The first year of a two year study was conducted in 1995 to compare the agronomic performance of five side banding bolt on openers under direct seeding conditions at five locations. With spring wheat there were only small emergence differences due to opener type or fertilizer rate. In contrast, reduced canola emergence occurred with some of the openers at higher fertilizer rates. Reduced canola emergence was likely due to incomplete separation of seed and fertilizer resulting in seedling mortality or the deep placement of seeds resulting from extensive soil disturbance with some openers.
Opener type did not affect canola or wheat yield. Yield
response to N fertilizer rate with both wheat and canola was
classic with increased yields at each incremental fertilizer
rate. The results also indicated that the succcess with an opener
may be associated more with the operator than the opener
itself.
The development of high capacity air seeders for minimum and
no till seeding with side banding fertilizer capability has
resulted in a high level of producer interest in side banding
openers for these machines. Unfortunately, many early generation
bolt-on openers performed poorly, with numerous problems
including lack of seed/fertilizer separation, poor seedbed
quality, poor durability and excessive soil disturbance. Over the
past two years extensive research and development has resulted in
side banding openers that offer improved performance. Independent
agronomic testing is required to assess the performance of side
banding openers under a wide range of soil types and geographic
areas. This paper will present preliminary emergence and yield
data from the first year of a two year study.
The objective of the project is to evaluate and demonstrate
the agronomic performance of side banding openers under a variety
of soil types and conditions using wheat and canola and different
rates of nitrogen fertilizer.
Five side banding bolt-on openers were compared under direct
seeding conditions using side banded nitrogen rates of 0, 35, 70,
and 105 lb/ac N using urea (46-0-0) as the nitrogen source. In
addition all plots received 25 lb P2O5, 10 lb K2O and 10 lb S.
The first year of a two year study was completed in 1995 at five
locations including Watrous (Elsow clay loam), Tisdale (Tisdale
clay), Melfort (Melfort clay loam), Indian Head (Indian Head
heavy clay) and Yorkton (loam). A 10 ft wide 4 rank air seeder
using 12 in row spaces and on row packing was used for seeding
all plots (FIGURE 1).
FIGURE 1. PAMI Plot Air Seeder.
The plot air seeder used Flexi-coil cultivator components including 550 lb spring trips and shanks. Fertilizer and seed was contained in four custom made boxes metered thorough Amazone seed/fertilizer cups using one cup on each box for each opener. Following metering the seed/fertilizer gravity dropped into a Valmar venturi type pneumatic system for delivery to the openers. Ground driven Valmar 60 speed gearboxes were used for seed and fertilizer rate settings. K-Hart packers were mounted on the rear of the machine and were adjusted to pack directly over the centre of the seed row.
Bolt-on side banding openers used in the project were: Flexi-coil Stealth, Dutch Vern Eaglebuster, Swede SW470, GEN 200, and Morris Edge On Mount. A non side banding knife was also used as a check. All openers except the knife check placed the fertilizer below and to the side of the seed row. All of the side banding openers except the Swede placed the seed to the side and the fertilizer in the centre of the shank. In contrast, the Swede opener placed the seed in the centre of the shank and the fertilizer to the side. A Dutch seed brake was used to reduce seed velocity on all openers except the GEN.
Crop type was Maverick Polish canola and Pasqua hard red spring wheat at respective seed rates of 6 and 120 lb/ac. The Canola was treated with VitavaxRS and blended with Furadan 5 G.
Plot size was 10 x 30 ft with 4 replicates for a total of 84 canola and 84 wheat plots at each location.
Seeding dates were as follows:
| Watrous | May 15 - May 19 |
| Tisdale | May 21 - May 23 |
| Melfort | May 24 - May 26 |
| Indian Head | May 30 - June 1 |
| Yorkton | June 2 - June 4 |
Data collected for the study included:
Wheat
Canola
All of the sites were direct seeded into standing stubble with the PAMI plot drill using all five openers and four fertilizer rates at the seeding dates described previously.
