shallow tillage

Bijeenkomst: EGF2015
Auteur: Fychan R., Crotty F.V., Scullion J., Sanderson R. and Marley C.L.
ISBN: 978-9090-289-61-8
Jaar van uitgifte: 2015
Producttype: Paper
Using shallow tillage (e.g. direct drilling) is one approach that farmers could use to reduce establishment costs within dairy systems, but soils are often compacted by machinery during field operations. Research has shown that different forage species may alter the physical properties of soil. An experiment investigating the effects of forage species established by direct drilling, either with or without sward-lifting, on soil compaction was established on a previously compacted area of silt loam at Trawscoed, Aberystwyth University. Treatments consisted of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne), white clover (Trifolium repens) or lucerne (Medicago sativa) established by direct drilling compared to ryegrass established by ploughing, with each of these treatments set up either with or without prior sward-lifting. The existing ryegrass sward was used as a control. Triplicate plots (17×3 m) of each treatment were sown on 17 July. Sward-lifting reduced soil penetration resistance for all treatments in all soil layers between 7.5 and 37.5 cm, but increased resistance in the 0-7.5 cm layer. Ploughing reduced soil penetration resistance in all soil layers between 0-22.5 cm. Soil penetration resistance within the 0-7.5 cm layer of soil was lower in existing ryegrass plots than lucerne plots during early establishment.

Bijeenkomst: EGF2015
Auteur: Marley C.L., Scott M.B., Davies J.W., Sanderson R. and Fychan R.
ISBN: 978-9090-289-61-8
Jaar van uitgifte: 2015
Producttype: Paper
Dairy farmers are under increasing pressure to maximise their use of home-grown high-protein forages to achieve sustainable intensification. The use of shallow tillage, such as direct drilling, is one approach farmers could use to reduce the establishment costs when incorporating these forages into high-output pasture-based systems. Lucerne (Medicago sativa) is a high yielding forage with high crude protein concentration which is highly palatable to ruminants. An experiment investigated the effect of establishment date and method on lucerne establishment. Findings showed that competition from grass was the main factor affecting the lucerne establishment. The yield of lucerne, established after either a first or second silage cut, either by ploughing or direct drilling, did not differ among treatments where herbicide was used. If lucerne is to be successfully established without the use of herbicide, it should be sown after ploughing not by direct drilling, and after a first silage cut.