DD in Clay

[Lincsman]

Having seen a field of new sown grass today with just long straight 1" wide cracks where grass seed was supposed to grow (its was sown last autumn as well as a second attempt 3 weeks ago) i was wondering is this what happens every year at some point in the season? I think it was a tine type drill.

 

[Clive]

Having seen a field of new sown grass today with just long straight 1" wide cracks where grass seed was supposed to grow (its was sown last autumn as well as a second attempt 3 weeks ago) i was wondering is this what happens every year at some point in the season? I think it was a tine type drill.

on heavy clay it’s hard to beat a inverted T opener drill. problem is that coulter is not very widely used in the UK due to historic prices of drill that use it - the Novag drill will hopefully make that technology more affordable and available making consistent zerotill more viable in the heavy soil types

 

[robs1]

Simtech t boot is fine in heavy clay

 

[britt]

That happens when you drill when the ground is too wet, then dries out, particularly if there are grass roots holding the ground between the rows together.
You can't always wait for ideal conditions and you can only guess what will happen after drilling.
If you drill into dry clay that crumbles as you drill it won't happen.

 

[Lincsman]

That happens when you drill when the ground is too wet, then dries out, particularly if there are grass roots holding the ground between the rows together.
You can't always wait for ideal conditions and you can only guess what will happen after drilling.
If you drill into dry clay that crumbles as you drill it won't happen.

I think the idea was to drill just before the last moisture went, it would shatter now as the cracks would be random, (if it could penetrate) but then it still wouldnt grow as all the moisture has long gone, ironically it spent most of the winter 40% flooded despite recent drainage installed.