Will we be ploughing for re seeding in the future?

[neilo]

Why is a chemical that is sprayed on the land seen as bad , when a chemical (vaccine) injected into your arm to save a life seen as good ??
They are both "chemical"

The one in your arm is GM too!

 

[wanton dwarf]

It is about ploughing grassland, 5 lots of ploughing on grassland could be over 30 years or more . Most long term leys last 5 years +

Okay .. so the comment about 15-20% of Carbon being released by agriculture because of ploughing relates just to certain regimes in certain circumstances.

 

[neilo]

I'm guessing it's not verified, what about when I plough in 30T of dung/Ha and plough it in as opposed to leaving it on the surface.

It doesn’t stay on the surface if you have healthy soil biology, it will get taken down by worms, etc. It just takes longer than with more violent soil inversion.

 

[wanton dwarf]

I'm guessing it's not verified, what about when I plough in 30T of dung/Ha and plough it in as opposed to leaving it on the surface.

Dunno .. depends on loss of Nitrogen to the atmosphere and long term availability of nutrients to the growing crop I guess.

But whatever are the facts the Nimby's will complain about the smell ...

 

[M-J-G]

It doesn’t stay on the surface if you have healthy soil biology, it will get taken down by worms, etc. It just takes longer than with more violent soil inversion.

Of course it stays on the top in the short term, but if it's buried it's not having to wait on the surface until it's broken down, during which time it would be allowing more carbon to escape.

 

[Hilly]

Can you direct drill among spread dung ?

 

[Frank-the-Wool]

I thought you had a 100 hp tractor? that will pull a 4m DD easily

It might if the land is dead flat but definitely not if you have to go up a small incline.
We have a 3m Aitchison which is much lighter than a Moore but working on banks a minimum of 125 is needed. A Moore would need 150 hp.
We planted grass and herbal ley mixtures after winter forage crops at the end of March and it is all through. Needs rain but not desperate yet as warmer conditions will help it.

 

[hally]

To compare like with like, surely you need to compare with an ageing Moore Unidrill, which could be easily handled by 100hp...

I have drilled thousands of acres over the years with a 2.4m Moore pulled by 90hp jd 6210 before that a mf 3065 which I think was 85hp

 

[M-J-G]

Can you direct drill among spread dung ?

Yes

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Okay .. so the comment about 15-20% of Carbon being released by agriculture because of ploughing relates just to certain regimes in certain circumstances.

No idea but the discussion is about ploughing grassland so why are you bringing herbicides into it and In that context I do see ploughing as a way to reduce weeds either , but I still use a plough were it suits

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Can you direct drill among spread dung ?

I would not , but I would compost the dung and spread it on top

 

[Hilly]

I’ve often wonderd if mucked land very heavily then spin grass seed on top of muck , grow or not mad or worth a try ?

 

[Hilly]

No but I would compost the dung and spread it on top

How do I compost dung ?

 

[hally]

I’ve often wonderd if mucked land very heavily then spin grass seed on top of muck , grow or not mad or worth a try ?

Still has to establish into a very competitive sward so yes you are quite mad
but I’m happy to supply the seed for your trial

 

[Derrick Hughes]

How do I compost dung ?

I put mine in a pile and spread when rotted down

 

[Hilly]

Still has to establish into a very competitive sward so yes you are quite mad
but I’m happy to supply the seed for your trial

Burn it off first ? Will it not establish in the dung ?

 

[Hilly]

I put mine in a pile and spread when rotted down

Ah yes all my muck is middend .

 

[hally]

I often think it’s a waste of muck ploughing it down into a deep furrow where the grass roots will never get to for a considerable time and by which may have leached away.....or am I missing something?

 

[Nearly]

@7610 super q
Nice 2.5m Moore just popped up on ebay.
Some dodgy northerner.
Just bought a tidy 3m for my boys' land.
Still keeping the pluff and the combi.

 

[hally]

Burn it off first ? Will it not establish in the dung ?

Surely soil contact a better option, unless the muck is plastered on will a big percentage of seed not just fall onto the top of the dead grass?