Chapter 3 - Establishment - HGCA

3 E S TA B L I S H M E N TIt is most important to get sowing date right witha u t u m n - s own cro p s ; with spring crops the more vitalfactor is seedbed condition.Advantages and disadvantages of early or late autumn sowing of winter cereal cropsEarly sowingLate sowing✓ Yield ✗✓ Opportunities for cultivation/spraying ✗✓ Crop vigour & competition ✗✓ Seed-rate ✗✓ Nitrate leaching ✗✓ Slug damage ✗✓ Workload spread ✓✗ Weeds ✓✗ Diseases ✓✗ Pests ✓= increase = decrease ✓ = advantage ✗ = disadvantageA c t i o n / key issueVariety● Grow resistant varieties wherever possible.● Exploit the characteristics of competitive andvigorous varieties.Sowing date● Where appropriate (site-specific) sow wintercereals early.B e n e f i t● Lower pest and disease incidence.● Reduced crop protection inputs.● Improved ground cover and competitive effectagainst weeds.● Less prone to,and more able to recover from,pestdamage.● Greater uptake of nitrate.● Reduced nitrate leaching on high risk sites.● Improved workload spread.● Lower seed costs.● Higher yields.Effects of sowing conditions on establishment of spring cropsCrop Optimum period Seedbed requirements ConsiderationsSpring wheat February - April Firm & fine Sow early for optimum yield.Minimise cultivations on lightland if drought a problem.Spring barley February - May Firm & fine Early-sown isolated crops can suffer bird damage.Spring oats February - April Firm & fine Sow early to avoid frit f ly.Spring February - April Fine & firm Soil moisture is important. Flea beetles can attack slow emergingoilseed rapecrops in dry conditions.Spring linseed February - April Fine & firm Warm,moist soil favours rapid establishment.Flea beetles canwithout compaction attack slow emerging crops in dry conditions.Spring beans February - April Deep drilled or broadcast Late sowing can lead to late harvest.Birds can be a& ploughed inproblem in drilled crops.Dry peas February - March Fine, firm & level Delaying sowing reduces yields and quality. Damping-off may bea problem in cold, wet soil.Potatoes March - May Deep tilth & de-stoned Soil condition and temperature are critical.Planting in coldconditions can lead to ‘little potato’.Sugar beet March - April Fine, firm & level Good soil conditions are important, good seed/soil contact andmoisture is needed.● Where appropriate (site-specific) sow wintercereals late.● Sow spring crops when seedbed conditionsare suitable.Seed-rate● Consider reducing seed-rates in some circumstances.● Consider increasing seed-rates in somecircumstances.● Opportunity to use stale seedbeds to improveweed control.● Reduced risk of BYDV as aphid vectors are moreprevalent on early-sown crops.● Less autumn disease pressure.● Improved workload spread.● Lower crop protection inputs.● Optimal establishment.● Healthier crops.● Reduced lodging risk.● Reduced input costs.● Improved yields and gross margins.● Insurance against slug damage and losses frommechanical weeding.● Greater competition against weeds.16 17