Page 10 - dale drills

10
ARE SLUGS A PROBLEM?
Less cultivations and more surface trash do mean more slugs and it’s important to check for activity around a week after drilling when seedlings begin to emerge. Rolling after drilling can help, as can baling and removing straw and harrowing stubble to evenly distribute the remaining straw and trash. Slug pellets can also be applied – particularly at the crop emergence stage.
HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH COMPACTION?
The best way to address this is to level lift and roll before drilling, ideally when soils are drier and more likely to ‘shatter’.
HOW DO YOU PREPARE THE LAND?
Direct drilling starts with the combine. Aim for a stubble length of 6-8 inches and, if chopping the straw, ensure the combine’s chopper blades are well maintained. If combining in a cross wind it may be necessary to spread crop residues more evenly using a straw rake.
WHAT ABOUT BLACK-GRASS?
You should see far less weeds emerging in directly drilled crops, especially if straw is chopped and spread evenly prior to drilling.
If weeds and volunteers have emerged before drilling, spray off with glyphosate. Alternatively, use glyphosate after drilling if you intend using a pre-emergence spray – many will mix satisfactorily. Use that year’s tramlines for next year’s crop. They will still be visible and – provided they are not too deeply rutted – will be ideal for carrying the sprayer.
If using a soil acting herbicide don’t be too concerned about straw residue on the surface. Most of the chemicals will wash through the straw to the soil and if the straw is very thick, the weeds can’t grow through.
DALE DRILLS
THE FUTURE OF EFFICIENT CROP ESTABLISHMENT
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS