Step 1: Decide target plant population
The Key to autumn seed rate is deciding on what will be your required
population of plants per square metre in the following spring.
Step 2: Estimate likely establishment losses
%Establishment is affected at drilling by:
- Date of sowing
- Seedbed conditions
- Seed vigour
Other areas to consider are:
- Depth of drilling
- Row widths
| %Likely Establishment |
| Sowing date |
Sept |
1-15 Oct |
16-31 Oct |
1-15 Nov |
16-30 Nov |
Dec |
| %EST |
80+ |
70-75 |
65-70 |
60-65 |
50-60 |
<50 |
| Optimum: |
winter barley - mid September |
| |
winter wheat - 20 Sept to 15 Oct |
With regard to final spring establishment it is necessary to allow for potential winterkill.
Factors that may affect the final spring population:
- Autumn control of yield robbing weeds such as blackgrass
- Slugs and/or other pests
- Drainage problems
- Weak, poorly developed crops - suffering from nutrient deficiency for example
Step 3: Calculate the seed rate
Allowing for the factors in step 2, establishment rate and 1000 grain weight in grammes
are enough to find number of seeds/m² required and recommended drilling rate(kg/ha);
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Agrovista UK Limited , Cambridge House, Nottingham Road, Stapleford, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire NG9 8AB Company No. 03525529