Timothy from MN asks,
Hey Bill, Minnesotan here,...and I've been a very successful Big and Beasty plot builder in recent years and have always rolled the seed in after broadcasting for good seed to soil contact , but this year I have a new plot that is very clay based and can get rather firm if not hard when I roll it if it gets dry out. My question is how vital is the rolling for contact on a plot that is very level , and loose ,....it is disced up very nicely at the moment. I plan on seeding second or third weekend in July with a forecasted rain approaching,.. but Im wondering if I could just freshen up the plot with a discing and simply seed it. If I roll it after seeding Im concerned it could become very compacted and hard being so clay based.
Bill responds,
Topic: Rolling and Cultipacking Seedbeds:
Timothy,
I have had pretty good results over the years just broadcasting small seeds (like clover or brassicas) into freshly tilled seedbeds and then just letting the next rain work the seed into the ground. However, to be safe I usually very slightly over seed by about 10% in excess of the recommended rate.
I have done it both ways and you do get better germination when you roll or cultipack the seedbed, but that is not to say that you can’t do it the other way – just disking and then broadcasting and waiting for the rains to pound the seed in. It just takes a bit more rain, and maybe a more sustained rain, to get germination when the seed is just laying loose on top.
Like I said, I have done it and it works OK to just broadcast and wait for rain – in that case I usually over seed by roughly 10 to 20 percent knowing that some seed may not germinate. So go ahead. Another option is to use an ATV and drag something behind it to get the seed into the soil very shallow. I have done that using a cattle panel (that works well) or even a large branch with lots of leaves.
Personally, I had good enough success just broadcasting it into freshly tilled soil and letting the rain work it in that I usually just used this method. Less time and less fuel burned but still a good plot. Good luck. (6/23/22)
