DRIVING IMPRESSION: Strip-till maize is starting to gain momentum in the UK as farmers look to reduce establishment costs and hopefully improve the soils ability to carry traffic at harvest. For those who want a bit of powered cultivation the likes of the Weaving Rota Strip could be the ticket but we also look at what else is on the UK market.
After an initial flourish, strip-till cultivation has taken time to establish in the UK, but as the benefits of working only the soil where the crop will grow become more relevant, it is gaining traction with more manufacturers offering a solution. Only disturbing the soil in the seeding zone can improve soil health, while allowing harvest machinery to travel more easily, reducing damage to the soil.
Broadly speaking, strip till maize is based on a deep loosening leg and surface working tool, which conditions the soil in and below the seeding zone to provide a better growing environment for the plant, boosting yield potential.
Seedbed preparation can be achieved in fewer passes saving time and costs, but there is also the opportunity for a pass in the autumn, followed by a ‘freshen up’ in spring allowing air into the soil, to aid the drying and warming process for row crops on heavier soil types.
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