PRACTICAL ZERO TILL EXPERIENCE: A SASKATCHEWAN PERSPECTIVE
Lucien Lepage
Montmartre, Sask., Canada
SOG 3M0
(306) 424-2848
THE ROAD TO ZERO-TILL
WHY A ZERO-TILLAGE SYSTEM?
I think back to 1979 when we first attempted to zero-till winter wheat and fall rye. Our main concerns were wind and water erosion. Soil salinity was also a concern on our heavier textured soil. At that time information was limited and seeding equipment for zero-till was sparse. Herbicides like "Roundup" were unbelievably expensive.
We had purchased a Haybuster 1206 double disk drill in our first attempt at zero-tilling, seeding fall rye and winter wheat. It wasn't long that problems became prevalent. Quack grass flourished, seed placement was poor because of hairpinning with disk drills, straw management had to improve, fertilizer placement was inadequate (broadcasted). One encouraging aspect was that we could grow crops of equal yields in a zero-till cropping system as in a 50:50 rotation, on very sandy soil. It was our belief that if we could continuously grow crops on sandy soils our heavier soil should also do well. But, because of the problems experienced in the sandy soil (i.e. hairpinning, poor fertilizer placement, quackgrass, etc.) we decided to drop the zero-till and go to a continuous cropping system or minimum tillage system.
A minimum tillage system involves a fall banding operation, (which became more of an acceptable way of placing fertilizers), 2-3 preseeding tillage operations, a seeding operation and from 2-4 harrowing operations. We kept on with this system for a number of years. Over time it was apparent that the problems we experienced in our zero-tillage system were now appearing in our minimum tillage system as well. Quackgrass was flourishing, Canadian thistles were improving. Roundup was going to have to be used. We actually took land out of production and used roundup to control these weeds in a fallow year. We also lost control of water erosion in this system versus the zero-till system. This minimum tillage system, which today I refer to as an excessive tillage system, or in the case of summerfallow as recreational tillage, was a very labour intense, equipment intensive operation.
Seeing as we were now using roundup in a minimum tillage system anyway, we started looking for a seeding system that could curtail our input costs. We tried a number of different seeding units, in co-operation with our A.D.D. Board and various manufacturers. A different disk drill: single, double, offset disk with sidebanding of fertilizer, but like our first attempt, hairpinning, etc. would become a major problem after a few years. As of today I haven't seen a disk drill that will work in all conditions or for an extended number of years.
We then turned our attention to hoe openers: from hoe drills to air seeders. Some were promising but most lacked the features we were looking for, like:
1. To seed and fertilize in one pass, but in different bands. (double shooting)
2. To pack in the same operation.
3. Individual seed row depth control, which most airseeders do not have.
4. A seeder that can seed any crop; cereals, oilseeds, pulse. Most are good in cereals but had difficulty with oilseeds.
5. Horsepower. Some equipment we tried used excessive amounts, 8-9 H.P. per foot.
6. Trash clearance.
7. Minimum soil disturbance.
8. To leave as much stubble standing as possible.
Air seeders with sweeps have difficulty with these last two points. I'll mention later why these points are important in a zero-tillage operation.
In the fall of 1988 we purchased a 33' Conserva Pak Seeder, which we are sill using today. We are very pleased with the performance of the seeder and the benefits we're experiencing with the seeding system. I
As well, Roundup, the major herbicide we need in a zero tillage system, started to fall in price. It fell from $24.00/l.itre to a 1992 price of around $11.00/litre, Canadian. (Thanks to the threat of Generic production). Also, and again no thanks to Monsanto, rates much less than the recommended rates of 1-2litres/acre can be used to control quackgrass and other weeds in a zero-till system.
Today we would not even consider going back to a conventional system, but instead to encourage other producers such as yourself to adapt a system that will benefit you, the soils and the environment.
It is a tough decision to make, to go from a conventional system to a zero-till system. You are not only buying a piece of equipment, you are changing your whole production system. If you compare a zero-tilled seeded field with a conventional seeded field, it might take till the early part of July before you think your crop looks as good as your neighbours, unless you walk in it. What really counts, though, is the grain you produce and at what cost. But then if the loss of your topsoil (a direct result of excessive tillage) isn't important then production costs shouldn't be either.
