Crop reports from the Black Sea region are confirming the impact that even small variations in rainfall can have on grain and oilseed rape yields.
Kildare native Jim McCarthy currently manages a 20,000ha tillage operation in Romania. He is a regular contributor to the Tillage Edge podcast.
Courtesy of his latest update, Jim is confirming that the last 12 months have been exceptionally dry across most of the Black Sea catchment area.
McCarthy said: “No till crop management systems are delivering significant benefits for farmers in the region.”
According to McCarthy, much of the arable land in Romania contains high levels of both clay and silt.
“It is, therefore, important to ensure that soil pH values are correct – the same principle holds where phosphate and potash indices are concerned.
“High magnesium levels in our soils is another issue that must be addressed before committing to any form of reduced cultivation system,” he said.
Grain and oilseed
Making best use of water is fast becoming a priority for cereal growers in Romania.
He said: “No till are systems are helping in this reard as is the use of cover crops. The reality is that we have t save every drop of water that becomes available to us.
“Cultivating down to a depth of four or five inches will result in significant amounts of water being lost to any crop production system in Romania at the present time.
“We could be talking between 10 and 12mm of moisture. And, in some locations this figure can rise to 35 or possibly 40mm of moisture.”
Leaving very high stubble heights also helps to retain soil moisture levels while also encouraging newly established crops.
He explained: “We planted out 3,000ha of winter oilseed rape after wheat last autumn, using a no-till system.
“The new crop is now well established and we will have the full 3,000ha of rape to harvest over the coming months.
“Many of our neighbours are looking at half crops of rape at the present time. For the most part, they still use traditional cultivation systems.”