25th March, Ellecom (the Netherlands)
During this day, Mister Houwers of the "Agrowin" company (a research office specializing in meadow management) has explained how to manage meadows and to choose the appropriate sort of grass.
After that, manufacturers of seed drills and aerators gave a few words of explanation about their machines.
The represented brands were Vredo, Evers, He-Va and JOSKIN.
Among these machines, JOSKIN's was the only one to really suit farmers. The others were indeed more contractor-oriented.
Given about fifty farmers were present, the demonstration of the JOSKIN EBR4S aerator of 6,00 m with Delimbe pneumatic seed drill was of course very interesting.
It results from the demonstration of the different machines that JOSKIN's one, with its weeding harrow and scrapers, acts better on adventice species that those of other brands.
Mr. Houwers also insisted on the fact that the Cambridge rollers spoil the weeding quality if they are directly placed after the harrow. They indeed directly push the weeds back into the ground, after their uprooting, where they can take root again.
The best result is obtained when the grass is rolled 4 to 5 days after the weeding operation, when the uprooted plants are dry.
Since the JOSKIN machine has no rollers, the outcome was very positive. For a better germination, it is therefore better to roll the meadow 4 to 5 days after having worked with the JOSKIN aerator combined with the Delimbe seeder in order to let the grains grow in the ground. The harvest will in this way be more abundant.
If it is raining, it is not necessary to roll the meadow.
Mister Houwers also mentioned the fact that it is preferable to sow two small doses than a big one. As a result, the growth of the grains will be improved and weeds will be uprooted two times. There also will be less competition between weeds and the sowed graas.
Overseeding meadows combined with uprooting weeds is certainly advised in order to reduce the pressure of weeds and the spraying costs, as well as to improve the output! When there is more grass, there is less room for weeds and nutrients can be optimally consumed in the ground through the grass roots.
Also note that this machine can sow cabbages, clover, raddish, cereals, etc.