FlameWeeding: False seedbed tillage

Of all the physical weed management techniques, PhysicalWeeding considers the false seedbed to be the most effective. This is because when properly implemented it can dramatically reduce the populations of in-crop weeds yet is inexpensive, easy to undertake and has high work-rates making it very cost effective. This is how the exceptional weed management shown on the right and our homepage has been primarily achieved. However, until now, there has not been any machinery designed to optimally till (cultivate) false seedbeds, so PhysicalWeeding has created two machines for fast and efficient false seedbed tillage, the ‘Rod & Roller’ and ‘High-Precision’ false seedbed tillers.

The critical design criteria of a false seedbed tiller is precise control of tillage depth coupled with sufficiently aggressive tillage action to ensure a complete weed kill. This has been achieved by using smooth rollers for the combined job of depth control ‘wheel’ and soil leveler in combination with either a rod-weeder or interrow hoes to kill weeds. The High-Precision false seedbed tiller uses the mid-mounting principle (see the full explanation in the Four Wheel Hoe page) using twin rollers to give the best depth control possible allowing its A and T hoes to consistently slice through the top two centimetres / inch of soil. The Rod & Roller false seedbed tiller has only the one roller in combination with a driven rod-weeder to effectively power through the top five centimetres / two inches of soil. The High-Precision tiller is designed for use on vegetable beds, particularly those produced by ‘milling’ type bedformers, and where plant residue levels are low. The Rod & Roller tiller is suitable for any cropping system, it can work in higher residues and its simpler design and shorter length mean very wide machines are possible without requiring excessively large tractors to lift them. The use of smooth rollers also results in a ‘natural’ (un-forced) fine and firm soil tilth in the top few centimetres / couple of inches of soil, that is ideal for sowing / drilling into.

For more information and to discuss your individual requirements please contact Merf.