Cropping seedbed requirements

Listed below are the seedbed requirements for some important crops. 

Seedbed requirements and methods of sowing are sirrrilar to those for wheat crops. 

Tilth is a term used to describe the condition of the soil in a seedbed. For example, the soil may be in a finely-divided state or it may be rongh and litmpy. Whether a tilth is suitable or not partly depends on the crop to be grown. In general, a small seeded crop requires a finer tilth than large seeds. 

Root crops, e.g. sugar beet, swedes and carrots also kale. These crops have small seeds and so the seedbed must be as fine as possible, level, moist and firm. This is very important when precision drills and very low seed rates are used. Good, early, ploughing with uniform, well-packed and broken furrow shces will considerably reduce the amount of work required in the spring when, if possible, deep cultivations should be avoided to keep frost tilth on top, leaving unweathered soil well below the surface. 

A fairly rough autumn seedbed is adequate for winter wheat and helps prevent soil-capping in a mild, wet winter. When soil-acting herbicides are used a fine seedbed is required. In a difficult autumn, winter wheat may be successfully planted in a wet sticky seedbed and usually it still produces a satisfactory crop. Spring wheat should only be planted in a good seedbed. 

Slugs may be a serious problem for winter beans especially where the crop is late sown in a cloddy seedbed and metaldehyde or equivalent should be used. Rooks and pigeons may also damage the crop and bird scarers or other methods of control may be required. 

Fine seedbeds are required for uniform emergence of baby leaf crops. This can be achieved using power harrows following discing. Baby leaves are commonly grown in beds to minimise compaction and aid harvesting. 

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