Seed rate rise best response to drill delays
Seed rate rise best response to drill delays
By Andrew Swallow
SEVERE drilling delays on heavy land and in the west mean seed rates must be increased, say experts. But opinion is divided about what target plant population growers should aim for.
ADAS Rosemaunds John Spink says 90 plants/sq m from mid-October sowings is the economic optimum, rising to 140 plants/sq m for mid-November sowings.
But Morley Research Centres Ben Freer believes such figures are too low for comfort.
"Only 140 plants/sq m from a mid-November sowing would make me extremely nervous," he says. "I want to take account of wildlife and likely losses."
He suggests the target plant population from second half October sowings should be 250 plants/sq m, rising to 300 plants/sq m in November.
"We are concerned about these very low seed rates. They dont take account of the lower and slower establishment of these crops."
Mr Spink accepts there needs to be an element of insurance built into figures for farm use. But even allowing a 50% insurance factor, as on the HGCAs on-line seed-rate calculator, target plant population is still only 135 in mid-October.
How many seeds/sq m that will require depends on the 1000-grain weight and likely establishment losses. "Normally you can expect 85% of seeds to establish, but if it is mauled in that might drop to 50%," says Mr Spink.
Where seed-beds are less than ideal, Banks Agriculture technical director Bob Mills suggests growers sow 325-350 seeds/sq m in the third week of October.
That might be a little high on lighter soils, he says, but in the east, most growers on light land are reasonably up to date. "It is the heavy farms in Beds and Northants that are way behind."
Further west, delays are more widespread. "Weve only planted three-quarters of our first wheat, and no second wheat or barley," says Alan Nightingale of Fir Tree Farm, near Coventry.
"Normally wed have all bar the first wheat after potatoes in, all the barley in, and be making a start on second wheats."
Warks-based independent consultant Jeremy White estimates that only 20-25% of wheat is drilled in the county.
Re-growth on ploughed land is now too big to rely on a cultivation clean up, he warns. "It has got to be sprayed off."
Mr Whites comments are echoed by ADASs Andrew Wells in Notts. "Were in a transplant scenario from now on and there are lots of nasty things out there that can be killed cheaply with glyphosate – brome, wild oats and a lot of blackgrass."
Where growers have dressed barley seed on farm, drilling that should take priority, he says. "The yield performance of barley drops off rapidly, whereas late-October sown wheat can perform well."
Slow developing wheats such as Consort should follow once the barley is in, leaving fast-growing varieties such as Soissons, Isengrain or Charger to last.
DRILLING DELAYS
• Increase seed-rates by TGW.
• Monitor slugs – consider pellets.
• Order extra seed?
• Spray off re-growth.
DRILLING DELAYS
• Increase seed-rates by TGW.
• Monitor slugs.
• Barley priority.
• Order extra seed?
• Spray off re-growth.