The seed brake was not used on the GEN opener as this opener plugged with wheat when used with the seed brake.
Moisture conditions at seeding were very dry at Tisdale, moderate moisture at Watrous, Melfort, and Yorkton, and wet at the Indian Head site.
Due to soil texture and moisture conditions, large lumps of soil were brought up by all of the openers at Tisdale, Watrous, and Indian Head, leaving the plots very rough. The poor seed bed conditions combined with dry soil moisture at Tisdale and Watrous resulted in uneven emergence with some of the openers; especially with the canola plots. At Melfort and Yorkton soil conditions were much better and soil flowed around the openers and no large soil lumps were left on the soil surface. Although Melfort and Yorkton did not have problems with soil lumps, the soil surface was still rough with all side banding openers, compared to the knife check.
Herbicide application included pre seed burnoff with Roundup and post-emergent herbicides as required. Weed and volunteer crop control was very good at all sites.Spring WheatAt Watrous there were no large differences in emergence among the openers except the knife check which had higher emergence compared to the side banding openers (FIGURE 2).
FIGURE 2. Emergence of Spring Wheat at Watrous 1995.
The superior emergence of the knife check indicates improved seedbed quality with this opener. However, the superior emergence of the check only occurred at one other site so this result may be atypical.
Yield differences among the openers at Watrous were very
small, with similar yields at each fertilizer rate (FIGURE
3).
FIGURE 3. Yield of Spring Wheat at Watrous 1995.
There was a classic yield response to fertilizer rate with all of the side banding openers. Wheat yield increased at each incremental nitrogen fertilizer rate with only small differences among the openers.
At Tisdale emergence of the side banding openers was similar
to the knife at the 0 rate of nitrogen fertilizer. Most openers
had reduced emergence at the 70 and 105 lb/ac nitrogen rates
compared to the 0 and 35 lb/ac rates (FIGURE 4).
FIGURE 4. Emergence of Spring Wheat at Tisdale
1995.
The high level of emergence for the Dutch opener at the 35 lb/ac N rate is atypical and did not occur at any other location. All of the side banding openers had higher germination at the 35 compared to the 0 lb/ac rate. The reason for this increase is unknown. Reduced plant emergence at the 70 and 105 lb/ac N rate indicates incomplete separation of seed and fertilizer which either delayed emergence or killed the germinating seedling.
Wheat yields at Tisdale were erratic with increased yields as the fertilizer rate was increased from 0 to 35 lb/ac N and decreased yields at the 70 lb/ac fertilizer rate (FIGURE 5).
FIGURE 5. Yield of Spring Wheat at Tisdale
1995.
The reduction in yield could be attributed to fertilizer damage, however as four of five openers had higher yields at the 105 lb/ac N rate compared to the 70 lb/ac rate it is unlikely that the reduced yield was due to fertilizer damage.
At Melfort there were no large differences in emergence among the openers except the knife check which had higher emergence compared to the side banding openers (FIGURE 6).
FIGURE 6. Emergence of Spring Wheat at Melfort
1995.
The data from the GEN opener at the 105 lb/ac N rate was not available due to an equipment malfunction during seeding.
Yield differences among the openers were small, with similar yields at each fertilizer rate (FIGURE 7).
FIGURE 7. Yield of Spring Wheat at Melfort
1995.
Grain yield was quite high at this site with all openers and at all fertilizer rates. The reason for the lack of nitrogen response was likely due to relatively high levels of nitrate nitrogen in the soil at seeding.
Wheat emergence at Indian Head was not affected by opener or fertilizer rate except for the Dutch opener which had reduced emergence at each incremental increase in fertilizer rate (FIGURE 8).
FIGURE 8. Emergence of Spring Wheat at Indian Head
1995.
Wheat yields with all of the openers, except the Morris, were similar and increased dramatically with each incremental increase in fertilizer rate up to the 70 lb/ac N application rate (FIGURE 9).
FIGURE 9. Yield of Spring Wheat at Indian Head
1995.
