Seeders No-tlll drill vs other attachments for seeding

[cptkel]

Hello all

This is my first post here.

I recently purchased a Kubota L3901. I am seeking advice on an attachment I could use for seeding. I would like to sow a mix consisting of clover, grasses, and some pasture vegetables (daikon, turnips, herbs, etc). I would like to do this on some of my 12.5 acres. I am leaning towards a no-till drill. Currently, I have a stand of old foxtail straw, chickweeds, and other pasture weeds.

Is there a drill that my tractor could handle? If not, could you offer some suggestions of how I could go about this with no or minimal tillage/plowing?

Thanks!

 

[MHarryE]

Try looking at seeders from Brillion. They make small to large grass seeders. I am not familiar with the seeding depth of some of the seeds you mention but grass seed needs to be planted shallow. I was recently reading a grass seed planting depth chart (because grass seed isn't cheap) and 1/4" to 1/2" was optimal. When the seed was planted at 2" germination was 19%, rising to about 65% at 1" and 93% in the 1/4 to 1/2" range. I think Brillion had a seeder with 2 rollers, the first to break up and flatten the soil and the rear to tamp the soil around the seed placed at the shallow depth. I remember seeing some short 3 point seeders at auctions and dealers.

 

[DJ54]

I've been thinking of one of these Zip Seeders for a couple of years. All seem to be too far away for me to go look at before buying. I missed one last year withing driving distance by a few hours on CL. This looks like a decent one in VA. Garden Seeder

 

[Dadnatron]

Talk with your local County Extension before you purchase a drill. Often, they have one or have access to one and will help you to insure you are optimizing your choices on both seed and planting. Also, your local Co-op or seed dealer will often have one to rent or free if you purchase seed from them.

 

[flusher]

No-till drills plant seed in rows.
A planter like the Brillion plants seed in a solid stand. However, you need to prepare the soil by plowing, discing and running a cultipacker over the soil to bust up the clods and smooth the field.

I'd mow the field as short as possible. Plow it with a heavy disc with an attached drag harrow. And then use a broadcast spreader on the 3-point hitch to plant the field. This will give you a solid stand.

Good luck

 

[DJ54]

If you'd have posted this back the first part of Feb., with your location, you could have utilized Frost Seeding. I've done it several times with very good success..!!

 

[jenkinsph]

No-till drills plant seed in rows.
A planter like the Brillion plants seed in a solid stand. However, you need to prepare the soil by plowing, discing and running a cultipacker over the soil to bust up the clods and smooth the field.

I'd mow the field as short as possible. Plow it with a heavy disc with an attached drag harrow. And then use a broadcast spreader on the 3-point hitch to plant the field. This will give you a solid stand.

Good luck

I agree ^^^^

On a small space of 12 acres or less I would plow or till it and broadcast seed. You can use the broadcast seeder to put out fertilizer as needed later on. I would hesitate to buy a drill for a one time planting of a small plot.

 

[MORRISONSTEEL]

Basic no-till drills will have no more that about 130-190 lbs of pressure/opener available to them. True no-till drills will have over 400 lbs available to them. Decent plain jane disk drills will have as much as 120-160 lbs of opener pressure. So don't be lured by the no-till advertising it is very possible to accomplish the same thing with just a drill, assuming you are not planting in the pavement. I agree w/ dagnatron, many extension agencies will have small drills available to rent and are typically pretty reasonable. Or like jenkinsph and flusher says, prepare the seedbed and broadcast it.

 

[Btown]

If you'd have posted this back the first part of Feb., with your location, you could have utilized Frost Seeding. I've done it several times with very good success..!!

Never heard of this. What do you do?

 

[cptkel]

I have actually been told by several local farmers to try the ag extension office. I have called once, but they said the budget didn't allow for it in my county.

I thought broadcasting had a poor success rate? This is simply scattering seed over the ground, right?

I really would rather not buy a no-till, not to mention I don't think my tractor could handle most. What would be the difference between a no-till and a simple drill be? I don't have any plows or tillers yet, either.

Thanks for advice so far!