Strip-till, or between systems
Strip-till, or strip cultivation, is classified as a system of ploughless zonal cultivation. As with other ploughless technologies, the basis of strip cultivation is the abandonment of ploughing. Characteristic of the strip-till system is deep loosening of narrow strips of soil in which the seeds of the crop are sown. The cultivated strips occupy about 1/3 of the field area. The remaining 2/3 of the field remains undisturbed, with plant residues on the soil surface.
Strip-till is often referred to as a compromise between intensive cultivation and direct sowing. A loosened narrow strip of soil provides the sown plants with good conditions for emergence and further development thanks to better heating, less compaction, good water and air conditions. At the same time, uncultivated strips fulfill their function of protecting the field surface from erosion and preserving water supplies.
Like other no-till and zero-till systems, strip-till contributes to improving soil properties over time, including enriching it with organic matter, increasing crop resistance to drought, developing a lumpy structure, and stimulating soil biological life. Modern strip-till units allow for simultaneous loosening of the soil, sowing of seeds and fertilizer, which saves time, fuel and money.
On the other hand, in strip tillage, as in other no-till systems, farmers may have problems with pest control, especially in the so-called transition period, when crop yields often drop. Although fields cultivated in strip tillage may appear carelessly prepared and sloppy, they require considerable care – finding the optimum operating parameters of the unit itself can be difficult, and errors sometimes affect the entire vegetation period of the plants.
Read more
Why Polish farmers love strip-till? Stories from the farms
Does Rapeseed love strip-till and the feeling is mutual?
Rapeseed producers choose the strip-till system for several key reasons. By limiting or eliminating mechanical interference with the topsoil, it does not dry out before sowing, which is particularly important during the rapeseed sowing period, when droughts often occur. Deep cultivation of a narrow strip combined with simultaneous sowing of seeds allows the seed to come into contact with a freshly loosened layer of soil from a greater depth, which has accumulated some moisture. Thanks to this, even in difficult conditions, the seeds are provided with appropriate conditions for germination. Additionally, uncultivated, mulch-covered inter-rows provide protection against water evaporation from the soil surface.
Another important argument in favour of strip tillage in the case of rapeseed sowing is the possibility of shortening the time of preparing the field for sowing. Between the harvest of cereals, which are most often the pre-crop for rapeseed, and its sowing, there is often not much time for the entire sequence of treatments. The strip tillage unit allows several agrotechnical tasks to be combined into one pass, which makes work easier, ensures greater independence from weather conditions and ensures that optimal agrotechnical deadlines are met.
An agricultural scientist once said that in the case of rapeseed, "you have to watch the root like the apple of your eye." Experienced rapeseed producers agree that in this species, what happens below the soil surface is of particular importance for the development of the above-ground parts. A well-developed rapeseed root system ensures the free uptake of nutrients and water and alleviates the effects of stress factors. In the strip-till system, thanks to the loosening, loosening, and aeration of the soil strip to a greater depth, the roots can develop freely, and with the simultaneous deep application of fertilizers, they "follow" the nutrients deep into the soil profile.
The good response of rapeseed to the strip-till system is proven by yield results. Strip-cultivated rapeseed most often equals or exceeds the yields of plough-cultivated plantations. In the study by Bečka et al. (2021), in terms of a three-year average, rapeseed in the strip-till system yielded 8% higher than in traditional cultivation.
Read more
Post-harvest cultivation without tillage. What solutions do farmers have?
An example from practice. "There is no better technology for rapeseed"
Szymon Hawro has been using strip-till for winter rape cultivation on his farm, located on the border of the Kuyavian-Pomeranian and Greater Poland provinces, since 2016. This autumn will therefore be the ninth season of strip-till rape cultivation. On his farm, he deals with a cross-section of various sites and soils from class II to VI. As the farmer admits, he cannot imagine a better cultivation technology for this species than strip-till. What does he appreciate it for? First of all, for the possibility of better management of water reserves in the soil.
– In strip-till, we are able to extract the remaining moisture from the deeper soil layer during periods of drought. We avoid drying it out and create an appropriate seedbed. As a result, rapeseed shows very good emergence. With the correct depth setting of the loosening paws, good soil cutting and application of fertilizer to the appropriate depth – the root penetrates well into the soil. This is especially visible in dry years, when rapeseeds cope with water shortages – says Szymon Hawro.
The farmer also noticed an improvement in the biological and physical properties of the soil. As he says, "clumps appeared on the light soil, and the clay became more loose" and adds that until now, rapeseed grown in strips "always yielded in line with expectations". However, he points out that successful rapeseed cultivation using strip-till technology requires attention to detail.
– In this system, you need to chop up the crop residue very well and spread it well across the field, e.g. with harrows or a straw harrow. This allows you to set the unit deep. The "clogging" residues make this impossible, spoiling the entire work and the final effect. In this system, you need to gain experience, perform the cultivation honestly and without half-measures – emphasizes Szymon Hawro.
The farmer adds that he has never failed with strip tillage in rape. At one point, he noticed a one-year problem with increased rodent presence in some fields, but it was solved quite quickly by using a subsoiler, which destroyed the pests' nests.