The high yield of the Morris opener at the 0 lb/ac N rate was likely atypical as the yield of this opener was similar to the other openers at the 35, 70 and 105 lb/ac N fertilizer rates.
Emergence at Yorkton was somewhat erratic but not generally affected by opener or fertilizer rate (FIGURE 10).
FIGURE 10. Emergence of Spring Wheat at Yorkton 1995.
Yield differences among the openers were small, with similar grain yield at each fertilizer rate (FIGURE 11).
FIGURE 11. Yield of Spring Wheat at Yorkton
1995.
The lack of fertilizer response at Yorkton was likely due to relatively high levels of available nitrate nitrogen in the soil at seeding.
When the data from the five 1995 sites were combined, there were no large differences in emergence due to opener type or fertilizer application rate (FIGURE 12)
FIGURE 12. Emergence of spring wheat. Mean of five
locations 1995.
Emergence differences among the openers ranged from a maximum of 11% above and 4% below the knife check. These results indicate that all of the side banding openers produced satisfactory spring wheat germination and emergence at all fertilizer rates.
When the yield data from the five sites were combined there was a classic yield response to fertilizer rate with all of the openers (FIGURE 13).
FIGURE 13. Yield of spring wheat. Mean of five locations
1995.
Yield differences among the openers were small with yield
increases for each opener at each incremental nitrogen fertilizer
rate. The exception was the yield of the Swede opener which had a
slightly lower yield at the 105 lb/ac N rate compared to the 70
lb/ac rate. Yield response of the GEN opener was also flat at the
70 and 105 lb/ac N rates.
Canola
At Watrous Polish canola emergence was equivalent or better than the check at the 35 lb/ac N rate with all of the openers. However, there was an erratic response to nitrogen fertilizer rate with some of the openers (FIGURE 14).
FIGURE 14. Emergence of Canola at Watrous
1995.
Some of the openers had emergence reductions as fertilizer rates increased. This would appear to indicate germination damage due to mixing of fertilizer and seed. However, most of the openers had higher emergence at the 105 lb/ac N rate compared to the 70 lb/ac rate so it is unlikely that fertilizer damage was the cause of the reduced emergence.
There was a classic yield response to fertilizer rate with all of the side banding openers. Canola yield increased at each incremental fertilizer rate with the same general trend with all of the openers (FIGURE 15).
FIGURE 15. Canola yield at Watrous 1995.
Overall yields of canola were poor at Watrous with the best yield under 18 bu/ac. Yields were about the same for all of the openers except the Dutch opener at the 105 lb/ac N rate which yielded 2 bu/ac higher than any other opener at that N rate.
At Tisdale emergence of all side banding openers at the 0 N rate was equivalent or better than the knife check. However, there was a trend toward decreased emergence with each incremental increase in N rate with the Dutch, Morris and Swede openers (FIGURE 16).
FIGURE 16. Emergence of Canola at Tisdale
1995.
Emergence reductions at each incremental fertilizer rate is an indication of incomplete separation of seed and fertilizer. However, emergence reductions of up to 15%, compared to the check, are not considered to affect maturity or yield. At Tisdale the only opener with emergence reductions of greater than 15% was the Dutch opener at 105 lb/ac N rate.
Drought conditions at Tisdale resulted in yields of under 15 bu/ac with similar yields with all of the side banding openers(FIGURE 17).
FIGURE 17. Canola yield at Tisdale 1995.
In spite of the low yields at Tisdale, there was a classic yield response to fertilizer rate with all of the side banding openers. Canola yield increased at each incremental fertilizer rate with the same general trend with all of the openers. One exception was the slight reduction in yield with the GEN opener at the 105 lb/ac N rate.
At Melfort canola emergence was better than the check at the 35 lb/ac N rate with all of the openers (FIGURE 18).
FIGURE 18. Emergence of Canola at Melfort
1995.
Many of the openers had reduced emergence as fertilizer rates increased, especially at the 70 and 105 lb/ac N rates. This would appear to indicate germination damage due to lack of separation of fertilizer and seed.
