Forums
New posts
Forum list
Search forums
What's new
New posts
New resources
Latest activity
Trending Threads
Resources
Latest reviews
Search resources
FarmTV
Farm Compare
Search
Tokens/Searches
Calendar
Upcoming Events
Members
Registered members
Current visitors
New Resources
New posts
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles only
By:
New posts
Forum list
Search forums
Menu
Log in
Register
Navigation
Install the app
Install
More options
Contact us
Close Menu
Forums
Arable Farming
Cropping
Variable seed rates
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="Brisel" data-source="post: 6229390" data-attributes="member: 166"><p>I've been doing it for a few years based on SOYL electroconductivity scanning to produce a map like this</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]793758[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p>then ground truthing by a soil scientist to produce this;</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]793760[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]793762[/ATTACH]</p><p>Don't worry about the numbers too much - the higher numbers indicate a higher conductivity = higher water content = higher clay content. The zoning and establishment estimation is the most important bit.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]793756[/ATTACH]</p><p> </p><p>I did adjust the establishment rate for zone 7 which is a deep fertile gulley where the crop usually goes flat. I got SOYL to alter the germination from 65% up to 95%, thereby dropping the seed rate in this area. It doesn't go flat here any more and the seed saved here is used elewhere. In spring barley this spring the rate varied from 90 to 175 kg/ha according to the zone. This level of variability is quite high compared to most. The images are for approx 80 acres of very steep varying soil types - this is where variable rate helps. In a flat homogenous field I'd say you won't get the main benefit from varying rates. The image below is a yield map from one of the fields in 2012. Ignore the red areas to the south east - these were already taken out of production for ELS because they never grew much and were shaded by the trees. The boundary shape file included up to the woodland edge so the yield showed as zero.</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]793772[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p>The principal question is has it increased yield above the cost & hassle of doing variable rate? The short answer is not much, but the crop is more even, lodges less and is easier to harvest. Hopefully the grain quality is more consistent too but I haven't taken samples in each zone to see what the variability is. The good soils still yield best and the thinnest gravels still drought out but this is a proactive system designed to put seed where it can achieve its best potential. In a really wet year the clay will do badly and the thin well drained soils will do best. In a dry season the clays do best and the gravels burn off in June so results will be different in different years.</p><p></p><p>I like it & have been doing the whole farm for years. I already had GPS on the drill for autosteer so it was only a matter of opting for a drill controller that was compatible. The Vaderstad Rapid I had initially was already capable - all it needed was a cable to connect the boxes. My current drill is a Claydon which needed another cable and an unlock code. Luckily for me the dealer hadn't realised the cost of these & had to provide them as it was in my spec when doing the deal to buy it.</p><p></p><p>A mechanical metering roller drive from a land wheel will need modifying to electric or hydraulic & some control boxes will need upgrading or unlocking to do VR. Obviously you'll need a GPS antenna and a way of loading in shape files to do VR seed.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Brisel, post: 6229390, member: 166"] I've been doing it for a few years based on SOYL electroconductivity scanning to produce a map like this [ATTACH=full]793758[/ATTACH] then ground truthing by a soil scientist to produce this; [ATTACH=full]793760[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]793762[/ATTACH] Don't worry about the numbers too much - the higher numbers indicate a higher conductivity = higher water content = higher clay content. The zoning and establishment estimation is the most important bit. [ATTACH=full]793756[/ATTACH] I did adjust the establishment rate for zone 7 which is a deep fertile gulley where the crop usually goes flat. I got SOYL to alter the germination from 65% up to 95%, thereby dropping the seed rate in this area. It doesn't go flat here any more and the seed saved here is used elewhere. In spring barley this spring the rate varied from 90 to 175 kg/ha according to the zone. This level of variability is quite high compared to most. The images are for approx 80 acres of very steep varying soil types - this is where variable rate helps. In a flat homogenous field I'd say you won't get the main benefit from varying rates. The image below is a yield map from one of the fields in 2012. Ignore the red areas to the south east - these were already taken out of production for ELS because they never grew much and were shaded by the trees. The boundary shape file included up to the woodland edge so the yield showed as zero. [ATTACH=full]793772[/ATTACH] The principal question is has it increased yield above the cost & hassle of doing variable rate? The short answer is not much, but the crop is more even, lodges less and is easier to harvest. Hopefully the grain quality is more consistent too but I haven't taken samples in each zone to see what the variability is. The good soils still yield best and the thinnest gravels still drought out but this is a proactive system designed to put seed where it can achieve its best potential. In a really wet year the clay will do badly and the thin well drained soils will do best. In a dry season the clays do best and the gravels burn off in June so results will be different in different years. I like it & have been doing the whole farm for years. I already had GPS on the drill for autosteer so it was only a matter of opting for a drill controller that was compatible. The Vaderstad Rapid I had initially was already capable - all it needed was a cable to connect the boxes. My current drill is a Claydon which needed another cable and an unlock code. Luckily for me the dealer hadn't realised the cost of these & had to provide them as it was in my spec when doing the deal to buy it. A mechanical metering roller drive from a land wheel will need modifying to electric or hydraulic & some control boxes will need upgrading or unlocking to do VR. Obviously you'll need a GPS antenna and a way of loading in shape files to do VR seed. [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Forums
Arable Farming
Cropping
Variable seed rates
This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
Accept
Learn more…
Top