“Establishment is the key to success with your pulse crop, and both the date and method of drilling will have a major bearing on the quality of the resulting pulse crop,” advised Joss Vincent, Nickerson protein crops product manager.

This advice was underlined by Mark Littleford of Vaderstad who set out the following guidelines:

• Base any decisions regarding depth and type of cultivation on soil type and depth of structure damage as well as cropping rotation.
  
  
• The seedbed should be firm and free from excessively large clods to ensure an even depth of sowing and even germination.
  
  
• Ensure that the seed rate is based on a target population, and not just a weight of seed per hectare, to take into account variations in thousand grain weight and expected field losses.
  
  
• Sowing depth should be uniform at a depth approximately equal to 10 times the diameter of the seed being drilled, consistent with soil moisture conditions, to provide rapid emergence and maximum vigour.
  
  
• Consider trash volumes and depth of incorporation – the seed needs to be in contact with the soil.  You need adequate soil cover and consolidation if soil-acting herbicides are to be employed.
  
  
• Placing the seed precisely and consistently at an adequate depth and into moisture reduces the risk of pest attack by making the seed harder to access and ensuring faster germination.
  
  
• When drilling large diameter seeds, particularly at heavy seed rates, consider the flow of seed through the metering unit and pipes of the drill. A slower forward speed may help to prevent blockages and damaged seed.
  

Mr Littleford added: “The main objective with your pulse crop is to establish a population of plants, uniformly spaced, and placed at a consistent, pre-determined depth to produce uniform emergence.”

For further information contact:
Joss Vincent, protein crops product manager, Nickerson on 01472 370154 or email: enquiries@nickerson.co.uk