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ENGLISH ISSUE BIOGAS JOURNAL | AUTUMN_2023 There is no need to search for earthworms for long on the no-till farming fields of the Demsin agricultural company. Up to 400 of these diligent soil aerators can be found in one cubic meter of soil. Keeping every Drop of Rain in the Soil The introduction of no-till farming unveils new opportunities for the agrarian enterprise Demsin to sustainably enhance operational results on loamy soils: Farmers now want to fully exploit this trump card. Author: Dipl.-Journ. Wolfgang Rudolph Has the field already been tilled? Christian Rohne, Managing Director of the agricultural enterprise Demsin, often hears this question when he stands with visitors at the edge of the field. And really, you have to look closely to discern the rows of delicate light green shoots pushing through the carpet of withered remnants of volunteer oilseed rape, volunteer barley, and shredded corn on this late autumn day in 2022. To all appearances, it will be a field of grain like any other in the region, at least until after the harvest. Unlike most surrounding stubble fields, however, a catch crop mixture, sown directly on the day of harvest, will soon penetrate through the mulch layer that has now grown with an additional plant component. It provides a water-conserving cover and assumes other agronomic tasks, such as loosening the soil, preserving nutrients, and the biological fixation of atmospheric nitrogen by legumes. Without any additional intermediate work, an employee will then sow corn directly into the plants, which will undoubtedly be frozen after this winter. Earthworms and Co. as Helpful Collaborators The field is among the company’s initial areas transitioned to no-till farming. So, the mulch layer contains plant residues from crop rotation dating back to 2018. “It looks more like fallow land. Even for me, it took some getting used to,” admits Rohne. However, the collaborators, of whom the company has thousands “under contract” seem unfazed by the mix of organic matter and crops – the earthworms. “On the contrary, they really feel at home here,” says Rohne, who has a degree in agriculture (MSc.), as he pushes the blade of a spade effortlessly into the loose but stable soil of the wheat field with his foot. After a brief search in the excavated clump of soil, several diligent soil aerators are found. “At this location, there are an estimated 200 earthworms per cubic meter of soil,” Rohne says, adding that a healthy acre of farmland houses a total of about 7 tons of soil organisms. The microorganisms, worms, and insects form humus from the layer of dead plant residues on the surface, aiding the plants in nutrient uptake through symbiotic relationships in the root zone. However, the no-till farming operation knows by experience that it will take several years for such a benefi- PHOTOGRAPHS: CARMEN RUDOLPH 16
BIOGAS JOURNAL | AUTUMN_2023 ENGLISH ISSUE Managing director Christian Rohne is pleased to note the soil improvement through humus build-up on the directly tilled areas. All the essential settings for seeding, such as automatic depth control or the application of multiple seeds and fertilizers, are made via the 7-inch monitor. cial balance to establish itself. “The soil needs some time to adjust,” says Rohne. Reduced yields have to be expected in the first two years, mainly because of initially higher weed pressure and compaction caused by vehicle tracks from previous silage corn harvests. On the other hand, the cost reduction resulting from the elimination of all tillage operations has had a positive effect right from the start. The expected yields will eventually be achieved with consistent no-till farming and the accompanying increase in biological soil activity. In addition, overall soil resilience will improve, especially during wet weather conditions or “The soil needs some time to adjust” Christian Rohne after heavy rainfalls. Currently, no-till farming is being applied in cultivating 60% of all crop fields. The goal is to reach 100% by 2024. “In this process, we first take a closer look at each field, remove vehicle tracks with a cultivator, and potentially level certain areas. The transition to notill farming begins with sowing corn into a catch crop mixture,” says Rohne when describing the conversion process. The reason for the farmers’ cautious approach to no-till farming and to expanding it field by field is also related to the recent history of the company. The agricultural enterprise Demsin GmbH underwent significant structural changes last year. The most visible expression of this turning point is the abandoned barns at the company’s headquarters in Kleindemsin, Saxony-An- Demonstration of no-till sowing of winter wheat into a harvested corn field by the T-ForcePlus 650. 17
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Autumn 2023 EN

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