Seeding winter rapeseed with the MATADOR MO seed drill in practice: a strong start to the crop and good root development

Two winter rapeseed crops were established on the monitored plots. The technology involved applying biogas substrate behind the discs at a rate of 25 m³/ha with a disc spacing of 50 cm, followed by tillage using a TERRALAND machine to a depth of 40 cm and strip-till seeding with a MATADOR MO seed drill. During seeding, 100 kg of NPK per hectare was also applied, and the loosening depth reached 18 cm. The sowing itself took place with a tine spacing of 37.5 cm and the same row spacing for the rapeseed. The LID ULTIMO variety was seeded on one plot, and the ARTEMIS hybrid on the other. The crop assessment took place on 23 October 2025.

It is precisely the combination of tillage, seeding and targeted fertiliser application that demonstrates one of the key advantages of the MATADOR MO seed drill. In conditions where it is necessary to work simultaneously on the soil profile, nutrients and precise seed placement, the machine helps to establish the crop so that every plant has the best possible starting conditions. The result is not merely germination, but above all the creation of strong and promising plants that have the potential to overwinter well and quickly continue their autumn development in the spring. This is absolutely crucial for winter rapeseed.

Crop assessments showed that the plants were in very good condition and did not yet require regulation at that stage. This is an important indicator of the crop’s uniformity and vitality. Root development was rated particularly positively, with roots penetrating down to the depth of the fertiliser placement. It is precisely this fact that confirms that the correct distribution of nutrients within the soil profile can significantly promote deeper rooting and better utilisation of available resources. In practice, this means greater plant resistance to stress and a better foundation for further growth.

Another very interesting finding was the branching of some plants at a depth of approximately 10 cm, which was likely a response to the application of biogas substrate. This phenomenon was no longer evident in plants that emerged later, which, according to the assessment, suggests that the nitrogen had since moved into the lower soil layers. In this regard, MATADOR MO supports technology that links seeding with the effective use of fertiliser in the root zone, thereby contributing to better crop health.

From the grower’s perspective, it is crucial that the MATADOR MO not only delivers high-quality seeding but, above all, provides certainty when establishing the crop. Precise seed placement, simultaneous fertiliser application, soil profile management and the promotion of strong root development form a holistic approach that subsequently has a positive impact on the health and uniformity of the crop. In practice, this means better conditions for overwintering, greater crop stability and an increased ability of plants to respond to changing weather conditions.

A spring inspection carried out on 14 April 2026 showed good plant recovery following the winter period. Fertiliser placement into the soil profile has caused the root system to begin branching at a depth of around 10 cm and to penetrate deep into the soil.

Practical experience from Stránský Farm thus confirms that the MATADOR MO seed drill is a very powerful tool for the modern establishment of winter rapeseed. In conditions where every detail matters – from tillage and nutrient placement to seed-to-soil contact – it offers a solution that promotes a rapid and healthy start to the crop. And with rapeseed, a good start is often what determines the outcome of the entire season.

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