The benefit of rolling

[ajd132]

Does rolling in the spring wake up more blackgrass? (Even if you’ve rolled in the autumn)

 

[teslacoils]

Does rolling in the spring wake up more blackgrass? (Even if you’ve rolled in the autumn)

Some say yes. Some say no. To be honest, the ground here will crack by may and that moves more soil that the rolls.

 

[ajd132]

Some say yes. Some say no. To be honest, the ground here will crack by may and that moves more soil that the rolls.

I just always thought it seemed a beneficial thing to do and am tempted to do all the wheat (and winter barley?) if time and conditions allow.
would It do a similar job to CCC at that early t0 timing? It must stimulate root growth, I’ve done it before and it really seems to benefit the plants.

 

[teslacoils]

It's a bit shocking to see bits of greenery ripped off the plant, but it certainly keeps it tillering.

I don't think this soil would be dry enough, early enough to do winter barley.

It's certainly beneficial.

 

[idle git]

I will only roll if ground conditions allow, red marl mainly here and if the ground is to damp its best to keep rolls in the nettles but because we have a fair few combine damaging stones lying around so if conditions are right I do like to hide them if at all possible

But maybe we do sometimes over do things, normally I trio, cultipress, drill with a rapid and then try and roll, this year everything was trio'd well and then we had the 80 odd mm in the week we should of been starting drilling, the rain did weather the ground well so we drilled everything straight into the trio'd ground and then shut the gate and it all looks very well, might have a couple of days stone picking to do tho

 

[czechmate]

I will only roll if ground conditions allow, red marl mainly here and if the ground is to damp its best to keep rolls in the nettles but because we have a fair few combine damaging stones lying around so if conditions are right I do like to hide them if at all possible

But maybe we do sometimes over do things, normally I trio, cultipress, drill with a rapid and then try and roll, this year everything was trio'd well and then we had the 80 odd mm in the week we should of been starting drilling, the rain did weather the ground well so we drilled everything straight into the trio'd ground and then shut the gate and it all looks very well, might have a couple of days stone picking to do tho

Or spring rolling...

 

[glasshouse]

An enduring message

Unionist slugs imho

 

[Renaultman]

I just always thought it seemed a beneficial thing to do and am tempted to do all the wheat (and winter barley?) if time and conditions allow.
would It do a similar job to CCC at that early t0 timing? It must stimulate root growth, I’ve done it before and it really seems to benefit the plants.

We did a lot last year, probably too dry to bury any stones but I definitely think it helps with tillering, timing is a nightmare what with using liquid fert and trying to get BWS on and now poultry muck too, if I can source it

 

[ollie989898]

I just always thought it seemed a beneficial thing to do and am tempted to do all the wheat (and winter barley?) if time and conditions allow.
would It do a similar job to CCC at that early t0 timing? It must stimulate root growth, I’ve done it before and it really seems to benefit the plants.

Potentially you break down the odd clod and release something. Pushing down stones and pressing the plants into the deck does seem to give them something to think about.

It is ideal on those strange cool springs where they are dry but the preceding winter has been the kind that gives soils that funny 'capped' layer on the top. Rolling crumbles that down to dust, the N goes on and the plants get to work.

Just won't ever roll in the spring unless conditions are dry. Done in plasticine conditions you will see the wheel marks all season if it is done wrong.

 

[Renaultman]

Potentially you break down the odd clod and release something. Pushing down stones and pressing the plants into the deck does seem to give them something to think about.

It is ideal on those strange cool springs where they are dry but the preceding winter has been the kind that gives soils that funny 'capped' layer on the top. Rolling crumbles that down to dust, the N goes on and the plants get to work.

Just won't ever roll in the spring unless conditions are dry. Done in plasticine conditions you will see the wheel marks all season if it is done wrong.

Death by roller

 

[A1baz]

Filling in suprisingly well



quick image upload

 

[Brisel]

I just always thought it seemed a beneficial thing to do and am tempted to do all the wheat (and winter barley?) if time and conditions allow.
would It do a similar job to CCC at that early t0 timing? It must stimulate root growth, I’ve done it before and it really seems to benefit the plants.

Rolling during tillering stresses the plants which makes them tiller more. It reduces root crown lodging but the flip side is that you can stimulate a flush of weeds by breaking dormancy when you disturb the topsoil.

The common mistake is to roll when dry on top but the soil structure is still delicate underneath.

I‘d do more spring rolling, but the window doesn‘t happen most years on heavy clay by the time you have left an interval between sprays to avoid scorching dewaxed crop.

 

[ajd132]

Rolling during tillering stresses the plants which makes them tiller more. It reduces root crown lodging but the flip side is that you can stimulate a flush of weeds by breaking dormancy when you disturb the topsoil.

The common mistake is to roll when dry on top but the soil structure is still delicate underneath.

I‘d do more spring rolling, but the window doesn‘t happen most years on heavy clay by the time you have left an interval between sprays to avoid scorching dewaxed crop.

Thanks, we have done it sometimes. Usually in wet years when we can’t get rolled in the autumn. I was just thinking whether we should try and make it a routine operation But was worried about weeds

 

[Brisel]

Thanks, we have done it sometimes. Usually in wet years when we can’t get rolled in the autumn. I was just thinking whether we should try and make it a routine operation But was worried about weeds

I have stones up here, so would love to roll what wasn’t done in the autumn. I guess the weed issue would depend on what spectrum you have. A decent crop will soon outcompete a fresh flush of spring germinating broad leafed weeds. I’d be more wary where you have ryegrass or a big wild oat burden.

 

[Renaultman]

I have stones up here, so would love to roll what wasn’t done in the autumn. I guess the weed issue would depend on what spectrum you have. A decent crop will soon outcompete a fresh flush of spring germinating broad leafed weeds. I’d be more wary where you have ryegrass or a big wild oat burden.

Funny I was walking across my unrolled stuff this morning and thinking, when rolling you still have to get out and pick the stones that will potentially damage the combine, particularly in spring when it is almost impossible to go on the land when it is soft enough to squash the stones in without being too soft ti damage the crop. I'm thinking I may just pick the stones in to a bucket and skip rolling. I left some lovely clods that are just turning to powder now and some will no doubt gave weed seeds in them so I think I'll leave well alone, particularly as everything is so lush and we'll tillered at the moment.

 

[Brisel]

Funny I was walking across my unrolled stuff this morning and thinking, when rolling you still have to get out and pick the stones that will potentially damage the combine, particularly in spring when it is almost impossible to go on the land when it is soft enough to squash the stones in without being too soft ti damage the crop. I'm thinking I may just pick the stones in to a bucket and skip rolling. I left some lovely clods that are just turning to powder now and some will no doubt gave weed seeds in them so I think I'll leave well alone, particularly as everything is so lush and we'll tillered at the moment.

I can’t see us being able to roll any winter crops this spring, so the stone bucket will be in use here too.

 

[DaveGrohl]

The very idea of rolling in the spring cracks me up. By the time our soil is dry enough to not get stuck it’s waaay too late.

 

[teslacoils]

Too early to roll yet.....isn't it? Would go. No frost forecast.

 

[ollie989898]

Too early to roll yet.....isn't it? Would go. No frost forecast.

Why too early to roll? I'd get on with it if it is dry. I bet most of these crops are tinkering and growing on slowly.

 

[teslacoils]

Feels a bit wrong. Still January.