THE START OF ZERO-TILL
Where does a zero-till system start? Harvest time, with straw and chaff management. I cannot stress enough how important this is. We adapted a straw storm to our combine and are happy with the job it is doing. Harrowing is an alternative for spreading straw, but it doesn't spread chaff. If you can do both with the combine you're also removing an extra operation. This leaves more time for fishing, hunting, etc. Some of the problems we encountered with poor straw/chaff management were:
Our weed control begins after harvest. We have been spraying 2-4-D ester at 4 oz./acre on all acres in the fall, but with the new formulation of Rustler and observations made we are changing some parts of this operation.
For pulse crops, a crop that is seeded early in spring, we have a number of options:
-2-4-D fall application (fall annuals are prevalent), or
-no 2-4-D fall application, just a straight spring application of roundup before seeding.
Spring applications of 2-4-D or New Rustler can cause seedling damage.
With oilseeds, a crop seeded somewhat later, winter annuals are more advanced, therefore, a straight Roundup application might not take them out. So a fall 2-4-D application could be warranted. Here again spring applied 2-4-D and Rustler could cause seedling damage. We have used a spring application of the new Rustler, but seeding equipment, travel speed and time between operations became crucial. We had excellent results seeding about a week later with the Conserva Pak, and travel speed was kept below 4 miles/hour.
With cereal crops we have a number of options, depending when the field is seeded:
Early seeding date:
-2-4-D fall or spring, no preceding burnoff, or
-no 2-4-D fall or spring, just a straight preseeding burnoff with roundup.
Mid season:
-no fall or spring 2-4-D, but an application of the New Rustler as a preseeding burnoff, or
-straight roundup if winter annuals are in early growth stage.
Late season:
-fall or spring 2-4-D should be applied otherwise winter annuals could be well advanced and robbing nutrients and moisture. Then a New Rustler or Roundup preseeding burnoff will be applied before seeding.
A fall application of 2-4-D is always preferred over spring, however, your herbicide program is very flexible; it can change from year to year depending on crop intentions or weed population.
FALL APPLICATION OF GRANULAR HERBICIDES
This is something we have been doing the last two years. We have used Fortress @ 7 lbs/acre, Trifluralin (Rival) @ 5 lbs/acre and Edge @ 20 lbs/acre in Pulse Crops. We just broadcast into standing stubble in late fall. We have used a number of different harrows, again in co-operation with the manufacturers, such as:
as incorporation methods. We also did fields with no harrowing incorporation at all. The results: "impressive". It did not matter what harrow bar we used, the results were satisfactory. The fields with no incorporation were just as good, leading us to believe that the harrowing operation was not needed, which is what we did this past fall, broadcasting as late as Nov. 20. The ground was frozen but there was no snow.
Edge was used in a lentil field aid we were not happy with the results. We had good control of millet, green foxtail and broadleaf weeds, however, wild oats and volunteer cereal control was not good. What we are doing for the 1992 crop of oilseeds and pulses is a fall application of 5 lbs/acre Trifluralin to control broadleaf weeds, and using Poast in crop to control wild oats and volunteer cereals. It is less expensive than the full rate of Edge and gives better weed control. Poast works very well.
SPRING: PRESEEDING BURNOFF
Our sprayer is equipped with Rogers Engineering Air Foil Shields. We spray at 80 lbs PSI which creates a very fine mist which gives good coverage of target plants. With the Air Foil Shields we are able to spray in a certain amount of wind, but we will reduce spraying pressure to 40 lbs to curtail any drift.
We use Roundup as a preseeding burnoff @ 1/3 litre Roundup, 1/3litre Ammonia Sulphate and 2 gal. (Cdn.) water/acre. The first year a person goes into zero tillage you might want to use 1/2 litre rate, especially if quackgrass is well established. You're not going to kill all the quackgrass at that rate but you're not going to kill it, even if you use the 1-2 litre rate recommended on the label. Keep in mind that all herbicide manufacturers recommendations for their products are made under conventional farming practices, not under zero tillage. Monsanto recommends for two year control of quackgrass, 2 litres/acre. We can get better control with 1/2, 1/3, 1/3 litre/acre for three years and produce a crop at the same time. I think crop competition plays an important role as well. This is equally true for all weeds; if you have a good strong crop, the weeds will not have the chance to flourish.