Canola yield averaged more than 30 bu/ac at the Melfort site with all openers and at all fertilizer rates (FIGURE 19).
FIGURE 19. Canola yield at Melfort 1995.
The good yields with all openers and the lack of response to nitrogen fertilizer was likely due to relatively high levels of nitrate nitrogen in the soil at seeding.
Canola emergence at Indian Head was not affected by opener type or fertilizer rate for most openers (FIGURE 20).
FIGURE 20. Emergence of Canola at Indian Head
1995.
The Morris opener had the highest emergence at the 0 lb/ac N rate, however emergence declined at the 35 and 70 lb/ac rates and recovered slightly at the 105 lb/ac rate. The same trend towards reduced emergence occurred with the Dutch opener although the percent reduction in emergence was less with this opener.
At Indian Head soil moisture conditions during seeding and throughout the growing season were excellent which should have resulted in excellent yields. However, maximum yields of less than 17 bu/ac were achieved at this site (FIGURE 21).
FIGURE 21. Canola yield at Indian Head
1995.
The reason for the poor canola yield is unknown as there were
no apparent disease or insect problems at the site. In spite of
the poor yield at Indian Head, there was a classic yield response
to fertilizer rate with all of the side banding openers. Canola
yield increased at each incremental fertilizer rate with only
small differences among the openers.
Canola emergence at Yorkton was not affected by opener or fertilizer rate (FIGURE 22).
FIGURE 22. Emergence of Canola at Yorkton
1995.
Except for the Flexi-coil opener at the 35 and 70 lb/ac N rates, all of the openers had similar emergence and at all fertilizer rates. The high emergence figures for the Flexi-coil at these two rates did not occur at other sites and should be considered atypical results.
Polish canola yields at Yorkton were extremely poor with maximum yields of under 10 bu/ac (FIGURE 23).
FIGURE 23. Canola yield at Yorkton 1995.
Similar to Indian Head, the reason for the poor canola yield is unknown as there were no apparent disease or insect problems at the site. In spite of the poor yield at Yorkton, there was a classic yield response to fertilizer rate with most of the side banding openers. Canola yield increased at the 35 and 70 lb/ac N rates with only small differences among the openers. Yield with the Dutch, Morris and Swede openers was reduced at the 105 lb/ac rate compared to the 70 lb/ac rate. The high yield with the Dutch opener at the 70 lb/ac N rate was an atypical result.
When the data from the five 1995 sites were combined, emergence for most openers and fertilizer rates was equal or higher than the knife check (FIGURE 24).
FIGURE 24. Emergence of canola. Mean of five locations
1995.
The Dutch, Morris and Swede openers had emergence lower the knife check at either the 70 or 105 lb/ac N rate with the maximum reduction in stand of 16%. The reduction in emergence was likely due to incomplete separation of seed and fertilizer with these openers. As a 15% reduction in stand, due to fertilizer damage, is considered acceptable, all of the openers provided acceptable emergence except for two treatments who exceeded the standard by 1%.
When the yield data from the five canola sites were combined there was a classic yield response to fertilizer rate with all of the openers (FIGURE 25).
FIGURE 25. Yield of Polish canola. Mean of five locations
1995.
Yield differences among the openers were very small with yield
increases for each opener at each incremental nitrogen fertilizer
rate. All of the side banding openers resulted in equivalent
canola yields in 1995.
The results from the first year of the two year study indicated that there only small emergence differences due to opener type or fertilizer rate with spring wheat. In contrast, reduced Polish canola emergence occurred with some of the openers at higher fertilizer rates. Reduced canola emergence was likely due to incomplete separation of seed and fertilizer resulting in seedling mortality.
There were no differences in canola or wheat yield due to
opener type. Yield response due to fertilizer rate was classic
with increased yields at each incremental fertilizer
rate.
This study was supported by funding from the Canada - Saskatchewan Agricultural Green Plan, the Saskatchewan Canola Development Commission and by in kind support from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.