Cultipacking v. Discing in Grains

Elkaddict

Elkaddict

Well-Known Member
I've been really stretched this year by health problems and was dependent on help to get my plots in. For my LC grain mix, I had tractor novices operating my equipment. To speed up and simplify the process, after getting fluffy bed prepared with repeated passes with a heavy disc, we simply broadcast the grains and cultipacked them with a heavy cultipacker.. Because of heavy turkey population, I increased the grain broadcast by 50%. After the initial cultipacking, clover and leftover brassicas were broadcast and the seed bed was cultipacked a second time. When we finally got much needed moisture, germination was at acceptable levels. Has anyone compared the methods and have an opinion on the respective merits? It was done this year out of necessity, but because I'm always looking to save time (unnecessary implement changes), I'm interested in others experience. By the way, there was very little grain visible on the surface. Thoughts?
 
Potential time saver
Can you attach the cultipacker to the rear of the disc or add the necessary contact point to do so?
I recall seeing a pic here of cultipacker attached to the rear of tiller.

I'm thinking you run the disc to cover the grain with the cultipacker attached and following to compact the soil so you are
now ready to broadcast the small seeds. If you are running a 3-point disc you could then lift the disc some with cultipacker
still attached and cultipack the smaller seed without having to pull the disc off the tractor.
 
Elkaddict said:
I've been really stretched this year by health problems and was dependent on help to get my plots in. For my LC grain mix, I had tractor novices operating my equipment. To speed up and simplify the process, after getting fluffy bed prepared with repeated passes with a heavy disc, we simply broadcast the grains and cultipacked them with a heavy cultipacker.. Because of heavy turkey population, I increased the grain broadcast by 50%. After the initial cultipacking, clover and leftover brassicas were broadcast and the seed bed was cultipacked a second time. When we finally got much needed moisture, germination was at acceptable levels. Has anyone compared the methods and have an opinion on the respective merits? It was done this year out of necessity, but because I'm always looking to save time (unnecessary implement changes), I'm interested in others experience. By the way, there was very little grain visible on the surface. Thoughts?
Click to expand...
That's how I've done it for 15 years. I don't cultipack a second time though, I just throw it all down and pack it in. Works great for me.
 
Heck, I have throw n mow success so I think you've done it right. Sometimes early germination is uneven but becomes acceptable over time. Sometimes spot reseeding is helpful - and tillage is impossible then.
 
I used to plant by discing moderately, then broadcasting large seed, lightly discing them in, cultipacking, broadcasting smaller seed, then cultipacking again. That was the method we used for several years, and it definitely works. These days, I disc a lot less, broadcast select seed types and then disc. In my experience, some seeds DO germinate a lot better if they are drilled or disced in; they need some soil on top of them to grow, not just pressed down into the surface of the soil. I think part of this may actually be more consistent moisture conditions for the seed during germination and early growth.

In recent years, we've also learned that you can broadcast seed, mow, then cultipack. This works best with a good base layer of thatch, along with a reasonable amount of thatch laid down on top of the seed. Yet another method that I like quite a bit is to spray, mow a couple weeks later, then scratch the surface with the discs before broadcasting seed and cultipacking. I credit Lakngulf for this variation of a throw-n-mow approach, including his coining of the term "thirt". You disc until you see half thatch, half dirt...thirt. I have had very good success with this method, even on sandy soils, because you're not really upsetting the soil community, but you ARE exposing a bit of soil for seeds to get pressed down into. It's a nice balancing act and doesn't require as much work with the discs, so it takes a little less time.
 
lightly discing in gives the best/most uniform germination for us with WW,WR or oats and bigger seeds. The other methods certainly work and I have used most of the ones mentioned, just depends on the plot and how much time I have. I have just cultipacked several times, It works but I only use it now if rain is forecast. The turkeys hammer my seed if they can get to it and I have had some spotty plots as a result of just packing and turkeys living in the plot for several days cleaning it up. Increasing the seeding rate is a good idea if your just cultipacking.
I will have to try the "thirt" method. Sounds like an interesting concept.
 
CTM1 said:
Potential time saver
Can you attach the cultipacker to the rear of the disc or add the necessary contact point to do so?
I recall seeing a pic here of cultipacker attached to the rear of tiller.

I'm thinking you run the disc to cover the grain with the cultipacker attached and following to compact the soil so you are
now ready to broadcast the small seeds. If you are running a 3-point disc you could then lift the disc some with cultipacker
still attached and cultipack the smaller seed without having to pull the disc off the tractor.
Click to expand...
CTM, not real practical to attach the packer. Great idea though.
 
I have heavy turkey numbers and if I don't drag the oats in to cover it the turkeys will eat every seed. That's what happened in 2015.
I spread fertilizer, tilled, spread the oats, dragged a fence drag over it and cultipacked. Have a great crop this year.
 
If I am doing any tillage, I spread fert and large seed, run tiiller with cultipacker attached to it. Then spread small seed,a and run over with packer with tiller not running. Works quicker for me but not sure of that process with disc but dont see why it wouldnt work.
 
dogghr said:
If I am doing any tillage, I spread fert and large seed, run tiiller with cultipacker attached to it. Then spread small seed,a and run over with packer with tiller not running. Works quicker for me but not sure of that process with disc but dont see why it wouldnt work.
Click to expand...
You engage the tiller to incorporate the large seed? Not set very deep I guess?
 
Tilling in seed in my mind would be too deep. I read once that seed should be covered no more than 2 times the size of the seed. So say oats about 1/2". Turnips, radish just pressed into the soil surface.
 
MattJK said:
You engage the tiller to incorporate the large seed? Not set very deep I guess?
Click to expand...
Yes the tiller only set about 1-3 inches, depending on duff I'm tilling in. If I till, which I do less of each year, none this year, I don't bother to spray gly. Just not needed as I've done both ways with spray. After spreading small seed, I let the tiller just roll on the dirt without engaged, as the cultipacker packs. Works great.
But just as with no till techniques, you will find better success with a till plot if you have good residue to till in. I usually mow close 2-3 weeks before planting and then till that in as I plant and fert. But as said, tiller used less and less each year.
 
dogghr said:
Yes the tiller only set about 1-3 inches, depending on duff I'm tilling in. If I till, which I do less of each year, none this year, I don't bother to spray gly. Just not needed as I've done both ways with spray. After spreading small seed, I let the tiller just roll on the dirt without engaged, as the cultipacker packs. Works great.
But just as with no till techniques, you will find better success with a till plot if you have good residue to till in. I usually mow close 2-3 weeks before planting and then till that in as I plant and fert. But as said, tiller used less and less each year.
Click to expand...

I do similar - less tillage and as a replacement for spraying. I am surprised what I can till in without mowing. I till in EW without mowing. It's not pretty like a garden, but it is plantable and the stalks are in contact with soil even if they aren't chopped finely.

I also use my tiller as a roller and that is how I plant large seeds. I do wonder if tilling them in would have less seed loss to birds and rodents.
 
MattJK said:
You engage the tiller to incorporate the large seed? Not set very deep I guess?
Click to expand...
I always till in my larger seeds. If you set the tiller to 1" deep it will bury most seeds 1/2". You can count on the seeds being buried about 50% depth of tiller setting. I use a drag after to smooth everything out.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top