Direct Drill Demo Day 2024 – Experiences and Results

Direct Drill Demo Day 2024 – Experiences and results in Kautjala

On August 29, eAgronom organized its second Direct Drill Demo Day, held in the fields of Mäe Teravili OÜ in Kautjala village, Harju County. This year's event gathered many farmers and experts to discuss and experience the possibilities and challenges of direct drilling. While the previous demo day focused on simpler conditions, in 2024, drilling techniques were tested in complex soil conditions and on fields covered with higher biomass—challenges familiar to many farmers.

The trials were conducted with the winter wheat variety Skagen, with a drilling rate of 310 viable seeds per square meter. The tests used combination seeders capable of applying NPK 10-26-26 compound fertilizer at 100–150 kg per hectare. One seeder could not add fertilizer during drilling, which was applied later.

The preceding crop was also winter wheat Skagen, harvested on August 21, with an impressive average yield of 9 t/ha, with an impressive average yield of 9 t/ha. This was followed by pre-drilling soil treatment with a straw harrow, which was applied to half of the sowing area in all field plots to analyze its effect on weed development and overall sowing quality.

Community experience and shared learning

Many participants shared their experiences and practical advice, enriching the event. The collective discussion about new technology and its potential applications provided everyone present with the opportunity to learn from best practices and try new solutions. It was also an excellent opportunity for those considering the adoption of direct drilling, as they received natural tips from experienced users.

At the end of the day, we all recognized that direct drilling is not just about soil health and efficiency – it's also an area where sharing experiences helps all farmers improve and enhance their practices. In the spring, we plan to revisit the field to assess the winter wheat's survival rate, which will significantly affect the outcome of the direct drilling in our climate.

Below is an overview of the seeders used and their features:

• Aguirre TD-T400 – Working width of 4 meters and row spacing of 14.5 cm. Suitable for minimally cultivated and direct-seeded fields. Dealer: Ökomeeter OÜ.

• Amazone DMC Primera – Universal seeder with a working width of 6 meters and a working speed of up to 18 km/h. Suitable for both conventional and direct drilling. Dealer: Jatiina OÜ.

• Bednar Directo NO – Suitable for direct drilling of various crops, capable of sowing three different crops simultaneously. Dealer: Baltic Agro Machinery AS.

• Horizon DSX 40-20 – Direct seeder with minimal soil disturbance and three seed boxes. Dealer: Graintech SIA.

• Horsch Avatar 6.16SD – Combination direct seeder with a pressurized tank divided into two compartments. Dealer: Tatoli AS.

• Junkkari D300 – Combination seeder, suitable for the most challenging conditions. Dealer: A. Tammel AS.

• Multiva Forte FX – Pneumatic seeder with adjustable ground pressure. Dealer: Agri Partner OÜ.

• Novag TForceplus 650 – Seeder with steel coulters and an Intelliforce control system. Dealer: Agriland OÜ.

• Tanzi Tigon 8.42 – Durable seeder for rocky fields, with a working width of 8 meters. Dealer: GP Baltic OÜ.

• Virkar Dynamic DC – Spanish direct seeder with precise drilling depth control. Dealer: Crocus OÜ.

Winter rapeseed drilling trial results

In addition to winter wheat, we also conducted trials with winter rapeseed, which was sown in the adjacent field on August 7 with a drilling rate of 3 kg/ha, along with NPK 10-26-26 fertilizer.

A plant count conducted on September 13 showed sufficient plant density, with no elongation in the growing points, which bodes well for overwintering.

Weed control, additional nitrogen fertilization with AN 34.4% at 100 kg/ha, and foliar fertilization with boron were applied to the field. Some rodent damage was observed, but the plants were generally in solid condition.

Field Walk and Initial Results

On October 23, we visited the winter wheat field with a group of farmers to assess the plant condition and drilling efficiency.

The target was 310 germinated seeds per square meter. Some seeders achieved this target well, while others had less favorable results. In some areas, volunteer plants from the previous crop may have affected the counts, and technical issues with the seeders could have also been a factor.

The plants had emerged well, but there were some differences in growth stages. It was exciting to observe that the area treated with the straw harrow had more volunteers from the previous crop and somewhat fewer weeds. Drilling depth also played an important role, as fewer tillers were observed in areas sown at a deeper depth (BBCH 24-26).

We look forward to returning to the field in the spring to evaluate the overwintering results and summarize the effectiveness of direct drilling and the capability of seeders in our local conditions.