Features of the Agrowdrill

The Agrowdrill is the most robust, versatile direct drill available in Australia. It maximises seeding versatility for pasture renovation, summer crops, cereals and legumes – from specialised direct drilling to traditional farming applications.

The Agrowdrill range is designed to meet a wide range of grazier and mixed farmer needs in cropping and pasture applications. Each machine is capable of doing a number of jobs which enables the capital investment on machinery to be minimized. Agrowdrills can be used in a range of one pass direct drilling and conventional cropping practices, and can handle most seed and fertiliser types.

There are a number of crucial features and options of the Agrowdrill which allow it to perform well in tough conditions. These include:

• Extremely rugged construction with plenty of frame weight to penetrate the soil.
• Flexi Coil spring release tyne with a high breakaway force capabilities. Two versions are available – 350lb and 550lb.
• Very strong coil tynes with a high breakaway force which maintain the crucial digging angle and position of the soil opener.
• The use of inverted “T” (Baker Boots) soil openers.
• Strong coulter design.
• Wide variety of soil openers to suit varying soil conditions.

Advantages of the Baker Boot

The following outlines essential differences between the Baker Boot, disc seeder and conventional tynes and openers used for direct drilling.

The Baker Boot

The action of the Baker Boot is quite different to the other openers used in direct drilling. The Baker Boot opener is capable of producing the most ideal environment for maximum seed germination and plant establishment, especially in drying soil conditions.

There is little smearing or compacting of the soil as the opener passes through the soil. Therefore the tiny roots of emerging young seedlings easily enter the soft earth and quickly support the plant. In drying conditions, the germination and plant growth obtained from direct drilling with the Baker Boot is radically superior to other openers.

The Baker Boot has no moving parts and the very narrow profile gives lower draft requirements, easier penetration and less wear.

The use of coulters minimises soil disturbance and improves trash handling.

Disc Openers

Single disc soil openers use only one disc, which is dished, mounted at an angle to the direction of travel.

The twin disc simply has 2 discs which form a “V” shaped slot. It does not have a vertical disc at the front to help slice through surface trash.

The triple disc uses a single disc at the front to cut through the trash and soil and 2 more discs behind, making a “V” shaped slot in the soil. The seed and fertiliser are dropped into slot.

The action of a disc slices the soil and moves it to one side. The seed is then dropped in the furrow or open groove created by the disc. The seed is covered by soil falling back into the furrow or often left in the open.

Some of the disadvantages of disc openers are as follows:

• Poor penetration in hard soil conditions.
• Unable to slice through very heavy surface trash.
• Often leave little or no soil cover over the seed.
• Can dry the soil out by bringing moist soil to the surface.
• Can smear the sides of the furrow in wet conditions.
• Many moving parts.

• Easily blocked up with mud.
• Cannot handle rocky conditions.
• Do not always put the seed into loose soil.

Seed placement in different furrow types