Direct drilling into untilled soil with the DIRECTO NO seed drill

The main advantage of direct drilling is the preservation of the porous soil system. If the soil is not mechanically disturbed, the capillary and non-capillary pores that are essential for good water infiltration and capillary action and for soil air exchange are preserved. The soil profile thus maintains the natural architecture created by the root systems of previous crops or catch crops. It is these root channels and stable pores that increase the infiltration potential of the soil and improve water management in periods of both excess and shortage of rainfall.

Eliminating tillage promotes the constant rise of water from the lower soil layers. At the same time, water loss through evapotranspiration is reduced thanks to the mulch from plant residues on the surface. Mulch acts as a protective layer. It reduces soil overheating, dampens the direct impact of raindrops during heavy rainfall and prevents rapid drying of the soil profile. The result is a more balanced water availability for developing and emerging plants. A stable moisture regime is crucial for yield formation.

Direct drilling into untilled soil also allows better use of natural infiltration pathways in the soil. Undisturbed pores and root channels accelerate water infiltration into the soil and reduce surface runoff. This is important not only for reducing the risk of local waterlogging and surface consolidation, but also for limiting water erosion. In combination with residues on the soil surface, this significantly increases the land’s resistance to extreme weather conditions.

One of the often underestimated factors in crop performance is soil air exchange. Soil is not just an anchor for plants, it is a living system in which both roots and soil edaphon need sufficient oxygen. Maintaining porosity without mechanical disturbance promotes air supply to the profile and improves conditions for root growth. In practice, this means more stable crop development, better nutrient utilisation and a more favourable environment for soil microflora, which contributes to the cycle of organic matter and nutrients.

When seeding into mulch, it is essential to manage plant residues in the immediate vicinity of the seed furrow. If the residues from the surface above the furrow can be properly removed, the soil warms up faster after seeding and the crop starts better, especially in colder periods. DIRECTO NO is designed to work in conditions of untilled soil and higher amounts of crop residues to help create a suitable microenvironment for germination.

In no-till systems, it is often not possible to place fertiliser over a large area. This makes it all the more important to place nutrients precisely to the zone where young plants can quickly utilise them. Support for rapid emergence and early growth can be significantly enhanced by placing fertiliser to the seed row or in its immediate vicinity. This gives the plant a starting dose of nutrients at a time when its root system is not yet sufficiently developed to efficiently absorb nutrients from a larger soil volume.

In addition to mineral fertiliser placement, microgranules of bacteria and fungi can also be used in practice to symbiotically support plant growth. These biological products can help improve rooting, promote nutrient uptake and stabilise crop development in variable soil and climatic conditions. Targeted application close to the seed also increases the effectiveness of the treatment.

The presence of plant residues on the soil surface reduces wind and water erosion. Residues also prevent soil overheating and slow down the degradation of organic matter. This is essential for long-term fertility building, as stable organic matter in the soil profile is one of the main pillars of good structure, retention capacity and biological activity.

Minimum tillage and leaving residues on the surface stabilises conditions for the effective development of soil microflora. Microorganisms experience less shock from mechanical disturbance, the soil environment is more balanced in terms of temperature and moisture, and there is a smoother conversion of organic residues into more stable forms of organic matter. In the long term, this promotes the formation of soil aggregates, increases infiltration capacity and improves overall soil resilience.

Seeding into untilled soil after a previous crop or into mulch from a catch crop, supplemented by the targeted application of optimal doses of fertiliser, contributes significantly to supporting soil structure and can reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with intensive tillage. The absence of tillage also means that the soil retains its structure better, manages water more efficiently and the biological component of the soil ecosystem functions more stably.

DIRECTO NO plays a practical role in this system as a technological tool that enables precise and highly efficient crop establishment. When direct drilling, management of crop residues, preservation of soil porosity and targeted nutrient placement are combined, a functional whole is created that provides conditions for rapid plant emergence and resistance to extreme weather, and the entire system is geared towards higher yield stability and soil fertility.

If you want to switch to direct drilling into untilled soil or streamline your existing no-till system, choosing the right seed drill is crucial. DIRECTO NO is designed for seeding into untilled soil and into catch crop mulch, with an emphasis on the agronomic quality of crop establishment, efficient crop residue management and the possibility of targeted fertilisation. The result is technology that supports the soil, crops and the economics of cultivation in the long term.

JOY OF FARMING
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BEDNAR FMT s.r.o.