Rolling is a suprisingly important operation that helps the establishment and growth of crops in the early stages of their growth. However, timing is critical if benefits are to be achieved.

The most common and important use of rolling is immediately following the drilling of a crop. Rolling in this situation consolidates the soil around the young seed which helps make moisture and nutirents more available to the young plant. If rolling is not completed within a few days of the crop being drilled, the operation will have to wait for good conditions after the crop has emerged.

If the crop was not rolled after drilling, the rolling will wait until the crop is well established. In the case of some winter crops this could be the following spring. Rolling has to be carried out when the surface of the ground is dry. Rolling a crop may at first sight appear somewhat destructive and it is true that the crop suffers some damage. However, the subsequent benefits in terms of consolidation of the ground and a reduction in slug activity, make good the early set back to the crop.

The image depicts a rolled area on the right hand side of the image. Soil clods have broken down and the soil structure has firmed around the roots of the plant making the plant better able to utilise nutrients and moisture. By breaking down the clods on the surface rolling reduces the overall surface area of the field and this reduces moisture loss and soil erosion in times of drought.

Rolls consolidate the ground evenely, however tractors do not! In this image an additional set of wheels have been added to the tractor to reduce the pressure that the tractor exerts on the ground. If the farmer rolls the crop when conditions are too damp the tractor wheels will leave ruts that cause crop loss.

Rolls consist of either flat metal rolls like the one illustrated or of a series of heavy rings. Rolls are typically 20 feet wide.

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