Osr row width
- Thread starter willy
- Start date
Mr Charisma
Member
- Location
- stratford on Avon
Personally I'd prefer 500 mm as that is what I'm used to
IMO both widths would be OK. Plants at a wider width may branch out more and in theory potentially intercept more light and yield better. However, in practice you may not see much difference in yield; it all depends if you also drop the seedrate. I have tried 12.5, 30 and 60cm spacing, and stuck at 30cm. Seedrates were roughly 100 seeds/m2 (for 12.5 and 30cm spacing) down to 30 seeds/m2 (60cm spacing). If you drop the seedrate slightly, then you may save some money, and get a slightly better yield. If you don't drop the seedrate you just overcrowd the rows and the plants may not grow as well individually, so may not see any effect on yield.
The main point to consider is that at wider rows (and assuming a lower seedrate), any missing plants make a larger difference. The wider rows also allow better access for pigeons and there is less competition from the crop against weeds; although conversely, could actually reduce disease pressure. If you can get the seed planted into a good seedbed and are sure it will establish quickly before winter and come out of winter still looking well, then its OK; but if you get poor establishment and early growth, then wider rows may be more difficult to manage pigeon damage and weeds in.
What seedrate would you be planting at 50cm or 60cm rows?
The main point to consider is that at wider rows (and assuming a lower seedrate), any missing plants make a larger difference. The wider rows also allow better access for pigeons and there is less competition from the crop against weeds; although conversely, could actually reduce disease pressure. If you can get the seed planted into a good seedbed and are sure it will establish quickly before winter and come out of winter still looking well, then its OK; but if you get poor establishment and early growth, then wider rows may be more difficult to manage pigeon damage and weeds in.
What seedrate would you be planting at 50cm or 60cm rows?
This.
Personally, I'd go wider spacing to reduce the power requirement or go faster or even wider. On a 3m machine it's 5 legs or 6, a 20% difference though the power difference won't be 20%. Should we ever do inter row shielded spraying with non selectives it will be easier on wider rows. Are there any other considerations e.g. used as a subsoiler if you swap the legs?
Personally, I'd go wider spacing to reduce the power requirement or go faster or even wider. On a 3m machine it's 5 legs or 6, a 20% difference though the power difference won't be 20%. Should we ever do inter row shielded spraying with non selectives it will be easier on wider rows. Are there any other considerations e.g. used as a subsoiler if you swap the legs?
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If you've got some kind soils that you can be confident of good establishment go for the wider option, but you dont want to be looking down your field of measly rape wishing there's another row between them. Most cases an overcrowded crop will out yield an patchy one.
yellow belly
Member
- Location
- south west lincolnshire
wider rows allow blackgrass to seed in a more open crop in some years
if your rotation can control bg between rape crops this will be a minor problem
D
Double edge sword, less disturbed soil and so black grass in between will be v shallow, but yes gap for sunlight is also a potential negative
Double edge sword, less disturbed soil and so black grass in between will be v shallow, but yes gap for sunlight is also a potential negative
- Location
- Warwickshire
We have 5 legs & a 3m packer, there is a touch of under lapping / overlapping but it works well for us.
Yields much better than conventional sowing
Yields much better than conventional sowing
average farmer
Member
- Location
- North Notts
I've never had brilliant yields from wider row's (20 inches) always looked well but never come up with the goods. Only ever drilled at this width off the back of a subsoiler (big simba legs) so it could be the technique not the row width that's the problem. Claydon and conventionally drilled crops have been doing better not drilled any part field but done drilled with all systems in the same year.
I've now made a drill for osr out of a simba freeflow running on 16 inch row widths but would like to go to 12 in the future but that's more to do with wanting to strip till/direct drill other crops with it
I've now made a drill for osr out of a simba freeflow running on 16 inch row widths but would like to go to 12 in the future but that's more to do with wanting to strip till/direct drill other crops with it
- Location
- Lincolnshire.
Depends on the ground I suppose 5 legs for 3m looks fine here. TBH we had a few rounds where I had a blocked pipe and the plants in the adjcent rows are bigger than the main crop. As above, band spraying at wider widths (75cm?) makes sense IMO. That technique has the potential to dramatically reduce the amount of residual herbicide used.
Agreed.
It also means you can tear up the Cousins quote and use a Shakaerator (costing buttons) with a simple seed box on top.
I am looking into drilling osr behind a subsoiler once again, we use to broadcast with 4 spreader plates behind a 7 leg 3m shakerator. Stopped this a year after neonics ban. Went back to subsoiling, carrier and conventional drilling for even sowing depth. This year I hired a 4m Dts to concerve moisture and pleased with results. I have got a 5 leg sumo subsoiler, leg spacing 650mm and thinking about mounting disc coulters behind the packer in line with the legs. Would the spacing be too wide? Also thought about using duet coulters behind each leg to narrow spacing a bit? Like the ones used on the sumo dts?
Thoughts and experiences please
Thoughts and experiences please
Daniel king
Member
Hi Will hope your well I’ve got a 6m oil drill on 600mm works well moves notably less soil so hopefully less BG
- Location
- South Notts
We’re on 550mm and I wouldn’t want to go any wider really. If you’re sowing conventionals for example the plants can end up quite bunched up in the row. Plus have a year like this one the OSR will never compete with the Grassweeds in between the rows on a lot of our ground and you open yourself up for a big seed return in the first wheat following - 2012/2013 season taut us a harsh lesson on this. I would go 500 for your new drill.