At times it is seemingly fundamental management practices that can limit an otherwise well-executed cropping season. We can get off track at the inception of our efforts. The growing season must start with good seed selection, proper soil sampling, following soil analysis recommendations and equipment preparation. Seedbed preparation is one of the most fundamental management practices that can make or break our yield goals. It is also not easy to learn and takes real skill to accomplish.

My twin brother and I had been farming in Soda Springs, rotating small grains with alfalfa. The international group ACDI/VOCA asked us to travel to Kazakhstan to consult with their farmers for a few months in the fall of their growing season, as they were sowing fall wheat. This was a great farmer-to-farmer exchange, and we learned as much from them as we hoped they would learn from us. They taught us how to build an arc welder from a used pump attached to a power takeoff, something I don’t recommend.

Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, many farmworkers became farmers. They understood the specific job they had but were not prepared to farm A to Z. One person had mechanical expertise, and another could prune the apple orchard, but very few understood how to take a crop from seeding to market. Their small-grain yields were significantly lower following the Soviet breakup, and they needed answers as to where the breakdown was occurring.

The first two days were spent in the community lecture hall, where we taught our crop management style and what we felt were the most important technologies they should implement. On the third day, we demonstrated proper soil sampling techniques. I taught them how to use a soil chemical analysis kit I had brought as a gift. Other gifts were microfiber gloves, which were much appreciated, as well as candy and pencils for the children of the village.

On the fourth day, we traveled to the fields that were going to be planted in the fall. I immediately sensed a major problem. The field was very rough, and soil clods were everywhere. They had tractors attached directly to the drills without any harrows or packers, having taken only one pass with the planter. I examined the furrow – or what was supposed to be a furrow – and could see that there was limited to no soil contact with the seed. We stopped and put the old Soviet tractors to work in preparing the seedbed. This increased their fuel and labor costs, but it brought yields back to historical averages. Seedbed preparation was the key.

I also learned the importance of seedbed preparation with small-seeded crops when an extension colleague Joseph Sagers and I planted teff grass as an experiment at the University of Idaho – Kimberly Research Station. Small-seeded crops need a very firm seedbed. We thought we had an adequate seedbed, but once the temperature increased, the seed germinated first in the tractor tire tracks. We needed a much firmer seedbed.

Proper seedbed management includes retaining the maximum amount of soil moisture, adequate weed control and ensuring seed-to-soil contact. Seedbed preparation needs to be coupled with proper seeding depth for good germination and emergence of the crop species. It can be considered a bit of an art and takes experience to get the tillage just right – in the Goldilocks position.

Excessive tillage and packing could result in dry soil, dependent on rain or irrigation for seed germination. A rough, cloddy seedbed will leave the seed exposed. Leaving seeds exposed or with limited soil contact results in wetting and drying cycles. Seeds exposed to this cycle are not likely to germinate.

Reed Findlay consults with Kazakhstan farmers concerning drill calibration. Courtesy image.

Seeds rely on enzymes to break down the endosperm during germination. These enzymes are limited and have a short lifespan. After a few cycles, the seed will deplete its enzyme reserves and die. Primary tillage is completed with plows, disks, chisels or sweeps. Following heavy tillage, the seedbed should be firmed and smoothed with roller harrows, cultipackers or spike- or spring-toothed harrows. Setting each of these implements is critical to preserve soil moisture. If planting in a no-till system, it is very critical to ensure the planter is set up and adjusted for each field’s conditions.

Your seedbed needs to be firm (not hard), fine (not beat to powder), moist (not muddy) and clear of perennial weeds. A good seedbed will hold the needed water, ensure seed-to-soil contact and assist in controlling planting depth. The most common way to evaluate your seedbed is to walk on it with boots. No, sneakers will not work well for this test. For small grains, the seedbed should be compact and firm enough for you to see your footprint but not have the footprint heel stand out. The footprint depth should be less than a half inch.

For small-seeded crops such as alfalfa, you should be able to dribble a basketball on the surface. For extremely small-seeded crops such as semolina and teff grass, the seedbed needs to be even more firm with some soils. Some soils will not be amenable to seedbed preparation for these very small-seeded crops.

Seedbed preparation will be in vain if seeding depth and drill maintenance and calibration are not addressed. The recommended sowing depth is 1 to 2 inches for most forage grain crops. Forage grains sown deeper than this can delay germination due to cooler temperatures and impede emergence. The grain coleoptile – the first seed leaf that thrusts and penetrates the soil – is usually only able to penetrate about 2 to 2-and-a-half inches of soil. If it is buried too deep, it will never reach the sunlight, instead degrading before allowing the secondary leaves to emerge.

Teff grass has a very shallow recommended depth of one-eighth to one-quarter inch. A rule of thumb used for seeding depth is to plant two to three times the diameter of the seed in question. However, soil type, rainfall and organic matter in the soil all affect this rule. Soil crusting issues seen in sodic soils will also affect seedbed preparation and seeding depth. Knowing and understanding the soil in each of your fields is critical to expert seeding.

Finally, our work in Kazakhstan would not have been worth much if we had not evaluated the drill equipment. Factors to focus on include seed placement, consistent plant population and seed spacing uniformity. Spending time walking and excavating the seed behind the drill is essential to ensure proper seed placement in the soil. Test the drill on even, flat ground with proper moisture. Seed openers, cover discs and pack wheels need to be calibrated. Depth gauge wheels need to be in good working order, and all drivetrain issues need to be remedied. Ensure the tractor and drill are correctly weighted and balanced for even drill pressures. Uniformity of seed distribution by the planter within the row is critical. Erratic plant spacing, caused by a planter malfunction, can reduce yield significantly. Each plant needs its space to receive adequate light, moisture and nutrients.

It is cold now, but spring will come. It is time to get set up and prepare for planting season. When planting begins, be sure to focus on seedbed preparation and all the management issues surrounding and supporting it.

This article was written by J. Reed Findlay, University of Idaho Extension educator – Bannock/Bingham counties.