Seedbed Preparation for Wheat

Wheat is the second most produced grain after corn. It is the second largest grain worldwide based on grain acreage and the second largest based on total production volume, with China currently being the largest producer followed by the EU. The global trade of wheat is greater than all other crops combined.

Wheat requires deep, well drained loamy soils with good air circulation and slightly acidic to neutral pH of about 6.5. The seedbed should be prepared about 4 centimeters (1.5 inches) deep and should be fairly firm. A sufficient time frame should be allowed for between seedbed preparation and seeding of wheat for the seedbed to settle naturally.

The goals of seedbed preparation are to retain the maximum amount of soil moisture, control competing vegetation, improve seed to soil contact, and allow for the proper seeding depth, germination, and emergence.

The ideal seedbed is uniformly firm, maintains moisture near the surface, is free from competing vegetation and is well packed, with particles of the size of the seed underneath and larger aggregates on the soil surface to prevent soil erosion and crusting.

Maintaining seed moisture is critical for optimal germination. Seeds that are subject to repeating wetting and drying cycles are less likely to germinate. The enzymes involved in breaking down the endosperm are limited and have a short life span. After a couple of wet and dry cycles the seed will simply run out of active enzymes and die. Seeds that have good contact with soil are less likely to experience widely fluctuating wet and dry cycles because the soil transfers water efficiently to the germinating seed allowing to grow roots into the deeper soil moisture.

Proper seedbed preparation provides for seed-to-soil contact by creating the ideal soil firmness. When soil is too loose, air in the soil increases the number of wetting and drying cycles in the soil. In contrast, when the seedbed is too firm, the pores are compressed. That feature reduces water drainage efficiency and oxygen or carbon dioxide exchange. Optimal reconsolidation provides good seed-soil contact so the seed is supplied with water through capillary transport whilst leaving enough large pores for gas exchange. A regular consolidation over the field will also provide a regular crop emergence that is important for the next growth stages.

Excellent soil tilth means proper pore, good soil aggregate size and distribution in the seed zone and improved seed-to-soil contact for faster germination and more uniform crop emergence. Furthermore, a uniformly firm seedbed allows for proper seeding depth.

However, the timing and intensity of seedbed preparation is crucial in order not to cause undesired loss of soil moisture in upper layers and excess breakdown of soil aggregates, thus dislodging soil particles that can infiltrate and block soil pores. Stable soil aggregates on the field surface also contribute to erosion protection and prevent land degradation.

There are several approaches that can be used in achieving a good seedbed preparation. A choice of the seedbed preparation technique depends on several factors: previous crop, management of crop residue, soil type, climate and subsequent crop and drilling method.

Seedbed preparation is essential in conventional tillage systems, especially moldboard plow tillage systems, but also in conservational methods based on wide range of interventions using conservation implements such as disc harrows, chisel plows or combination cultivators.

BEDNAR FMT’s portfolio includes a variety of machines such as highly effective SWIFTER seedbed cultivators, all-round VERSATILL tine cultivators, traditional KATOR rotary harrows and versatile SWIFTERDISC disc harrows. GALAXY GE cultipackers can be used for further profile levelling, clod crumbling and overall reconsolidation of the soil profile.

SWIFTER: besides traditional spring-tine and spike-tooth harrows, seedbed cultivators are the most commonly used equipment for seedbed preparation. SWIFTER seedbed cultivator merges up to 8 working operations and can create a fine seedbed in a single pass. That is crucial especially during constantly shortening weather windows and for elimination of excess passes in the field. By merging several operations into one pass, not only farmers can prepare a fine seedbed, but also reduce operating costs. Front CRUSHBAR or leveling bar effectively breaks the plow furrow and level the surface, tine section loosens soil structure and the combination of rollers provides excellent soil tilth with final surface reconsolidation that prevents undesired evaporation. Over years BEDNAR FMT has become the world-renown supplier of seedbed cultivators from 3 to 18 meters of working width.

SWIFTER: besides traditional spring-tine and spike-tooth harrows, seedbed cultivators are the most commonly used equipment for seedbed preparation. SWIFTER seedbed cultivator merges up to 8 working operations and can create a fine seedbed in a single pass. That is crucial especially during constantly shortening weather windows and for elimination of excess passes in the field. By merging several operations into one pass, not only farmers can prepare a fine seedbed, but also reduce operating costs. Front CRUSHBAR or leveling bar effectively breaks the plow furrow and level the surface, tine section loosens soil structure and the combination of rollers provides excellent soil tilth with final surface reconsolidation that prevents undesired evaporation. Over years BEDNAR FMT has become the world-renown supplier of seedbed cultivators from 3 to 18 meters of working width.

VERSATILL: Especially in conservational tillage systems with larger amounts of residue on top or in challenging wet conditions, the all-round VERSATILL cultivators made a name for themselves as versatile tillage tools also suitable for seedbed preparation. In comparison with the earlier mentioned SWIFTER seedbed cultivators, the VERSATILL range offers superior clearance, trash flow and in combination with narrow points, can work the ground as deep as 15 centimeters. The range comprises several lines of both mounted and trailed machines in working widths from 4 to 7.5 meters.

KATOR KN: Rotary power harrows, which use active rotors with blades, used to be very popular tillage equipment in conventional tillage systems with moldboard plow being the main primary tillage tool. With the emergence and advancement of conservational approach to tillage, their popularity begun to fade. Nevertheless, power harrows still remain a viable tillage tool and very important equipment in many significant markets. Rotary power harrows are mainly suitable for heavy, hard, and dry soils where they benefit from rotating blades that intensely crumble and mix soil up to 20 centimeters deep. That helps achieving even preparation of a level seedbed in the desired depth. The soil is also well aerated with significant porosity of soil aggregates. These mounted machines are offered in a wide range of working widths from 3 to 8 meters.

SWIFTERDISC: Seedbed preparation is one of common and suitable uses of compact disc cultivators for their good levelling effect, quality crumbling and mixing of soil, ability to maintain the set working depth and high crumbling and reconsolidation effect of the rear rollers. The wide SWIFTERDISC range of mounted and trailed compact discs comes in 6 distinct lines encompassing working widths from 2 to 18.4 meters.

GALAXY GE: Trailed cultipackers are designed for leveling of plow furrow or additional consolidation of seedbed after other tillage practice. Cultipackers provide further crumbling and significantly improve firmness and evenness of the seedbed so crucial for quick germination and even emergence of seeds. Available in two working widths of 6.3 and 8.3 meters.

These and all other machines from our wide porfolio can be explored, priced and built in our open online configurator.

It’s a joy to farm with us
[email protected]
BEDNAR FMT s.r.o.