Base Cutter Height with Bill Rehbein
Bill Rehbein (Scientific Assistant, QPIF/DEEDI) examines some cane roots that were dug out of the ground using a cutter-bar. What these roots reveal is that there really isn't much margin for error when you are cutting your cane. If you set the cutter bar too low, you risk damaging the stool's root system, which sits in the first 4-5 cm of soil depth.
9 comments:
Joe Linton said...
Question to Farmers that have Dual rows. Has anyone noticed a loss of stool as ratoons get older? I have, and I call it "Harvester operator disease" I can't seem to get them to cut at ground level. Can anyone provide any info on this matter? If I can't change this problem, I may have to go back to single rows.
Neil Halpin said...
Joe, On the family farm we noticed that our 1.8m duals were getting knocked around as you suggest. Part of the problem is that with a wheeled harvester as the elevator slews the base cutter on the elevator side is cutting deeper than the other side. Essentially one side was "mined" whilst the other was cut at the right height. Our solution was to go back to 1.8m singles. Not sure of what engineering solutions are out there - maybe talk to BSES engineering.
Henry Thomas said...
Joe, I recently videotaped Paul Greeves 3M dual row harvester (I will post the video soon), he has independent hydraulic rams on each rear wheel, so can adjust the base cutter height on each row. It appears to work well.
Joe Linton said...
Neil, I was afraid you might say that I should go back to single rows on 1.83m. I am concerned of less production in plant cane because I still use a full stick dual row planter with double discs. At present I constantly grow plant crops about 200t/ha using irrigation. My new farming system uses a wide bed for soy bean fallow, 3 rows on each bed. Plus I don't cultivate after soy has been harvested. I am also concerned about water lateral soak into these wide beds on some soils in the first watering. I have seen research that shows a drop of production in plant cane in single row but catches up in ratoon cycle. Are there any ideas on "having my cake and eating it too"? Henry, I am a small farmer which has no influence on the harvester or operator but I understand the idea. I await your video. Has anyone else got any ideas?
Neil Halpin said...
Joe, It sounds like you have got everything heading in the right direction. You are right Allan Garside's early work did show a reduction in plant cane yield on 1.8m singles however we didn't see that with our Bundy site. We had 4 varieties on 1.5m singles, 1.8m singles, 1.8m duals (500mm apart), 2.0m duals (800mm apart)- all whole stick planted and a 1.8m single billett planted and we couldn't demonstrate a row configuration effect on yield between the whole stick planted treatments. It would be worth talking to Barry Salter (Mackay BSES) for he leads this work currently. Also it might be worth chatting to Brian Robotham re: base cutter hight automation.
Cam Whiteing BSES Engineering said...
Hi all. This issue of stool damage/removal is something which I've discussed with a number of growers in the Burdekin recently. One issue impacting on basecutter damage is matching row profile to the basecutter setup. Achieving a row shape to suit the harvester can be more complicated in a dual row system, especially if beds are shaped to suit other activities such as harvesting beans. A discussion with your harvester operator about his basecutter angle and your row profile can help achieve a better match. The other issue of the harvester laying over due to elevator weight is a more complicated one. A grower/harvesting group I spoke to last week had initiated a discussion with EHS Manufacturing in Mackay (who produce BSES gathering fronts, wider basecutter boxes for dual row, etc)about the development of a 'self leveling' system using the harvester lift rams to ensure the basecutter box remains level, thus minimising stool removal. This would be a great benefit to growers moving into dual rows. Just a quick question for Neil, with your billet planted 1.8m single row, how wide was the planting chute? The reason I ask is there are a number of people trialing a 'wide swath' planting approach to 1.8m rows, I guess to boost stalk numbers and canopy development in the plant crop. At the end of the day, matching row spacing to machinery is the number one aim, whatever configuration works for individuals. In terms of automatic basecutter height control, we have a number of TechAgro systems working in the Herbert and Burdekin regions with promising results so far. I think that if this technology proves to be robust and effective it will be well accepted by the industry.
Neil Halpin said...
Cam, The billett planter had a 14 inch planting chute.
Joe Linton said...
Thank You all for your input. I will be talking to the harvester operator about better basecutter angle to suit dual rows and conversely how I can improve my row profile. After converting to a new farming system over 10 years ago, I can see soil health benefits, including an increase in soil carbon, and cost and labour benefits so I won't be going back but we need more work done to fine tune the systems. There are a number of things I want to improve.
- reduce loss of stool in later ratoons.
- Using double discs planter, I want to place the mother plant as deep as possible.
- Ways to build soil carbon in the stool area.
- Reduce water deep peneration in our high infiltration soils.
- Try to improve nutrient uptake using soil microbes and such.
- Change the mentality of resistance to change.
- Better sharing of experences, good and bad, about farming practices.
I know answering these will be a tall order but we need to set the bar high to achieve more.
Mark Ellwood said...
Guys, just in relation to going back to single row in 1.8m centres. The need for a wide chute is not necessary and i have seen excellent results with a single row double disc opener (narrow point). Although plant quality needs to be quite good. But planting rates of around 5t/ha are quite acceptable with a single row disc opener and trial work done has shown no loss of yield with these lower planting rates. This trial shown on the hyperlink below was done with a wide chute, but the lower rates used (5.5 & 3.7t/ha) can be put through a single row double disc.
http://www.google.com.au/search?q=planting+rate+trial+homebush
