Wheat, as one of the most important food crops in the world, plays a pivotal role in agricultural production. Sowing is a key link in the wheat growth cycle, and post-sowing field management measures, especially the implementation of rolling operations and their specific methods, have a direct impact on wheat emergence rate, seedling emergence rate and even final yield. However, if the rolling operation is carried out after wheat sowing and the strength and method are not properly controlled, it may bring a series of problems that are not conducive to the growth of seedlings.
First, let's look at the problem of increased soil compactness. When wheat is milled after sowing, the soil becomes more compact due to mechanical pressure. Theoretically, moderate soil compaction is good for water retention and support, but excessive compaction can inhibit seed germination. An excessively tight soil environment can limit the effective contact between seeds and water, thus affecting the vital germination process of seed water absorption and expansion. At the same time, compact soil can also hinder radicle growth downward, so that seeds cannot obtain sufficient nutrients to support their normal development, resulting in reduced emergence rate and longer emergence time.
Secondly, seed depth change is also a factor that cannot be ignored. Under improper rolling operations, wheat seeds can be squeezed into too deep layers of soil. For seeds, the appropriate sowing depth is crucial, too deep will lead to the difficulty of seedlings to emerge, consume a lot of energy, and may even lead to seedlings unable to break through the soil, which will seriously affect the emergence rate. Conversely, if the seeds are squeezed to the surface of the soil, the seedlings are susceptible to adverse environmental conditions such as drought and low temperature due to the lack of adequate soil cover protection, which will also reduce the emergence rate.
In addition, excessive force or improper operation during the rolling process may directly cause damage to seedlings that have germinated or are about to be unearthed. This physical damage is often irreversible, and it is very likely that the damaged seedlings will not be able to return to normal growth, and then the phenomenon of dead seedlings will occur, which will further reduce the overall emergence rate and yield.
Therefore, in the field management practice after wheat sowing, it is generally not recommended to carry out large-scale rolling operations. A more desirable strategy is to complete a meticulous soil preparation and leveling work prior to planting to ensure that the planting depth is appropriate, neither too deep nor too shallow, and that the soil is loose and breathable, with good aeration and water retention. Such a soil environment can create a good condition for wheat seeds to germinate and seedlings to grow, thereby improving the emergence rate, promoting the healthy growth of wheat, and laying a solid foundation for a bumper harvest. This also reminds us of the importance of scientific and sophisticated field management techniques and methods to improve crop yield and quality in modern agricultural production.