire field which ensures each plant grows at the same rate.
This helps reduce inter-plant competition where larger plants out-compete smaller plants for both nutrients and moisture which leads to yield loss and reduced return on investment. The precision seed-to-fertiliser placement found on the Väderstad seeding and planting equipment produce quick, even maturing crops required for crops to realize their maximum potential. Different crops have different nutrient requirements and have different tolerances to fertiliser toxicity, therefore it is important that seeding and planting equipment has the ability to be flexible in terms of nutrient placement. Väderstad planting and seeding equipment provides different options in terms of placement of the fertiliser row as well as fertiliser options in the seed row.
