If you are looking for a way to establish a multi-species crop, you might be wondering which machine is best suited for the job: an air seeder or a speed tiller. Both machines have their advantages and disadvantages, depending on your soil conditions, crop goals, and budget.
About multi-species pasture
Multi-species planting means using seeds of several types of plants, such as grasses, legumes, tall herbs, and small herbs. These are called functional groups, and they can work together to give you multiple benefits, such as:
Pasture persistence: more plants can grow in the same space and adapt to changing seasons.
More foliage: more leaves mean more feed and more quality for your animals.
Benevolent microclimate: more shade for the soil means more moisture, more life, and less stress.
Weed suppression: less space and light for weeds means less hassle for you. Beneficial insects: more flowers and diversity mean more pollinators and predators for your crops.
When and what to sow
The season for sowing a multi-species crop depends on the climate, soil moisture, and the types of crops you want to grow.
...You can use an air seeder to sow a multi-species crop into an existing pasture, without disturbing the soil or the plant cover.
You can sow a multi-species crop in spring or autumn when the soil temperature and moisture are suitable for germination. The crop choice for a multi-species crop depends on your goals, such as improving soil health, increasing crop diversity, reducing weed pressure, enhancing animal nutrition, or boosting yields. You can choose from a variety of crops, such as legumes, grasses, brassicas, cereals, or herbs, and mix them according to your needs.
Machine usage for a multi-species crop depends on the soil conditions, the crop residue, and the seed size. You can use an air seeder or a speed tiller, or both, depending on the situation. For example, you can use an air seeder to sow a multi-species crop into an existing pasture, without disturbing the soil or the plant cover. Or, you can use a speed tiller to incorporate the crop residue into the soil and create a fine and level seedbed for a multi-species crop. Or, you can use both machines in combination, depending on the season and the crop. For instance, you can use a speed tiller in autumn to sow a winter cover crop, and then use an air seeder in spring to sow a summer crop into the cover crop residue.
Choosing an Air Seeder for multi-species crops
Lets do a deep dive into the type of machines that can be used for multi-species crop planting. An air seeder is a machine that can sow seeds of varied sizes and types in one pass, without the need for tilling the soil.
The team at AirSow developed a new prototype in 2023 that uses a foam roller to meter out the seeds without jamming.
This can save you a lot of time and fuel and preserve the existing plant cover and soil structure. However, not all air seeders are suitable for multi-species crops.
Some models may have trouble distributing the seeds evenly, especially if they vary in shape and weight. You need a reliable and versatile air seeder that can handle any seed mix, such as the AirSow roller. The team at AirSow developed a new prototype in 2023 that uses a foam roller to meter out the seeds without jamming.
Choosing a Speed Tiller for multi-species crops
A speed tiller is another possibility for establishing a multi-species crop. It is a disc-tillage machine that can cut, size, and incorporate high levels of crop residue into the soil, improving the soil organic matter and carbon content. It can also create a fine and level seedbed for optimal germination.
It's essential to pay close attention to the precise depth at which the seeds are placed (a crumble roller is a type of roller that has a cage-like construction with bars or teeth that break up clods and level the soil surface).
When you use a crumble roller on the speed tiller, it may push the soil too hard and compact it, making it difficult for the seeds to emerge. This is especially true for smaller seeds, such as clover, which need shallow seeding depth for optimal germination. Therefore, it is better to place the seeds behind the crumble roller, or to use a tyred roller after the speed tiller, to ensure the right seeding depth (with ideal seeding depths dependent on the soil type, moisture content, and seed size, but ranges from 35mm to 120mm).
Choosing the right machine
Choosing the right machine depends on what you want to achieve with your multi-species crop. If you want to improve your soil health, reduce erosion, and save land space, you might prefer an air seeder. If you want to maintain or increase crop diversity with a view to fertiliser and pesticide costs, you might prefer a speed tiller. Of course, you can also use both machines in combination, depending on the season and the crop. The main thing is to choose a machine that suits your needs and budget, and that can deliver the best results for your farm.
We hope this latest DIY Advice has helped you understand air seeders and speed tillers for setting up a multi-species crop. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact the friendly team at AirSow. We would love to hear from you and learn more about your farming experience.
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