Reseeding contractor Adrian Elliott from Glasson, Co Westmeath, has been using the Guttler direct drilling machine for the last five years. Adrian reseeded 1ha (2.5 acres) of land on a local sheep farm using the Guttler and documented the various stages of the process.

The land was reseeded in late April. It was burned off 10 days before sowing using Glyphosphate at three litres to the acre. Adrian believes it is important to apply Glyphosphate at a high rate to ensure a good killout of the old grasses and weeds. Getting a fast killout can be difficult in the spring when growth rates are slower compared to midsummer. This is a sheep farm so in general the grass sward is dense at the base. In the summer a sward like this makes it difficult to remove the trash for direct drilling and for best results it would have to be mowed prior to any work. However, because sheep were grazing the ground tight all spring it meant that surface trash was at a minimum and the Guttler system was able to go straight in and start drilling once the old sward was killed off. Adrian feels entering a bare field is key with this direct drilling option to maximise soil/seed contact.

Picture 1

On 24 April Adrian went in with the Guttler. His machine has a special scarifer or ripping harrow that is attached to the front of the tractor. The ripping harrow is made up of three rows of very strong tines. The front row of tines have a 12mm tip similar to the Guttler tines, the second and third row have 100mm x 10mm tines with furrow cracker forks at the tip of the tines.

The harrow gives a shallow till of the soil and creates a nice seedbed on the topsoil. Seed is broadcast fully by the precision air seeder resulting in the no-line effect and is pressed down by the guttler prismatic roller. Grass seed was sown at a rate of 14kg per acre. Once the grass seed was sown, three bags of 10:10:20 was spread and two bags of granulated lime. Adrian usually would go with traditional bulk lime but because the area being reseeded was so small he felt granulated was more suitable. Lime is very important for direct drilled reseeds because decaying surface trash is acidic and can reduce the pH of the soil.

Picture 2 and 3

On 11 May seedlings are just beginning to emerge two weeks after sowing. It is clear from this picture very little trash from the old sward is present. By 18 May the seedlings were beginning to establish evenly with very little evidence of weeds.

Picture 4 and 5

On 31 May a bag of CAN per acre was spread to push on grass growth. “Underclear” a clover safe post-emergence spray was used on the reseed to prevent weeds becoming established in the new sward. It was sprayed at rate of 7 litres/ha. This herbicide will control the weeds without damaging clover or affecting the young grass plants. The new crop of grass was grazed with sheep 10 days before spraying.

Adrian’s top tips for minimum tillage:

  • Burn off grass a week to ten days before carrying out the reseed.
  • Make sure as much surface trash is removed as possible by either grazing tightly or reseed once silage has been cut off the field as soon as possible.
  • A slight till on the ground is good before the drilling machine lets down the seed. Soil seed contact is very important.
  • Spread three bags of 10:10:20 per acre and lime.
  • Get in grazing early to help tillering.
  • A post emergence spray is essential to prevent weeds becoming established.
  • Reseed may take time to get established, so patience is needed.
  • This approach will work for other direct drilling options.
  • Moore Grass MG30 was used: All varieties are on the Department of Agriculture’s recommended list.

    2kg Rodrigo - Intermediate perennial ryegrass: diploid. Very good ground cover score. Good spring growth.

    1kg Twymax - Late perennial ryegrass: tetraploid.

    1.5kg Trend - Intermediate perennial ryegrass: tetraploid.

    2kg Mezquita - Late perennial ryegrass: diploid.

    2.5kg Stefani - Late perennial ryegrass: diploid.

    2kg Delphin - Late perennial ryegrass: tetraploid

    0.5kg Coated Clover Blend