Mixing varieties to suit varying soil across the field

[Robt]

Hi all, so I’m after some feedback.
our new combination has multi hoppers and metering units meaning we can sow two varieties at the same time at different rates. I have had a few people tell me that certain varieties suit certain soil types on their farm. So we are going to hopefully run a trail in the spring where we will zone up a field into differing soil types and sow two varieties at different ratio to suit the soil zone.
will it work?
Can I take improve yield?
What do you think?

 

[Jetemp]

Might work.
Although we would target inputs to varieties in certain instances, I.e. fungicides with differing products and differing rates depending on percived strengths and weaknesses of varieties. Will be interesting to see if you see any overall yield differnce

 

[yellowbelly]

With all those 'different' combinations are you likely to get a field that's ready to harvest at a load of different times in a load of different patches??

 

[Robt]

No you choose one that is disease tolerant and one that suit your soil in that zone. You choose two that ripen at similar windows

 

[MF 168]

Uneven ripening would be my concern in mixing varieties.

 

[ajd132]

Chris Green CMI used to talk about this a few years ago.

 

[neilo]

Crazy idea zoning fields according to soil types. Next thing, someone will suggest planting a hedge along the boundaries of those zones. It'll never catch on........

 

[Oat]

Might work.
Although we would target inputs to varieties in certain instances, I.e. fungicides with differing products and differing rates depending on percived strengths and weaknesses of varieties. Will be interesting to see if you see any overall yield differnce

I agree. Unless you grew varieties which were very similar in terms of inputs, you would probably want to adjust the inputs such as fungicide on each variety (as mentioned above). Therefore, you would be introducing another variable(s) into the mix and you wouldn't know if any differences in yield were due to variety/soil or inputs etc...

 

[Pieces_of_Eight]

Ask your merchant about it?

 

[Farmer Fin]

Is this not more suited for companion cropping rather than the same crop?

 

[Robt]

No I’m aware of companion cropping and our new drill can do both. I’m more interested in variably mixing two varieties across the field depending on soil type

 

[Brisel]

Some of the US maize farmers do this, swapping varieties according to the yield potential in that zone. I forget where I read that but it originated in a precision farming based Nuffield report.

I agree with comments about introducing more variables for fungicides etc, but an interesting idea. I'd use more of an aggressively tillering variety on a colder soil type with lower potential, especially if drought prone. Use your other variety on the better potential soil, though not a slower developing one if the clay content is higher as you'll stretch the ripening dates out a bit.

 

[ih1455xl]

Just mix them all up and chuck ot in the drill hopper been doing it here for a while now

 

[Oat]

Just mix them all up and chuck ot in the drill hopper been doing it here for a while now

The trouble is your are potentially not getting the optimum yield and margin in each zone. Also you are having to manage the weaker variety in each zone, but treat the whole field, as opposed to treating (more chem, higher rates, etc...) only in selected areas

 

[ih1455xl]

The trouble is your are potentially not getting the optimum yield and margin in each zone. Also you are having to manage the weaker variety in each zone, but treat the whole field, as opposed to treating (more chem, higher rates, etc...) only in selected areas

Seem to be getting better yeilds a lot more constant grain results when delivering to the mill better proteins and useing less fert and chems so I'm very happy without spending thousands on soil zoning and expensiveness machinery to do the same as what we're already doing

 

[4course]

seem to remember sinclair mcgill offereing blends 25/30years ago must be time to recycle the idea, though im thinking if and when we ever get the chance to sow some more wheat before spring vernalization cut off might be a good idea to mix the varieties as no one really knows how any one will perform on its own

 

[Robt]

Very good replies so far.
our drill can drill two varieties at once through two different metering units . So in zone a hopper on is doing 110kg and hopper 2 doing 90kg to give 200kg. Pass 1 m into zone 2 and it can switch to 100/100.... so no missed plots and just variety to suit the soil type

 

[quattro]

Very good replies so far.
our drill can drill two varieties at once through two different metering units . So in zone a hopper on is doing 110kg and hopper 2 doing 90kg to give 200kg. Pass 1 m into zone 2 and it can switch to 100/100.... so no missed plots and just variety to suit the soil type

So could you do grain and fert

 

[Robt]

Yes

 

[quattro]

Yes

Can you do folding with a 4metre with the seed at the back