Soil preparation for wheat and other cereals

For seed to germinate and plants to grow, soil often needs to be prepared. The manner in which it is done depends on the type of soil, the organic matter and moisture it contains, the crop to be planted, as well as the previous crop that was planted in the field. Magda du Toit spoke to cereal experts and farmers for guidance.

- Magda du Toit

Although there is no single soil management practice that is applicable to all cereal production areas in South Africa, some universal aspects remain important for profitable wheat production.

"Successful cereal production is determined by the interaction of many factors, such as climate, soil cultivation and preparation, disease and pest prevalence and management, the use of suitable varieties for the specific area and production system, as well as management practices," says Stephan de Groot, breeding project lead for wheat at Syngenta Seeds.

He says farmers need to critically consider the different cultivation operations required to create the optimum seedbed. "Conventional tillage is recommended for wheat-on-wheat cropping cycles to reduce the chance of root diseases in the crop. However, it leaves the soil vulnerable to wind and water erosion."

De Groot adds that in some areas where irrigation schemes are used, farmers practise continuous wheat-maize cropping, either growing maize in summer followed by wheat in winter, or planting wheat after maize for successive seasons without rotating with other crops. This can have dire consequences, such as a decline in soil fertility, leading to reduced yields in both crops.

Conservation tillage can reduce the probability of wind and water erosion but can lead to excessive plant residues on the surface that make planting very difficult.

While a large build-up of mulch has benefits, it can promote rootborne diseases. Conservation tillage is suited to a rotation that includes legumes, summer crops like maize, and fallow periods if many pivots have been established, as can be found in larger farming operations, says De Groot.

CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE MEANS NO SOIL PREPARATION