An important part of no-till farming is the use of crop residues, which can help improve soil quality. They have a phytomelioration and phytosanitary effect and help reduce the level of nitrogen fertilization.
Plowless cultivation supports the natural vegetative process
According to the Wielkopolska Agricultural Advisory Center, in 2022 over 90 percent of arable land in Poland was cultivated using the deep plowing method. Its advantages include increased soil porosity and effective fight against soil pests, but many people are looking for alternative methods that will help diversify crops and minimize expenditure on one farm.
One of the proposals is ecological cultivation without plowing – an element of regenerative agriculture. The plowless cultivation system involves the abandonment of classic plowing, i.e. deep cultivation, allowing the maintenance of the top layer of soil composed of, among others, from plant remains left over from the previous season.
No-plough cultivation means, above all, leaving crop residues on the field, and their good fragmentation and distribution translates into improving the soil structure and promoting the processes of natural decomposition of organic matter. No-plow cultivation has a number of advantages: it protects the soil against erosion and protects it in times of drought, so that it retains the moisture necessary for the growth of new plants, and it also helps maintain crop rotation – so it is the cheapest way to increase fertility and improve the quality of cultivated plants.
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New features of Go Operations Center John Deere
John Deere combines of the T5/T6 and S7 series are machines that improve no-plough cultivation
John Deere combine harvesters fit into the canon of no-plow farming, as the new models of these machines from the T5/T6 and S7 series are equipped with a straw chopper with knives known from the X9 model – a solution introduced with simplified cultivation systems in mind.
John Deere combines of the T5/T6 and S7 series are distinguished not only by advanced technological solutions, but also by efficiency and precision of operation. Thanks to the use of precise harvesting technology, which adapts the machine's operation to the conditions in the field and the individual needs of the user, these combines enable the optimization of harvesting processes and minimization of losses.
– The newly introduced T5/T6 combine models are equipped with a straw chopper with knives known from the X9 model. Depending on the intensity of shredding required, you can choose between a very high shredder with 124 knives or a high shredder with 68 knives. In turn, the setting of the counter knives can be adjusted from the cab to balance the intensity of chopping and fuel consumption depending on the condition of the plants and soil. A shredder with a very high degree of shredding ensures quick decomposition of residues in the soil and the release of valuable nutrients for plants in the next growing season. It contributes to reducing production costs, which translates into direct financial profit on the farm – says Mateusz Janicki, harvesting machinery specialist at John Deere Polska.
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New John Deere S7 and T6 combine harvesters in Poland for the first time
How to implement no-till farming?
– The first step is a thorough analysis of the situation of your farm. Appropriate equipment will also be necessary. In the case of no-plough cultivation, we replace the traditional plow with a chisel plow, the use of which will result in better drainage and more intensive development of the root system. Thanks to the ability to work at great depths, it also allows the removal of the plow sole. An important element at the stage of harvesting the preceding crop is also appropriate shredding and uniform spreading of straw, which is enabled by the groundbreaking Extra Fine Cut shredder in modern John Deere combines – explains Tomasz Mielczarek from Agro-Efekt, an authorized dealer of John Deere Poland
– This practice will then result in the rapid decomposition of the residues in the soil and the release of valuable nutrients from them. After harvesting the forecrop, it is important to cultivate stubble and thoroughly mix crop residues. This procedure can be performed simultaneously with sowing cover crops, which reduces the number of passes in our field, which results in less soil compaction. This factor is also influenced by the caterpillar drive, which is used in John Deere 8RT and 8RX series tractors, as well as 9RT and 9RX. The benefit is then double, because in addition to the previously mentioned less soil compaction, the tractors also have better towing capacity – adds the expert.
The new digital combine harvesters from the T5/T6 and S7 range with a shredder from the top X9 machine are therefore a good choice for any farm that operates in a no-plough system. They not only enable the introduction of plowless cultivation, but also guarantee high comfort of cabins with the most modern, high-resolution digital workspace and even greater efficiency thanks to the latest engines and advanced automation.
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Licenses for a combine harvester. Are they really necessary?
