Zero-tillage Seeders for the Middle East and North Africa Stephen Loss and Jacky Desbiolles* Diversified and Sustainable Production Systems, ICARDA *University of South Australia
Dr Jacky Desbiolles Uni of South Australia
Outline Tillage terminology Seeder sizes Seed furrow environment ZT seeders for Middle East Conversion and manufacture Maru seeder comparison trial
Please interrupt! Chinese Proverb "He who asks, is a fool for five minutes, but he who does not ask, is a fool for ever. So don t be a fool forever please ask.
Importance of Seeding Factors that influence grain yield (for a given crop/field) 1. Time of sowing 2. Established plant density 3. Season rainfall 4. Nutrient access in season 5. Weed/pest/disease management 6. Harvest losses 7. Others
The Main Point of the Presentation! Mistakes from the seeding operation last the whole cropping season
Tillage Terminology Conventional tillage (CT) Multiple cultivations before sowing Minimum Tillage A full disturbance cultivation before sowing One pass tillage systems (sowing into undisturbed ground) Direct Drill: full soil disturbance at seeding (duck foot openers) No-Till (NT): reduced soil disturbance (narrow point openers) Zero-Till (ZT): minimal soil disturbance (disc blade openers) Please don t use Conservation Tillage!
Seeder Scale: Small
Seeder Scale: Medium
Seeder Scale: Large
Seeder Scale: Massive! Multi-Farming System (Qld) up to 65m modular, end-tow planter Guinness World record: 905ha sown in 24 hours = 38ha/hr The seeding system is the most important element of the seeder.
Seed Furrow Environment No-till seeding system challenge: to create an optimum furrow environment in one pass, able to promote: - early seed germination - complete and uniform crop emergence - good early crop vigour
Seed Furrow Environment Pre-emergence herbicide concentration & incorporation Inter-row mulch protection Furrow closing and uniform depth of soil cover Pronounced furrow profile Seed row profile Soil/seed contact and seed zone consolidation under no-till seeding Accurate seed placement (southern Australian context) Fertiliser proximity Adequate loosening below the seed zone
Problems with CA In-furrow residue clump Over-consolidation above seeds Furrow re-opening upon drying Additional challenges Stubble-seed contact & limitations Herbicide contamination within the seed zone Furrow boundary smearing Lower soil compaction (critical depth)
Purpose of Seeding System The seeding system fulfils 5 main functions. 1. Residue handling 2. Furrow opening 3. Fertiliser placement 4. Seed placement 5. Furrow closing Seeding system research covers the interactions between row seeding units and soil, crop, and residue.
Simple Tine System 5. Furrow closing 1. Residue handling 2. Furrow opening 3. Fertiliser placement 4. Seed placement
Complex Triple Disc System 3. Fertiliser placement 5. Furrow closing 1. Residue handling 4. Seed placement 2. Furrow opening
Narrow Point & Press Wheel System Cornerstone of Australian Zero-tillage Typical features include: 16mm wide knife opener Dual banding (seed/fertiliser) ability Independent press wheel
ZT Seeders for Middle East Simple & affordable: tines, not discs Minimal soil disturbance: narrow points and wider rows. Increased breakout force : soil strength Press wheels not essential and add cost, but more work required. Small to medium.
ZT Seeders for Middle East Crop residues are often light (usually grazed). Features to allow flow of crop residues: 1) wider spacings between rows: 20-30cm 2) spread tines over more ranks 3) tine design (angle, height, shape, etc)
Tine Layout 12 rows (17cm) over two ranks 8 rows (25cm) over three ranks
Rank Spacing and Seed/Fertiliser Box
John Shearer Conversion
Syrian ZT Seeders Seeder features: all spring tines, wide-spaced rows, narrow points, seed/fertilizer delivery, 2-4m wide, 3PL or trailed, low cost $2000-6000.
Rama ZT Prototype A B
Mosul ZT Seeder Prototype Seeder features: Rama tines, but otherwise made in Iraq. 11 tines x 2 ranks. Separate seed/fertiliser boxes (rates) but placement not separated.
Maru Seeder Comparison Vence Tudo Gaspardo under ZT
Seed depth cm Maru Seeder Comparison Seeding Depth 10 8 6 4 2 0 Baldan Gaspardo ZT Gaspardo CT Rama Rama+ PW Vence Seeder
Emerged Plants/m2 Maru Seeder Comparison 300 Crop Emergence 250 200 150 100 Baldan Gaspardo ZT Gaspardo CT Rama Rama+ PW Vence 50 12 16 20 24 28 Days After Sowing (2 December)
Summary The seeder is a critical element in crop management especially conservation agriculture - mistakes from the seeding operation last the whole cropping season! The seeding system must manage - residue, furrow opening, fertiliser & seed placement, furrow closing. In Middle East, ZT seeders need to be small affordable but effective. A number of companies are manufacturing or converting ZT seeders in the region.
More Information Useful references on Australian no-till farming www.caaanz.org.au Australian No-Till Farmers Associations WANTFA www.wantfa.com.au SANTFA www.santfa.com.au VNTFA www.vicnotill.com.au CANFA www.canfa.com.au CFI www.cfi.org.au