Is it a case of delayed drilling or healthy establishment?
10th October 2021
For many, the optimum time for drilling cereals is mid-October but growers can be torn between later drilling to aid weed control and getting the seed drilled early in warmer
For many, the optimum time for drilling cereals is mid-October but growers can be torn between later drilling to aid weed control and getting the seed drilled early in warmer soil for uniform establishment. Mzuri reckons you can have both.
Direct drilling specialists Mzuri claims its Pro-Til system offers users the best of both worlds – an ability to control grass weeds pre-drilling, alongside the flexibility of establishing consistent and competitive crops later in the season.
By adopting a whole system approach, the manufacturer suggests that growers can capitalise on timings by choosing a weatherproof establishment method. The design of its landmark Pro-Til drill aims to provide just that by working directly into uncultivated stubbles, which by their very nature are well-structured and stable. When comparing this against working with pre-cultivated soils which can be prone to slumping through a loss of structure, growers have little leeway for extending their drilling season whilst still guaranteeing rapid establishment.
The Mzuri system allows users to maximise the benefits of cultivations whilst still retaining the structural integrity of the soil for better travelling and high germination rates later in the season. The one-pass drill delivers seed accurately into a strip of friable tilth, before being reconsolidated for excellent seed to soil contact, providing the perfect environment for successful germination. This targeted cultivation mineralises nitrogen which, coupled with band- placed fertiliser, yields rapid, early growth. The resulting seedlings are competitive to emerging weeds, and better able to grow away from pest pressures.
By having this assurance that crops will establish quickly and evenly, Mzuri suggests growers can afford to pick their timings to suit weed control techniques such as stale seedbeds – something the manufacturer advocates. The Mzuri Rezult stubble rake is one such tool that was developed on the manufacturer’s trial farm to effectively reduce weed populations prior to drilling. By delaying drilling, with a system that allows the flexibility to do so and not run the risk of poor establishment, growers can achieve a broad chit of grass weeds by stimulating the surface with the Rezult rake. By taking the pressure off and widening the cereal drilling window, it is possible to achieve several flushes from multiple passes with the rake, allowing for the best control possible prior to drilling. This, combined with a strong healthy plant that establishes well, even late into the year, means the Mzuri system offers growers the versatility and flexibility they need in unpredictable seasons, the company reckons.
