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A report from the AgTech Centre

Spring checklist to get the most from direct seeding

Engineers at the Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (AAFRD) AgTech Centre in Lethbridge, Alta., say research shows direct seeding saves fuel, reduces labour costs, boosts crop yields and conserves soil. And improvements to the system continue.

"Direct seeding is such a personal management system that all farmers are capable of doing it effectively," says engineer Lawrence Papworth. "Producers just have to know how to make it work for their particular operation. With so many changing factors, this simple checklist will help producers get the most from their cropping systems."

First, match equipment to soil type. Though some soils are better suited to direct seeding than others, there are ways to overcome soil-type obstacles by choosing appropriate equipment.

"Loamy soils are usually best suited to direct seeding, while sandy soils are the least," says Papworth. "Still, there are systems out there that will work in dry soils. For example, we've tested a new seeding system in which a burr packer runs behind the opener and packs soil around the seed, which helps the seed germinate under dry conditions. For producers dealing with wet soil, an air seeder is a good choice. Air seeders don't pack soil directly around the seed, but in wet soil, the seed is likely to germinate regardless."

Second, decide whether to single or double shoot. Keep in mind this affects several other decisions, such as choice of fertilizer.

Single shoot systems are often preferred by small operators or those who are just getting into direct seeding systems, says Papworth. Double shoot systems are more complicated, which may make them a better choice for producers with some direct seeding experience under their belt.

Third, consider crop rotation carefully. It's even more important in a direct seeding system because of concerns about crop residue spreading disease, and about volunteer being difficult to control, says Papworth. "For example, seeding winter wheat into spring wheat makes it almost impossible to kill volunteer plants, so it isn't a good rotation for direct seeding. A more suitable crop rotation is a cereal then an oilseed."

Fourth is fertilizer choice. Papworth says AgTech research shows different fertilizer types perform similarly under direct seeding, so the choice between granular nitrogen, liquid nitrogen or anhydrous ammonia isn't based so much on the best option as on a producer's needs.

For instance, producers with large operations using double shoot systems may want to use anhydrous ammonia to save money, says Papworth. Producers with smaller operations using modified equipment rather than completely new machinery may prefer liquid fertilizer.

Fifth, be aware that row width and spacing can have a direct effect on crop yields. Recent AgTech Centre research has found that, in most cases, increasing the row width leads to a yield increase. "The main reason for that is seed bed utilization," says Papworth. "Using more of the seedbed means using more of the soil and more of the soil's nutrients."

Changing the row spacing, that is the distance between rows, can also have a positive affect on yields.

"Our research found that a narrower row spacing brings higher yields and again this is because more of the seed bed is used," says Papworth. "But, in the case of row spacing, it is possible to go too narrow. With narrower spacing, a producer may run into other problems, such as residue management, because the higher yields will leave heavier crop residue."

The AgTech Centre, located in Lethbridge, Alta., is part of the Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development Agricultural Engineering Branch. Its mandate includes all aspects of agricultural sustainability.

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