What causes poor germination/stunting of rape seed , where combine swaths/chaff were?

[Pilatus]

I notice that rape seed still struggles to germinate and gets stunted when it does, in the rows of the combine swath/chaff , even though the combines are fitted with chaff spreaders . Many of you will quite rightly say that the rape seed does not germinate that well in the combine swath rows simply/obviously, because of the shed grain stifling the weak rape seedlings, but is that the sole reason?
I do wonder if part of the reason the rape does not germinate that well in the rows of the combine swath/chaff, is because the decomposing chaff creates an acid that has an adverse effect on the germinating rape seed.
If any of you straw harrow fields "Aggressively" at right angles to the combine swath trails, before sowing rape do you still get the problem of your rape not germinating so well in the combine swath trails?
Seems to me there is room for improvement on combine chaff spreaders to alleviate the problem of dense chaff rows,especially with such wide headers available, at such mind boggling combine prices!!!!!!!!

 

[Lincsman]

I notice that rape seed still struggles to germinate and gets stunted when it does, in the rows of the combine swath/chaff , even though the combines are fitted with chaff spreaders . Many of you will quite rightly say that the rape seed does not germinate that well in the combine swath rows simply/obviously, because of the shed grain stifling the weak rape seedlings, but is that the sole reason?
I do wonder if part of the reason the rape does not germinate that well in the rows of the combine swath/chaff, is because the decomposing chaff creates an acid that has an adverse effect on the germinating rape seed.
If any of you straw harrow fields "Aggressively" at right angles to the combine swath trails, before sowing rape do you still get the problem of your rape not germinating so well in the combine swath trails?
Seems to me there is room for improvement on combine chaff spreaders to alleviate the problem of dense chaff rows,especially with such wide headers available, at such mind boggling combine prices!!!!!!!!

There is a lot of fine stuff in the straw that the baler leaves, that obviously does not get spread... bring back straw burning and see the rape romp away.

 

[Flatlander]

We chop all straw and are min til. We will harrow the straw on a hot dry day to break up straw and spread it evenly. Yes it does improve the germination but I think the reason is more do with seed to soil contact and roots not having to grow through residue. Straw also sucks up nitrogen during its break down. With rape being such a small seed it’s reserves of nutrients for the growing plant are utilized very fast so it’s important that the roots find it asap. In dryer soils the volunteers will suck up available moisture long before the rape gets going. Harrow it around and make the volunteers grow then kill them. A clean start is a good one. As far as burning goes I’ve seen it here numerous times. The fields look great with their jet black soils all clean and warming up quick but then it rains and crusts over leaving the rape unable to push to the surface. The residue is your friend if managed well.