Very disappointing worm count

[Sprayer 1]

We have just completed our second harvest since going DD and although we were warned of a likely yield drop for a couple of years, which we have had, did think it worth it for the long term health of the soil. Before planting last autumn I went around with my spade and was pleased with the amount of worms working the soil, but today I had a dig and there wasn't nearly as many ,very disappointing. Anyone else noticed the same?

 

[juke]

Is it still dry with you, they go deep in the summer when it's dry , are you seeing plenty of the signs of worms being there ie holes and surface casts ?

 

[Sprayer 1]

Yes it is juke, we still have cracks in the soil down to 9 inches then it is rock hard clay below this.

 

[juke]

Don't get dispondant they will be there soon as the moisture appears , have a look for signs of burrows n casts to see that there has been activity, ours had all disappeared somewhere but once drilled covers n had Abit of wet there back

 

[Sprayer 1]

I hope so , how long have you been DD and have you seen changes in your soil and the dreaded drop in yield?Just realised this should of been in the section above.doh.

 

[juke]

we aren't no tillers yet, have had a couple of demos and things n they have done exceptionally well, with spring crops, we use a claydon that's been owned since 2015 the plough was last used in 2012 started getting contractors in 2013 n then took the the plunge in 2015 for a claydon which has been fantastic , only time yield has suffered was one field due to conditions and the wrong drill..

 

[Sprayer 1]

I would have liked to have gone down the claydon route instead of straight from plough to no till but it would have meant changing the tractor as well as the drill. They told me that 150hp wouldn't really be enough for a 3 meter. Ended up with a SimTech which is ok at drilling most seeds but don't get as good germination as some. That said it costs half as much as most dd drills.

 

[i dont belief it]

I would say your in for a few years of pain going straight from plough to no till if the germination is poor up the seed rates until things improve there will be times when things go wrong its all about leaning a new system guys on here with SimTech drills seem very happy with them hope things go well for you

 

[newjames]

We went from plough to claydon to simtech, first two years were great third and fourth we lost some yield, this year wheat was good SB not so but was only in the ground 14 wks if that. Soil this year is wonderful, only cracks are in tramlines and its heavy clay. In hindsight we should have up seed rates a bit, dont lose heart it us worth it and from the way things ate going soil movement is gping to be frowned on soon

 

[yellow belly]

worms are deep down because of the heat and dry

digging last week found shallow burrowing worms down at a foot all curled up waiting doe wetter weather
deep burrowing worms will be very deep several feet this dry year will have made them go deep opening up the subsoil

rain over the week end and now see where worms have started coming up land that is 6 years into notill has more worms than 2 years notill
also slugs can now be found
any one who has planted rape which is not in a fine seed bed will need to repellet as the rain will have washed them away