Precision farming market leader, SOYL, returns to this year’s Tillage Live event to demonstrate the latest developments in variable rate seed technology and how it can help to get the best from your field.

Dr Simon Griffin, SOYL’s technical manager, will speak to visitors as part of the event’s Basis ‘Knowledge Trail’, highlighting the different soil variations on farm and explaining how harnessing field data to calculate the optimum seed rate can lead to improved crop management, yield and profitability.

The field site for the working demonstrations at Eweford were mapped by SOYL and, speaking about measuring the data, Dr Griffin explained: “Our soil sensor scanned the field, taking over 300 measurements per hectare. We were able to interpret the data and identify areas of physical soil variation; information which allows us to make smarter decisions around seed rates, cultivations and yield potential.”

The sensor map (pictured) produced by SOYL showed up the heavier soils (darker colours) and lighter soils (lighter colours) in the demonstration field.

The optimum seed rate for such a field is influenced by a number of factors, including grain weight, variety, drilling date, seed bed quality, yield potential and weed pressure, as well as soil type. A seed rate that doesn’t take these influences into account can prove problematic.

For example, establishing a plant population that is too high can lead to thicker canopies, increased lodging and disease pressure and an unnecessarily high expense on seed. On the other hand, a seed rate that is too low can result in a lower yield and leave the crop at risk of significant weed pressure.

Yield increase

The benefits of variable rate seed are well documented following in-depth research carried out by SOYL.

“Drilling with an appropriate seed rate for each soil zone shows a 4% yield increase in our trials,” explained Dr Griffin. “The advantages are clear to see – variable rate seed drilling is the most common use of the data from our soil sensor because the results really do speak for themselves.”

Cost effective

SOYL’s variable seed rate maps can be used with most types of drill and the data can be collected for around £14/ha.

Dr Griffin pointed out: “Our iPad-based GPS control system has redefined the cost of entry into precision farming. A spreader, sprayer or drill can be variable rate ready for less than £500 if your farm already has an iPad.”

User confirms benefits of soil mapping:

Uniform establishment was a key benefit on a Scottish unit run by Alastair Gall and his son Steven, who first adopted variable rate seed sowing for their 40ha of spring barley in 2015.

The uniformity of the resulting crop and a valuable yield lift has since encouraged them to introduce the technique on the winter wheat in their six-year rotation, which also includes potatoes.

“We were already doing variable rate with SOYL for lime, P and K,” said Alastair.

The soil on their 160 ha all-arable Glenskinno Farm, at Montrose, in Angus, is mainly medium old red sandstone. However, conductivity scans by SOYL’s regional manager, Aidan Monaghan, found there were enough differences within field’s map zones to merit specific seed rates for each one.

“To achieve an even number of plants in every part of a field, you need to adjust seed rates for soil type,” said Aidan. “Most farms have a range of soil types within each field and Glenskinno is no different. We mapped the soils and allocated an establishment percentage to each zone with input from Alastair’s farm knowledge and experience.”

The farm’s standard cereal starting rate is 400 seeds/m2 depending on the one thousand grain weight and time of sowing. However, to suit the soil type as shown by the zones, that amount can be raised or lowered by as much as 30%.

Spring seed-beds are created after winter ploughing by a single-pass with a 3m Lemken Solitair combination drill, with seed delivery being automatically adjusted to the various zones via GPS.

“We get SOYL to draw up the plans for the seed rates on the different zones, and these can be adjusted manually, for weather delays if necessary, on the drill box as you go,” added Steven.

“Using variable rate seed puts the required optimum seed rates on different soil types in the field, creating even crop establishment over the whole. We can then fine tune fertiliser application accordingly and get an even crop through to harvest.”

The average output on the farm is now 10t/ha and 6.9t/ha, respectively, for wheat and barley – which is up 10% on prior to starting their regime with variable seeding. Steven explained: “Dad has a yield monitor on the combine and we have a 100-tonne weighbridge to confirm yields as the loads come in.”

• Visit SOYL at Tillage Live on September 26 – find the team in the main stand exhibition area. Visitors will also be able to claim BASIS points on the day.

• SOYL is the leading precision crop production service provider in the UK. The team strive to push the boundaries of yield, quality and profit margins for growers through the use of sustainable precision farming techniques, backed by expert advisors and an efficient technical support team.

• For further information about the precision services and advice available, please visit www.soyl.com, follow @SOYLprecision, email info@soyl.co.uk or call 01635 204190.