- Location
- Moreton-in-Marsh, Glos
I have converted from a plough based system to Direct drilling, having been a sworn advocate of it.
I cannot find any downsides of DD, including yield.
I did it purely for financial reasons.
I use a Weaving GD drill. This is what I have found:
One 8th of the amount of fuel used to establish a crop - win.
Reduction of 75% in time to establish a crop - win.
Reduction in Blackgrass due to not disturbing and waking up its seed between the rows - win.
Resulting in 50% of the pre-em herbicide usage - win.
No extra usage of Glyphosate needed - win.
Yields as good, often better than ploughed land - win.
Environmental:
I can drill early again, by the end of September when ALL soil conditions are ideal - win.
87.5% reduction in CO2 to establish my crops - win
IRO 2-3 tonnes per acre reduction of CO2 released from cultivated soils as bacteria breaks down OM - win.
I no longer need to roll any land after the drill - win.
No problem with FYM application. Just spread on top and drill through it - win.
Massive increase in the earthworm population - win.
Ploughing is obviously necessary where root crops are grown. But for Combinable crop, not.
I cannot find any downsides of DD, including yield.
I did it purely for financial reasons.
I use a Weaving GD drill. This is what I have found:
One 8th of the amount of fuel used to establish a crop - win.
Reduction of 75% in time to establish a crop - win.
Reduction in Blackgrass due to not disturbing and waking up its seed between the rows - win.
Resulting in 50% of the pre-em herbicide usage - win.
No extra usage of Glyphosate needed - win.
Yields as good, often better than ploughed land - win.
Environmental:
I can drill early again, by the end of September when ALL soil conditions are ideal - win.
87.5% reduction in CO2 to establish my crops - win
IRO 2-3 tonnes per acre reduction of CO2 released from cultivated soils as bacteria breaks down OM - win.
I no longer need to roll any land after the drill - win.
No problem with FYM application. Just spread on top and drill through it - win.
Massive increase in the earthworm population - win.
Ploughing is obviously necessary where root crops are grown. But for Combinable crop, not.