That is one of the benefits of the Conserva Pak Seeder, where fertilizer is placed at seeding time directly adjacent and below the seeded crop. This gives weeds far less chance of stealing nutrients as compared to when fertilizer is broadcast, deep banded or even sidebanded.
Seeding into standing stubble is not something that is new. People have been doing it for years with discers and more recently with air seeders. What is different is the Zero tillage aspect. We leave as much stubble standing as possible and we don't come back with a harrow packer bar to level the field and pack the soil surface to create a good seed bed for millet.
What I found hard to adapt to was seeding in a field that is somewhat green. Roundup doesn't work as fast as a tillage operation. It generally takes a number of days before the plants show signs of death. I generally seed 1-4 days after spraying so sometimes the plants still look pretty green.
In crop weed control is basically the same in any operation. Because we broadcast trifluralin in the fall we use a 2-4-D application, but treat hotspots with Banvel or Buctril M. Patches of Canadian thistle are either, sprayed with Banvel or Roundup in cereal crops if patches are few. Generally they are, that is, where crop rotation came into play.
HARVESTING
Harvesting is generally the same. We have noticed that straight cutting can be more easily obtained. The reasons being, water infiltration is more uniform (year round). The spring of 1991 reinforced that. We had a couple of heavy rains and where our fields had no water lying, the neighbors fields did. Even in "continuous cropping with tillage" fields had water lying in low spots.
Swathing was a concern with the 9-inch row spacing but we have observed that the previous years stubble that was left standing will help support this year's swath. In the fall of 1991 we did swath about 2/3 of our crop. Saw flies were a problem in our area and also because of ample moisture and late seeding we were concerned about frost. We lost 13 seeding days in May because of rain.
CROP ROTATION
Crop rotation holds true for all seeding systems but it is of more importance in a zero-till system. We rent about 1/2 of our acres. On our own land we have a crop rotation program of pulse, cereals and oilseeds. We have observed yield increases of 5-10 bushels/acre on cereal following pulse crops.
On the land we rent it has been continuous wheat. Contract agreements have made it difficult to implement crop rotations. A straight out cash rental agreement might be the only answer. On this rented land of wheat on wheat on wheat, leaf disease was prevalent this year and the yields were less than expected from these crops.
Field rotation is also important. We try not to seed the same field at the same time year after year. If a field is seeded early one year, we will try to seed it later the following year. This will aid in better weed control, especially with quackgrass.
Rotations will also give a wider choice of weed control chemicals over a two year period.
BENEFITS
Today, after 12 years of trials, testing, looking, changing and adapting, we look at our present system. It's the benefits we didn't realize at first that make zero tillage more encouraging and economical.
ENVIRONMENT
There are groups advocating the removal of chemicals in agriculture. I would ask "And what, replace it with tillage?" We used about 1400 litres of roundup this year. Roundup is biodegradable, it will not leave residue in the soil. Blowing soil is by far more harmful than roundup.
We used 25,000 less litres of diesel fuel to seed our crop. Diesel fuel emits pollutants into the air, some of which are not biodegradable.
Soil erosion "caused by water" that finds its way into lakes and rivers has more natural pollutants than from herbicides.
SHELTERBELTS
A zero tillage system is by far more effective that any shelterbelt planted around a quarter of land or every 1000 feet apart. The shelterbelt I use is 9 inches apart and 8-10 inches high and also produces a crop.
DISADVANTAGES OF ZERO TILLAGE
Let me see. I have to think about it.
Garden work!!! I'll find a way to zero-till potatoes.
Thank you on behalf of my brother, Herve, myself and our families.
P.S. Don't wait too long to begin Zero-till, because you're going to have trouble selling your tillage equipment. Then again Ipsco is always buying scrap metal!!