Techneat has announced a new combination seeding and fertilising train to enable cover crops and companion crops to be established in a single pass.
The system uses both a MultiCast seeding unit and a Nutristart LQ precision liquid fertiliser applicator.
“Recent seasons’ weather patterns have created significant challenges for successful autumn establishment of cover crops and companion planting,” says James English, agri application specialist. “With increasingly protracted dry weather periods, it’s crucial to conserve any available soil moisture and also encourage rapid root growth for establishing seedlings to seek out reserves.
“Shorter windows of good conditions for sowing makes high work rates to cover ground quickly a priority,” he adds.
Mounting the units onto a tillage train enables seeds to be placed in tilled soil, while minimising soil movement to preserve moisture and minimise weed seed chitting.
Fertiliser can then be placed directly alongside the seed to encourage establishment. “The aim is to achieve more consistent establishment in challenging conditions,” he says. “That’s essential for cover crops to maximise their potential to retain and recycle nutrients, while protecting and enhancing the soil structure through the winter, along with optimising the role of companion planting alongside the establishing crop.”
The system is now available for growers to try out through the Techneat Hire scheme.