would wavy coulters have helped?

[jimg]

This past fall I replanted my hay fields and one came in very well while the other was only just OK...some spots came in very well while others had very little germination. In short the field has some blank spots. The field that came out well was mostly exposed soil, very little trash. After some thought and walking the fields I've tentatively concluded the problem (mostly) was too much trash left after the burn down. (FYI I used a NT drill.) If it was a field trash issue would a very wavy coulter have helped? I'm not sure how waviness is classified but what came on my rental machine was wavy but only just. What do you think? My reasoning is a strongly wavy pattern would have chopped up or at least pushed the trash out of the way.

 

[RickB]

It's impossible to answer without being there at planting. It could be the trash was a problem. It also could be that the field was more mellow, or wetter, and the seed was buried too deep. Planting too deep isn't difficult with small seeded grasses and legumes.

 

[jimg]

We were way short on rain last year. So, having too much moisture wasn't an issue. I did wait though until it rained and the soil was moist. Having so much trash helped maintain that moisture. After planting we didn't get another rain for another 2 or 3 weeks. However, to my eye the soil seemed to be moist enough to allow germination between rains.

Did my best to make sure the drill plant depth was correctly set. Ran several yards and then inspected for depth. I was shooting for 1/8" or slightly less. I also made sure the press wheels were firming up the furrow well for good soil/seed contact. I did the inspection routine a number of times through out the field. So, I could reproduce the depth setting I used cylinder limiters.

So, maybe this info helps and may not but I was careful as possible. Still, I would like to know what the purpose of the coulter is. Are they intended to just min-till ahead of the openers or also cut up/clear the trash to allow the seedlings an unobstructed path up?

 

[deereguy]

The coulter could have been set to deep in the "V" causing a slight air pocket in the bottom of the V or allowed residue to get into the V trench and try out the seed. The wavy coulter would have cut a wider V and the packers would have been set with more pressure which seems to be working against what you wanted. Its really hard to say why one field performed better than the other on emergence. It sounds like you did the right things to make sure the NT drill performed the way you wanted.

 

[jimg]

I hadn't though of it in that way but it does make sense. Im getting the drill again this w/e and I'll check that. Said another way the coulters shouldn't be set lower (or appreciably so) than the openers.

Since this drill is a rental it can come set up any old way. I now clean the seed boxes and drop tubes before running it. I used it once w/o doing so and got a good stand of soybeans along w/ the grass. Last time I reset the press wheels. Guess I'll need to figure out the coulter adjustment this time. I learn a lot more each time I use it. I sure hope don't get another drill so I have to relearn what to do.

 

[RickB]

Make sure that dull discs aren't hairpinning the trash in the slot. If that happens, the trash can flip the seeds out of the slot before the press wheels even get there.