Rolling, Deep-tillage - essential part of No-TILL??

[Fat hen]

I had an inspirational visit to Tony Reynolds' farm, seeing his equipment, hearing his advice etc. I decided this to be the blueprint for the future of our farm. He only has a Weaving drill, sprayer, combine and a 120hp tractor. No cultivation no rolling. It made things sound incredibly simple. Whilst I dont expect miracles,however, I am getting a bit disillusioned with the reality!

The reality certainly on our heavier soils seems to be quite a bit less revolutionary. Having to flat-lift frequently, if not annually. Oil radish and the like bandied as a super-rooter struggles to penetrate such soil when disc-drilled unless it has been pre-loosened. Also having to roll more than once annually (Tony says not to roll as it destroys the soil structure). Will these practices persist or taper off as the SOM increases, as is my hope?

I keep thinking back to Tony's words..."if its not working it means you're moving the soil too much".
In reply to what to do with a compacted clay field he says " just drill it".
Using a Claydon mainly at present, I'm considering a Weaving GD on his recommendation, mainly.

 

[Badshot]

I had an inspirational visit to Tony Reynolds' farm, seeing his equipment, hearing his advice etc. I decided this to be the blueprint for the future of our farm. He only has a Weaving drill, sprayer, combine and a 120hp tractor. No cultivation no rolling. It made things sound incredibly simple. Whilst I dont expect miracles,however, I am getting a bit disillusioned with the reality!

The reality certainly on our heavier soils seems to be quite a bit less revolutionary. Having to flat-lift frequently, if not annually. Oil radish and the like bandied as a super-rooter struggles to penetrate such soil when disc-drilled unless it has been pre-loosened. Also having to roll more than once annually (Tony says not to roll as it destroys the soil structure). Will these practices persist or taper off as the SOM increases, as is my hope?

I keep thinking back to Tony's words..."if its not working it means you're moving the soil too much".
In reply to what to do with a compacted clay field he says " just drill it".
Using a Claydon mainly at present, I'm considering a Weaving GD on his recommendation, mainly.

I don't think a disc drill will work consistently here on this heavy soil. Certainly my neighbour has moved to a Claydon and is getting more reliable results, or it appears so anyway. Standing water was getting worse year on year.

BUT. is it better to get 3 t instead of 4t if the capital tied up, and labour required is that much reduced?

Personally I've done some very shallow discing this year trying to stimulate bg after a disaster this spring with it germinating as soon as I drilled, it had sat under the mat of straw waiting.

 

[Fat hen]

I don't think a disc drill will work consistently here on this heavy soil. Certainly my neighbour has moved to a Claydon and is getting more reliable results, or it appears so anyway. Standing water was getting worse year on year.

BUT. is it better to get 3 t instead of 4t if the capital tied up, and labour required is that much reduced?

Personally I've done some very shallow discing this year trying to stimulate bg after a disaster this spring with it germinating as soon as I drilled, it had sat under the mat of straw waiting.

On heavy soil, I find the Claydon is good in dryish conditions into untilled stubble. But presently, that on untilled wet clay it'll bringing smeared tacky soil up (like' banana peel') from below. And on flat-lifted clay then it makes a mess dragging up ugly clods (previously loosened) and subsequent BG seeds. In these latter 2 situation i think a disk drill will be much better.
Our S Beans and S Barley drilled with a Claydon were absolute disasters as ground couldnt deal with the rain, capped it. Sparse crops - BG won the day!

We tried shallow disking last year (Amazone Katros) after harvest instead of Raking and I regret this cos it stirred up BG seeds in fields which had previously been clean for 3 years!! Grrrr!! I think disking is going back to min-till, as it were - which BG loves. So wont be discing again in a hurry! Rolling is a good way I understand to get a BG chit too...

 

[Badshot]

On heavy soil, I find the Claydon is good in dryish conditions into untilled stubble. But presently, that on untilled wet clay it'll bringing smeared tacky soil up (like' banana peel') from below. And on flat-lifted clay then it makes a mess dragging up ugly clods (previously loosened) and subsequent BG seeds. In these latter 2 situation i think a disk drill will be much better.
Our S Beans and S Barley drilled with a Claydon were absolute disasters as ground couldnt deal with the rain, capped it. Sparse crops - BG won the day!

We tried shallow disking last year (Amazone Katros) after harvest instead of Raking and I regret this cos it stirred up BG seeds in fields which had previously been clean for 3 years!! Grrrr!! I think disking is going back to min-till, as it were - which BG loves. So wont be discing again in a hurry! Rolling is a good way I understand to get a BG chit too...

It's definitely back to min till, perhaps a disc drill would have been a better option for me this spring, I can't justify another drill at the mo though so I've resorted to sub inch discing.

 

[mikep]

It's definitely back to min till, perhaps a disc drill would have been a better option for me this spring, I can't justify another drill at the mo though so I've resorted to sub inch discing.

Forced to tickle a bit of land that was too cracked to drill.
Used the old (v old) lely power harrow and it worked well. Just ran over the field knocking the old worm casts and bits to give a nice finish for drilling. Quite therapeutic in a sense but anxious waiting for the expected bang which fortunately never came.