Nurse crops are advantageous
Many applications of the PNEUMATICSTAR
Nurse crops show a lot of advantages although in respect of competitive pressure and seeding technology they can be rather tricky. With the EINBÖCK PNEUMATICSTAR we developed a very efficient machine for seeding of nurse crops. Competitive pressure with the main crop can only be regulated by choosing the right nurse crop and by seeding at the correct period of time.
That nurse crops have many positive effects is commonly known. Anyway, possible negative impacts on the main crop have to be taken into consideration when taking the decision for a nurse crop. Competition for water and nutrients needs special attention, but can be kept in check quite easily by choosing the right seeding-time and most suitable crop.
Especially organic farmers benefit from nurse crops because of the nitrogen collection and humus-formation which is available for the following crop, the full cover of the surface and the depression of erosion (wind and water) or easier operation with heavy machines because of improved carrying capacity of the soil. Nurse crop systems are very economically and ecologically efficient.
Distribution close to the soil and weeding at the same time proves to be extremely productive and show best results. Independently from the main crop and climate conditions the tined weeder with a seeding box mounted (EINBÖCK PNEUMATICSTAR) shows best performance and provides ideal conditions for emergence of the nurse crop.
This combination of weeding (control of weeds, mineralisation of nitrogen, aeration of the soil, support of tillering, etc.) and underseeding safes passes over the field and preserves the soil.
For nurse crops in grains one has to consider that, depending on the type of grain, various types of nurse crops can show the best result. Very good result shows the underseeding of clover, which remains after harvest of the grain as intercrop or as clover-field for the following season. Shade provided by the grain and the enlarged vegetation period (in comparison to seeding the clover after harvest of the grain) ensure emergence and support higher dry-matter yields.In maize a nurse crop usually is distributed in a knee-high crop. For this purpose the longer tines on the PNEUMATICSTAR (600 mm) are even more suitable. In dry areas the seeding of the nurse crop should be done at a later stage, to ensure the nurse crop will not compete for water with the maize in a sensitive growth-stage.
After row closing of the main crop the nurse crop nearly stops growing. Only after maize harvest it develops well. The in the short vegetation period between seeding of the nurse crop and row closing of the maize emerging turf stabilizes the soil what improves machine handling during harvesting.
Deep-rooting weeds cannot be fighted, but effectively controlled by nurse crops. It does not make sense to seed nurse crops on fields with a high population of dock, wildrye or thistle. The intensive tillage, which is necessary to fight the weeds is in contradiction with an emerging nurse crop.
The PNEUMATICSTAR can be, next to the seeding of nurse crops, used for many different jobs. Pasture care (aeration, leveling of molehills, regular underseeding of grass seeds), new seeding of pasture on worked ground, seeding of cover crops, weeding of fertilizer, etc. – the number of jobs you can do with the PNEUMATICSTAR is nearly never-ending!
Quellenangaben: www.oekolandbau.de – Untersaaten: Möglichkeiten, Grenzen, Mischungen; Der Eilbote (Ausgabe 4/2012) – Untersaaten stoppen Erosion