Establishment

Pelleted Seed

The Triumph and Domain seed is built up through a clay based coating, up to 6.5 times the size of a bare swede seed. This coating is used to create uniformity to allow the seed to run through the precision drill equipment.
With the Splitkote system, as oxygen and moisture pass through the clay based seed coat, the seed begins to germinate. Upon germination the seed expands, which forces the coating to split prior to sprouting.
No more moisture is required for this process than that of normal seed germination.
Pelleted seed is Ultrastrike® treated and then coated. Ultrastrike allows for the protection against springtail, Argentine Stem Weevil, aphids, Nysius and seedling diseases such as Fusarium, Pythium and Rhizoctonia solani.

Accurate seed placement, spacing and depth.
Consistency of plant spacing within a row leads to the crop’s ability to produce larger uniform bulbs which results in higher yield.
Shouldn’t be sown any deeper than 15 mm. 10 mm is the optimal depth.
Consistency of yield due to more uniform bulb spacing and improved growing conditions (space).
Recommended sowing rate is 90,000 seeds/ha or 22 cm seed spacing in 50 cm rows.

Fine firm seedbeds are vital for use of precision sown swedes at low sowing rates.
Precision drilling pelleted swedes should not be considered if you are not prepared for this amount of preparation.
Weed control is essential as initially there is a lot more space due to very low plant numbers associated with the sowing rates utilised in precision sown swedes.

The primary risk is large scale plant loss when there are very few spare plants to be lost.

With the lower number of seeds present, although there is not a higher risk of plant loss, the seed that is lost is more noticeable and has a bigger effect on the consistency and final result of the paddock.
All the current risks to a traditionally sown swede crop still exist, the main threats include the fungal diseases clubroot and dry rot as well as aphids and weed infestations.