Fertiliser, roller and weeder for cereals

Over the past few weeks, despite rainy and windy conditions, we have completed the remaining tasks on the cereal fields: fertiliser application, rolling, and weed control. With this work finished, the next machine to enter the fields will hopefully be the combine harvester. As usual, we like to carry out these operations in the order mentioned in the title.

Regarding fertilisation, in recent years we have been using YaraVera™ AMIDAS with excellent results. This year we’ve had to make a change, since the fertiliser used often depends on availability at the supplier’s warehouse. We therefore applied ENTEC® EVO™ 24 (+15 SO₃), which contains sulphur, at a rate of 225 kg/ha. Together with the basal fertilisation applied at sowing, this provides enough nitrogen for a good yield, provided rainfall conditions remain favourable.

Once the fertiliser has been applied, the next step is rolling the ground. This process serves three main purposes:

1. To consolidate the soil and improve root–soil contact
2. To press down stones, reducing potential issues during harvesting
3.  To help incorporate the fertiliser and reduce losses due to exposure

Finally, for cereals, we carry out phytosanitary treatment to eliminate broadleaf weeds. As it has been a very wet winter this year, we’re taking this opportunity to apply a fungicide, which will help maintain plant health.

The following products were used:

• Dingo (2,4-D 30% + Florasulam 0.62% w/v. SE). Dosage: 0.7 l/ha
• Trimur (Tribenuron-methyl 75% WG). Dosage: 15 g/ha
• Geriones (Tebuconazole 25% w/v EW). Dosage: 0.5 l/ha

With all these tasks completed, the crop is now well established and on track for the coming months. From here on, the weather will play a key role, so we will continue to monitor the fields closely and hope for a favourable season ahead. Here are a few videos of these works... we hope you like them.

Versión en español.

Cereals. Works until harvesting days

After sowing and sprouting, we are still working on winter cereals. The tasks to be done until harvesting are basically based on three tasks: fertilisation, compaction and weeding.  

In this post you can see our fertilisation strategy, this year we have chosen the fertiliser Marte45 from the Spanish manufacturer Medifer with a dose of 240kg/he. It is a fertiliser that we have used in several previous years with very good results and it is also the one we have found at a reasonable cost (although too expensive compared to the previous years prices). Let's wait for the rains so that the plant can absorb all the fertiliser. 

We will wait for it to rain so that the fertilizer could be taken by the soil plants. 

On the other hand, after the mulch fertilisation, we have rolled the soil to compact it. The goal is to better fix the root to the soil and the stones we have hidden in the ground so that we can have a more comfortable harvest job. For this task we have used our new roller, from the manufacturer Gaher Metalic. 

The next job, and perhaps the last one before harvesting, is to apply the necessary phytosanitary treatments to kill weeds and to take care of the plant if we detect any disease... but we will surely talk about this in another post. 

Versión en español.

Soil preparation (I). DF 8280 TTV Agrotron

Once the harvest is over, it is time to start new tasks in the fields to allow us to launch the new cereal and pulse vegetables campaign. Then, it is necessary to prepare the soil in the best possible conditions with the a a seedbed that will help the seed to germinate as quickly as possible. Stubble harrowing is a task that can be done in September and October, so there is a lot of time to do it very well. 

On this occasion, we were able to visit a field in Caleruega (Burgos) to see the new Deutz-Fahr 8280 TTV Agrotron, which was harrowing a vetch stubble that had been mowed for haying, so we spent a super fun afternoon testing with the "big one" 8280 TTV Agrotron together with the cultivator, which if the tractor was big the implement was even bigger, from the Catalan manufacturer Gaher Metalic. Our sensations were fantastic... the most important ones could be: 

A big tractor that moved like a small one. 

• Extraordinary pulling capacity with an implement that is even made for higher horsepower tractors. 
• Comfort in the cab both in the field and in transport works. 
• Very good visibility from the driving position. 
• Very accurate and easy-to-use auto guidance. 

As regarding the tractor's features, we leave you a summary of the most important ones, although you can get to know it completely in its brochure: 

• DEUTZ TTCD 6.4 L4 engine with 6,057 cm3 of 6 cylinders (Stage V) and bi-turbo. 
• Maximum power: 287 HP.   
• Maximum torque: 1,226 Nm at 1,500 r.p.m. 
• Fuel tank capacity of 505 litres and 35 litres of adBlue. 
• New stepless gearbox SDF 7780. 
• Maximum speed: 60km/h at 1.830 r.p.m., 50 km/h at 1.535 r.p.m. y 40 km/h a 1.220 r.p.m.      
• Pneumatic cab suspension and front axle hydro-pneumatic suspension. 
• Lifting force rear of 11,000 kg (front lift of 5,450 kg). 
• PTO speed: 540E/1000/1000E. 
• Pump flow rate of 210 l/min (close centre with load sensing) con 10 electronic rear valves and 4 electronic front valves. 
• 90 litres of extractable oil. 
• Turning angle: 52º. 
• Wheelbase: 2,918 mm.   
• Effective load: 6,000 kg. 
• Net Weight: 10,200 kg. 
• #AlwaysOnTrack. Equipped with SDF Guidance and SDF Fleet Management. 

In conclusion, a high-powered tractor whose sales evolution in Spain will be really interesting from the point of view of machinery specialists. Surely SDF knows how to adjust the price, as it does with many other models, and we will see many DF 8280 TTV Agrotron in our fields... we will be vigilant and looking forward to working with it again. 

Versión en español.