THE ONE-STOP shop for all cultivation technology, Tillage-Live, is being held this year on Wednesday, September 14, at Wickenby Airfield, Lincolnshire.

While this event is mainly for ploughs, drills, cultivation and seedbed preparation equipment, it will also feature a spraying section this year.

It includes a demonstration arena where exhibitors have the opportunity to exhibit one machine to make one run, in rotation, with a commentary to explain the benefits and features of that piece of equipment to a wider audience.

Then, there are working plots to see machines at work on larger areas, include specific areas for sprayers and guidance systems being demonstrated in working conditions.

Along with the working and static displays, there will also be a ‘Knowledge Trail’ giving further insight into key factors affecting cultivation and soil structure with NRoSO and BASIS points being available.

This year’s Tillage-Live event will give you an opportunity to see the top manufacturers in soil cultivation and crop establishment showcasing their products in a working environment.

The Knowledge Trail will allow visitors to earn two NRoSO and up to seven BASIS points on completion of all of the stations.

It aims to give insight into key factors affecting cultivation, soil structure and crop establishment.

Trelleborg will be practically demonstrating how correct tyre selection, setting and use can protect soils whilst improving work rates and minimising fuel use.

Fuel efficiency, productivity and pulling performance are the key benefits of John Deere’s high-horsepower 7R, 8R and 9R Series tractors, which will be featured on the company’s working demonstration area at Tillage Live.

The top of the range 9620RX four-track tractor is making its Tillage Live debut. It features a 620hp Stage IV 15-litre Cummins QSX engine, an e18 transmission, articulated steering, cab suspension and optional Active Command Steering (ACS) for improved manoeuvrability in the field.

It also has fully integrated AutoTrac guidance and JDLink Connect information management systems are also available. Track widths are a standard 76cm (30in) or 91cm (36in) as an option.

Also on display will be the established 750A All-Till seed drill – which is available in 3, 4 and 6m versions – and has a field proven Accord air seeding system. It is designed with large clearances for no-till drilling into stubble, working after minimum or conventional cultivations, and single pass operation for grassland and rough pasture renovation.

Kuhn will be displaying a wide range of cultivation equipment, with everything from ploughs and minimum tillage machines to deep cultivators and combination drills on show.

These include the Prolander – a minimum tillage cultivator of either 6 or 7.5m versions, with five rows of tines mounted on a high clearance frame. They have hydraulically adjustable forward mounted support wheels and a hydraulically adjustable rear levelling board and a choice of front and rear rollers can also be selected. levelling can also be specified.

They have a low power requirement of 25-35hp per m, with working speeds of up to 12km/h.

The Performer is a non-powered deep tine/disc cultivator available in 3-7m versions, and can be operated in a wide range of formats.

It has twin disc gangs (10cm working depth), four rows of tines (35cm working depth), levelling discs and a 700mm diameter HD-Liner roller.

The 6m Espro min-till drill is capable of being pulled by a 200 hp tractor and accurate drilling at up to 17km/h, said Kuhn.

Two rows of 460mm concave discs open the soil, incorporate all residues into the surface layers and create a fine tilth, even in heavy conditions. These discs are followed, in the centre of the drill, by a row of 900mm diameter press wheels which create an evenly consolidated soil profile for consistent soil-to-seed contact.

Kuhn’s plough range will be represented by the Vari-Challenger semi-mounted ploughs, of 7-10 furrows.

These have an extra-large frame (220 x 220m) for added strength and reliability and are quick and easy to prepare for work thanks to a tool-free set up system, pointed out Kuhn. An on-land kit as an option.

To plough or not ... the answer is nigh!

The impact of adopting ploughing against non-inversion tillage approaches in cereal production systems, will feature in a new report from AHDB on their stand at Tillage-Live.

This draws conclusions from a series of long-term field experiments comparing them in various rotational and soil-type settings at sites in England and Scotland.

Although yields were marginally lower in the non-inversion system, a reduction in costs (labour and fuel) meant that non-inversion tillage could be advocated under ‘normal’ conditions.

However, non-inversion approaches were found to be more vulnerable to grass weed control challenges, which limits its blanket application.

Dr Amanda Bennett, of AHDB, said: “Data from long-term trials indicate non-inversion approaches can exacerbate grass weed issues, compared to rotational plough-based systems, especially meadow brome, sterile brome and black-grass.”

As part of the research, soil cores were extracted throughout the season at the trial sites. A key finding was that, after corrections for soil bulk density and stone content, no advantage in carbon sequestration was detected with non-inversion approaches.

Soil physical condition was also found to be well below optimal at all the sites used to examine tillage approaches, at a level sufficient to impede root proliferation.

The findings provide further evidence of the need to find practical ways to measure and improve soil health, pointed out AHDB.

The research, which was led by the James Hutton Institute, used long-term experiments supported by a broad range of government and charitable organisations.