MINIMALISTS IN PICTURE

18 August 2000

CULTIVATIONS

MINIMALISTS IN PICTURE

Its all about finding a cultivation system which achieves three things – reduces costs, is quick, and does not cause an uncontrollable amount of weed infestation.

And, oh yes, there is one more – a cultivation system which does not compromise yield potential.

So, is it curtains for the plough and the power harrow? Much as many try to avoid using these slow and expensive operations, most will concede there will always be a need for the plough and, in some conditions, the power harrow.

But while the plough resides at the back of the shed it is the minimal cultivation scene which is now in vogue. Many manufacturers now offer versions of one-pass, seed-bed creators – usually a combination of discs, tines and presses.

Outputs from these systems can be impressive, particularly when powerful tractors are employed and, with drill widths up to 12m now available, autumn sowing should be a slick, economical operation.

It is worth recalling though, that it was not so many years ago that direct drilling and minimal tillage techniques caused a surge of interest and experimentation. For most who tried it was far from successful.

Lets hope we have learnt the lessons.