Small Seeded Crops in a Direct Seeding System

Bill Duke

Redvers, SK

We have summerfallowed once since 1983. This was the result of waiting too long for one-quarter section of winter wheat to become viable in 1985 and then working it out in late June. For several years we fall and/or spring banded our blend of fertilizer with 2-inch spikes on a chisel plow, then seeded across or on an angle with hoe drills. In 1989, we traded our hoe drill on a Flexi-Coil 800/1610 unit. After seeding our first crop into banded stubble, we mounted our liquid fertilizer tank behind the 1610 air tank. We were using 14-inch sweeps with Farmland paired row boots and harrow packed a day or two later.

By 1992, we wanted less disturbance and on-row packing. In October 1992, we traded the Flexi-Coil on a Concord with edge-on shanks and Anderson openers. We mounted our Green Drop fertilizer system and hooked our 1200 gallon tank behind the Concord seed tank. We seeded four crops with the Concord and then purchased a Seed Hawk in 1997. We were looking for more precise seed placement from independent openers, especially for "small seeded crops in a direct seeding system". Our experiences have lead to the following observations:

Direct Seeding Advantages

• Seed Bed:
  • Firmer and moister - allows for shallow placement of small seeds.
  • More even and rapid emergence.
  • Healthier, more vigourous plants.
  • Higher plant populations - we have reduced seeding rates as a result.

• • Wind and Water Erosion:

• • • • So far has been eliminated.
      • Young plants are protected from damaging winds and storms.

• • Moisture Retention and Distribution:

• • • • Fewer potholes.
      • More moisture on knolls.
      • Improved infiltration.
      • Less soil evaporation.
      • Increased drought tolerance.

• • Rotational Benefits:

• • • • Small seeded crops help break disease and insect cycles of cereals and pulses and vice versa.
      • Different crops expand harvest season and help reduce harvest stresses.
      • Allows for marketing options.

• • Soil Quality:

• • • • Increased rotations are friendly to continuous cropping which increases organic content, lowers water tables and reduces salinity, increases microbiological activity and enhances the development of earthworms (the real farmers).

• • Timing:

• • • • Often earlier, i.e. not pre-working or banding, not waiting for weeds.
      • Potholes are drier.
      • Direct seeding equipment often performs adequately when damper.
      • For many small seeded crops, earlier enhances yields.

Direct Seeding Disadvantages

• • Frost:

• • • • -7 degrees C on May 29 was deadly to canola plants growing through straw. Where ground cover of straw was minimal, the plants survived.

• • Weeds:

• • • • Different weed problems such as foxtail barley, dandelions, narrow-leaved hawksbeard and scentless chamomile are becoming more prominent.

• • Disease:

• • • • We appear to have more tan spot and septoria in wheat following canola or flax, probably from the prior wheat crop's straw.

• • Insects:

• • • • Sawfly damage is becoming a concern.

• • Costs:

• • • • We are spending too much chemicals, especially on early seeded crops. This year, while early drought and late May frosts hurt our crop vigour and caused some re-spraying, we cannot rule out this dilemma as unusual. In this business, "Now is Normal". The other noticeable increase in our costs is the rising seed prices, especially GMO's.

• • Land Values:

• • • • It behooves me that land in summerfallow is recognized in the market as higher value than land which has been continuously cropped. Perhaps it is favoured as rotationally ready for a higher value small seeded crop, but not always.

• • Extra Time:

• • • • "Puts upward pressure on land rent". This quote is from Ken Zyla, a reforming rentaholic.

Summary

While 1998 was not as weather friendly as we had hoped for, we are planning to maintain our rotation for 1999. W are convinced the benefits of continuous cropping, direct seeding, and rotating crops still outweigh the disadvantages. However, we will be examining our options regarding seed costs, chemical costs, and disease resistance.

Our decision to move to independent openers, especially for small seeded crops, appears to be sound. This observation is made having only two cropping years of experience with it. Our list of disadvantages suggests we need much more research and experimentation to reduce production risk, reduce costs, and to instill more confidence in systems, which help rebuild the soil.

May 1999 be kind to us all.