Zerotill crops and drought

[Clive]

I've been given these drone images taken this weekend of my wheat and neighbouring (tillage) crops, drone in same spot just turned 180 degrees between the 2 images

The difference is astounding IMO soil types are similar, I guess there is varietal and drilling date difference but clearly the amount of rainfall each has received is the same

 

[Bfs]

Sorry I’m presuming yours is the green crop ?

 

[Phil P]

Are they both first wheat? Could it be some take all in your neighbours? Does look look like it’s burning up on the sand though.

 

[Clive]

Sorry I’m presuming yours is the green crop ?

Yes first pic is loooking West over a block we farm thennthe drone is turned about 180deg to look east over land we don’t

 

[Clive]

Are they both first wheat? Could it be some take all in your neighbours? Does look look like it’s burning up on the sand though.

I think so but obviously there is probably difference in variety, drilling date and agronomy etc. There is more than one neighbours crops in the second picture where as all the land in the first picture is farmed by us

Both neighbours are very good farmers that grow very good crops that I’m sure will have good agronomy and application timing etc

Not claiming this is a replicated trial, just interesting comparison, soil type in both pictures will be very similar and rainfall obiously same

 

[Kevtherev]

What’s the big body of water I can see in first pic clive?

 

[Chae1]

No wonder you zero till. Would take forever to plough those awkward shaped fields.

 

[Clive]

What’s the big body of water I can see in first pic clive?

Chasewater resivior is to the West but don’t think it can be seen in the pictures - the light bit that looks like a river is the m6 toll

 

[Phil P]

I think so but obviously there is probably difference in variety, drilling date and agronomy etc. There is more than one neighbours crops in the second picture where as all the land in the first picture is farmed by us

Not claiming this is a replicated trial, just interesting comparison, soil type in both pictures will be very similar and rainfall obiously same

Yours does look very well and even, did it get variable n/p/k?
I’ve found the Rhiza variable N has helped to even our wheat up especially on the parts of field where there where less tillers, mainly due weather conditions when drilling!
All the winter barley was drilled with variable seed rates also which has made a big difference in evening the fields up.

 

[chaffcutter]

The white area in the top rh corner is actually a sports field/Park, must just be the way it has caught the light.

 

[Clive]

Yours does look very well and even, did it get variable n/p/k?
I’ve found the Rhiza variable N has helped to even our wheat up especially on the parts of field where there where less tillers, mainly due weather conditions when drilling!
All the winter barley was drilled with variable seed rates also which has made a big difference in evening the fields up.

We do use VRA application yes but personally think the difference is more down to water avaibilty than anything else in the case

 

[Happy]

Impressive. This time of year things can look vastly different due to light changes when you go through 180 degrees from east to west though.

Early morning my place is looking great to the east. Better looking west in the evening.
One that matters most though is view from sprayer/combine seat

 

[yellow belly]

my wheat notill is also very green with no drought signs
but on much heavier soil and the last rain was 28 may

notill takes longer to get going in the spring so if it used less moisture in the early spring it may have mor available no
another possibility
is that the autumn was very dry and notill got a better earlier start and got its roots down deeper
I have had this before where in dry autumns ploughed land took longer to germinate in the autumn

the longer notill could have more water available as the soil pores continue down deep
or roots have tighter soil so go down the pores that develop from worms and previous roots

imho the dryer it is the less soil disturbance the better
when we had dry years in the burn and min till days ploughing always gave lower yields

 

[Steevo]

Maybe your neighbours crops are higher biomass and thus have removed more water from the soil?

 

[Clive]

Maybe your neighbours crops are higher biomass and thus have removed more water from the soil?

lots of possibilities really

 

[Clive]

Ours is starting to show burnt if patches now, yesterday's heat hit it hard, won't be pretty by the weekend

 

[Kevtherev]

Depends on what land is underneath as well.
Heavy grassland still growing well but gravelly shale land burnt to a crisp

 

[Wombat]

Ours is starting to show burnt if patches now, yesterday's heat hit it hard, won't be pretty by the weekend

As you drive about all wheat is getting hit now, I think some won't see August as you drive around.

 

[Farmer Roy]

I've been given these drone images taken this weekend of my wheat and neighbouring (tillage) crops, drone in same spot just turned 180 degrees between the 2 images

The difference is astounding IMO soil types are similar, I guess there is varietal and drilling date difference but clearly the amount of rainfall each has received is the same

View attachment 686022 View attachment 686024

my wheat notill is also very green with no drought signs
but on much heavier soil and the last rain was 28 may

notill takes longer to get going in the spring so if it used less moisture in the early spring it may have mor available no
another possibility
is that the autumn was very dry and notill got a better earlier start and got its roots down deeper
I have had this before where in dry autumns ploughed land took longer to germinate in the autumn

the longer notill could have more water available as the soil pores continue down deep
or roots have tighter soil so go down the pores that develop from worms and previous roots

imho the dryer it is the less soil disturbance the better
when we had dry years in the burn and min till days ploughing always gave lower yields

from an Australian point of view, zero till & retained groundcover / residue is ALWAYS going to be of benefit in dry conditions. Large areas of our cropping land would be unviable without it. Lack of soil disturbance is obviously a major factor, but also of importance is soil biology ( particularly fungi ) & increased soil carbon ( which help with utilising & storing soil moisture ) - of which zero till obviously benefits. However, personally, I am now beginning to question the long term use of glyphosate ( 30 yrs ) & the potential negative impacts on soil biology. Time for the next big revolution . . .

However, as a zero tiller in a dry environment, your results don't surprise me at all. It is what I would expect.
The differences here in a dry year can be as stark as crop failure, compared to a near average yield.
I am encouraged & heartened that you are finding the same

 

[Farmer Roy]

Maybe your neighbours crops are higher biomass and thus have removed more water from the soil?

lots of possibilities really

in our experience, we don't want too much early biomass for that very reason. We want to ensure there is enough soil moisture later on to fill the grain, rather than relying entirely on rainfall . . .