Summary

The features of the AquaTill Liquid Coulter were demonstrated to SA grain growers at a field day, with a separate trial assessing the hair-pinning of moist residue caused by disc seeders both with and without an AquaTill fitted.

The AquaTill Liquid Coulter reduced hair-pinning of lentil seeds in moist wheat residue and the findings were circulated to SA grain growers through methods including the SANTFA conference, social media and on YouTube.

Background

When crop residues become moist, seeding is inhibited and farmers are often forced to delay seeding until residues become sufficiently dry.

This project aimed to show that AquaTill offers farmers the potential to sow in moist conditions, enabling them to capitalise on the optimum time of sowing and offering their seeding operations greater efficiency.

Research Aims

The core objectives of the project were to:
• To demonstrate the features of the AquaTill Liquid Coulter.
• To generate information to show potential advantages AquaTill can offer SA grain growers with better residue management during seeding.

In The Field

AquaTill Liquid Coulters were fitted onto every second disc on a section of a Morris RAZA seeder at Owen, SA.

Lentil seed was sown into a damp wheat residue and residue condition was monitored post seeding to assess the impact of hair-pinning.

A SANTFA technical officer counted lentil emergence per linear metre at five locations along the row six weeks after sowing.

Results

Seeding with a disc into moist residue resulted in significant hair-pinning, with a strong correlation between hair-pinning and reduced seed germination.

The use of the AquaTill Liquid Coulter reduced hair-pinning and resulted in a significantly higher establishment of lentil plants in the row when disc-sowing into moist wheat residue.