Row Spacing in Grass

[Sheep]

Hello, I've also posted this in Direct drilling but thought it would be very applicable here too.

I am building a new tine drill, I've got a design in mind but I'm quite undecided on what row spacing to go for.

This drill will be predominantly doing grass work, with a mixture of some wholecrop cereals.

I have looked at as much research as possible but haven't found anything conclusive as to what the best row spacing is for grass. All studies tend to see what is better for the larger spacings, e.g. 10cm, 20cm, 30cm; and they all unanimously agree that the narrow spacing provides the best results with the least weeds in grass.

I would like to build the drill with a 12.5cm spacing, but I was wondering if anyone had any experience with going narrower on grass, and if it is of any advantage? I'm trying to avoid double/cross drilling where possible.

At the moment all of our grass is broadcast, so haven't got much experience of grass drilling.

Thank you.

 

[milkloss]

So are you putting the seed in directly behind the tine? I’d be careful of depth if you are, especially red clover.

It might be that the tines would have enough lateral wobble that spacing won’t be much of an issue?

 

[Dog Bowl]

I dislike rows in my grass and as a result use a greenmaster which broadcasts it on. Personally as you already broadcast your seed I'd stuck to that for putting your grass in. I'd be very wary a tine drill will put your grass too deep

 

[Sheep]

So are you putting the seed in directly behind the tine? I’d be careful of depth if you are, especially red clover.

It might be that the tines would have enough lateral wobble that spacing won’t be much of an issue?

Yes the seed will be going directly behind the tine. Duncan renovator/Simtech aitchison style.

I dislike rows in my grass and as a result use a greenmaster which broadcasts it on. Personally as you already broadcast your seed I'd stuck to that for putting your grass in. I'd be very wary a tine drill will put your grass too deep

It will be going direct into uncultivated ground though, and is the route I would like to go in future.

Any reason for not liking the rows in grass? Did you find it didn't tiller out?

 

[hally]

Hello, I've also posted this in Direct drilling but thought it would be very applicable here too.

I am building a new tine drill, I've got a design in mind but I'm quite undecided on what row spacing to go for.

This drill will be predominantly doing grass work, with a mixture of some wholecrop cereals.

I have looked at as much research as possible but haven't found anything conclusive as to what the best row spacing is for grass. All studies tend to see what is better for the larger spacings, e.g. 10cm, 20cm, 30cm; and they all unanimously agree that the narrow spacing provides the best results with the least weeds in grass.

I would like to build the drill with a 12.5cm spacing, but I was wondering if anyone had any experience with going narrower on grass, and if it is of any advantage? I'm trying to avoid double/cross drilling where possible.

At the moment all of our grass is broadcast, so haven't got much experience of grass drilling.

Thank you.

125 mm spacing fine but you will need to cross drill for optimum seed coverage, if you drop to 90mm one pass will suffice. To much bare land equals an easy establishment for grass weeds so narrower the better.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Can you go narrow with a tine drill ,no idea ,

 

[hally]

Can you go narrow with a tine drill ,no idea ,

Done see why not but you would need 3 or 4rows to carry the tines but not impossible surely.

 

[Sheep]

Yep the only thing you will be limited by is the width of your tine. Otherwise is just adding more rows to carry them as Hally says.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Done see why not but you would need 3 or 4rows to carry the tines but not impossible surely.

Would the tines not just rip it up to much if the are to close , can you cross drill with tines

 

[Great In Grass]

Yes the seed will be going directly behind the tine. Duncan renovator/Simtech aitchison style.

View attachment 988396



It will be going direct into uncultivated ground though, and is the route I would like to go in future.

Any reason for not liking the rows in grass? Did you find it didn't tiller out?

IRG/Westerwolds in particular don't tiller very well & derive very little yield from tillers. I'm with @Dog Bowl "broadcasting" if possible would be my preferred choice.

 

[milkloss]

Those tines are good but I don't think they'd go well in old grass if the tines were too close nor for cross Drilling. I think they'd just make a mess and you'd lose the 'tunnel' effect anyway.

 

[steveR]

IRG/Westerwolds in particular don't tiller very well & derive very little yield from tillers. I'm with @Dog Bowl "broadcasting" if possible would be my preferred choice.

You are on Holiday...... Wotcha doing here?

 

[Mc115reed]

could you not just fit a slug pelleter too the back and broadcast over the tines?

 

[Derrick Hughes]

IRG/Westerwolds in particular don't tiller very well & derive very little yield from tillers. I'm with @Dog Bowl "broadcasting" if possible would be my preferred choice.

I'm afraid broadcasting is out around here , most on disc drills , if you get a close spacing drill Westerwolds will be fine an no weeds will keep up with it anyway

 

[hally]

Those tines are good but I don't think they'd go well in old grass if the tines were too close nor for cross Drilling. I think they'd just make a mess and you'd lose the 'tunnel' effect anyway.

Yes there must be an issue with going close with tine drills or those NZ manufacturers would have gone that way years ago surely?

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Hello, I've also posted this in Direct drilling but thought it would be very applicable here too.

I am building a new tine drill, I've got a design in mind but I'm quite undecided on what row spacing to go for.

This drill will be predominantly doing grass work, with a mixture of some wholecrop cereals.

I have looked at as much research as possible but haven't found anything conclusive as to what the best row spacing is for grass. All studies tend to see what is better for the larger spacings, e.g. 10cm, 20cm, 30cm; and they all unanimously agree that the narrow spacing provides the best results with the least weeds in grass.

I would like to build the drill with a 12.5cm spacing, but I was wondering if anyone had any experience with going narrower on grass, and if it is of any advantage? I'm trying to avoid double/cross drilling where possible.

At the moment all of our grass is broadcast, so haven't got much experience of grass drilling.

Thank you.

One think I learnt from dad many years ago that even with Italian Ryegrass that's not great for tillering was to include a few kgs of late diploid that would fill the bottom and suppress weeds

 

[Great In Grass]

You are on Holiday...... Wotcha doing here?

Keeping an eye on you lot! Gone 5 minutes and people want to drill grass.

 

[Boysground]

I know I’m very unfashionable but I’ve been drilling grass with vaderstad drills for over 20 years. it’s a disc not a tine so the depth control is very good, 125 mm spacing is not a problem. Drilling a field twice must be tedious so I have never tried, I’m not sure I would see a benefit.

Bg

 

[Great In Grass]

I'm afraid broadcasting is out around here , most on disc drills , if you get a close spacing drill Westerwolds will be fine an no weeds will keep up with it anyway

Only because your Government went and bought one for everyone!

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Keeping an eye on you lot! Gone 5 minutes and people want to drill grass.

Getting to late here ,it's been like a November day today, soil temp dropping fast