SEED DISTRIBUTION IN DRILLING

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24802, 16 February 1946, Page 3

SEED DISTRIBUTION IN DRILLING

SUB-SURFACE BROADCAST MODIFICATION TO COULTERS (By DR. O. H. FRANKEL. Wheat Research Institute, and A. G. ELLIOTT, Crop Experimentalist, Department erf Agriculture, in the Journal of Agriculture.) 6

j Q ues ti° n of seed distribution in drHling has exercised the minds of agronomists and implement designers since drills were first invented. Obviously, for crops which do not get in-ter-row cultivation, a method of distributing seeds an equal distance apart would be the most favourable, since this would permit the best chance of development to individual plants. Drills in commercial use do not and cannot attain this ideal, because rows —for grain sowing—are 7in apart, and because no drill mechanism has yet been invented which can achieve an equal spread .within drill rows. It may be contended that broadcasting would achieve a more even distribution than drilling; but obvious disadvantages of this method are the shallow and uneven depth of sowing. Cross Drilling That farmers are aware of the desirability of an even distribution is evident from the fact that some have resorted to drilling half of the seed in one direction and half in another, usually at right angles to the first, thereby achieving a distribution better than is possible in ordinary drilling, at the expense of going twice over the same area Apart from the distribution of seed, cross drilling is preferred by some farmers, who resort to wind rowing, since the stubble is said to hold up the wind rows better than the stubble of normally drilled crops. From consideration of .these facts Mr J. E. Holland, of Avoca Valley, near Christchurch, concluded that the most advantageous seed distributor for many crops would be a device which would permit of broadcasting below, instead of on, the surface. Initially he viewed such a sowing method as especially valuable for small seeds—particularly grass seed—on light plains land. Later, Mr J. W. Hadfield, Director of the Linen Flax Division, drew his attention to the great importance of regular distribution for an even development of linen flax plants. The late Dr. F. W. Hilgendorf, who took a lively interest in Mr Holland’s work, thought that sub-surface broadcasting—the term was coined by him—might also be of value for sowing cereals, especially wheat. New Type of Coulter

The new type of coulter was originally a combination of an ordinary drill coulter and a broad shoe. The latter provided a cavity about and below the bottom end of the drill coulter. Attached to the coulter was a deflector of shoehorn-like form, convex side up and slanting down and rearward, so that the falling seed and fertiliser impinged upon it and were deflected by it.

This model is now superseded by a complete coulter, designed to give greater distance between front and rear coulter rows to eliminate sledging or soil blockage at the greater depths required for wheat and peas. The designer claims that the new model will give an even better spread than the original one. The original and the new models distribute fertiliser with the seed. Interesting Trials ’ The experiments reported in this article were conducted with the original coulter. The spread, though not always perfect, was sufficiently good to test the principle of sub-surface broadcasting in its effect on yield. It is not anticipated that the more recent development in comparison with the older type will materially raise yields. In the earlier trials, which were conducted with a normal type of drill, there was occasionally a slight tendency to sledging ana soil blockage. This tendency was removed in the later trials by a wider spacing betweeen the two coulter rows. This principle which was incorporated in the new design is now a permanent feature.

Distribution of seedlings was good, though not perfect. In the early growth stages the centre of each coulter was usually recognisable, the density of seedlings diminishing with the distance from the centre. Experiments with Wheat

If the new coulter is to be used for wheat, it must be shown to possess definite advantages. Though not specifically intended for wheat, it was decided to investigate whether wheat yields could be increased by its use. Experiments with the new coulter, tested against the standard type, were made in the 1943-44 and 1944-45 seasons. Since it was not known whether the new type of coulter would be at its best at the standard rate of seeding, or at a different one, some of the trials were laid down in a number of sowing rates, both for the new type and for the normal coulters. Further, a number of varieties were used to give the coulter a general trial. The trials were conducted on three types of soil—a stony silt loam at Oxford, a sandy loam at Templeton, and a silt loam at Lincoln. Summarised Results The results of the trials are reported at considerable length, but the following summary gives the position at a glance. In the trial at Oxford the variety used was solid straw Tuscan sown at the rate of two bushels an acre. The yield with the new type coulters was 16.3 and with the ordinary coulters 17.2 bushels an acre. In the Templeton trial, Cross 7 was sown at one and a half and two and a half bushels an acre. In the light seeding the yields *were as follows: —new type coulters 65.3 and ordinary coulter 63.5 bushels an acre. In the heavier seeding the new type coulters gave a yield of 77.3 against ordinary coulters yield of 68.2 bushels an acre. At Lincoln College. Hunters and Cross 7 were sown at rates of one and a half, two, and two and a half bushels an acre. Hunters results with the new type coulters were 68.8, 68.9, and 69.1, against the ordinary coulter’s yield of 64.4, 67.4, and 66.2 bushels an acre. In the case of Cross 7, results with the new type coulters were 62.8. 60.8, and 62.9, against the ordinary coulter’s yield of 61.4, 65.2, and 62.5 bushels an acre.

BACON PRODUCTION IN CANADA

EXPORT TO GREAT BRITAIN A Canadian newspaper states that before the war Canada exported annually 150,000,0001 b of bacon and hams to Britain. The Canadians now have in mind a peace-time export to Britainof 500,000,0001 b of these commodities. The export of pig meat during the war was very large and is stated to have exceeded 700,000.0001 b.. The pig industry was a major war-time one, and with abundance of grain available the Government is anxious to encourage in every wav this large primary industry. It is stated that through war conditions the quality of the Canadian product was hot quite what it was before the war, but the Canadians, being used to a mild-cured bacon, were inclined not to view too favourably the wartime product, which was cured for long storage and was pronounced as being a very good article. The intention now is to revert to the mild curing which has given Canada a reputation, and it is stated that considerable quantities have already been exported to the British market