German tillage equipment manufacturer Horsch has widened its drill portfolio, along with adding new features to its sprayer and cultivator range. Richard Bradley reports.
Showcased on its new Serto and folding Express combination-drill, Horsch has developed a new seed distribution head which allows each outlet to be shut off individually. Operated through an IsoBus controller, the system can be used for automatic shutoff via GPS.
Available on its range of universal seed drills, Horsch says the system allows overlapping on short-work and at headlands to be reduced, which in turn should help cut over application of seed and fertiliser. The firm also says that any tramline combination can be adapted to, in order to suit different tyre and track widths. To maintain seeding rates as coulters are shut off, Horsch says seed metering is automatically adjusted.
To demonstrate its RowControl sectional shut off system, Horsch has mapped and drilled its family name into a field leading up to its Schwandorf factory, Bavaria (above).
New standalone Serto drill
Offering wide widths to drill into prepared seedbeds, Horsch has developed a new standalone seed drill.
Effectively taking the rear section from its Pronto min-till drill, the new Serto SC uses tyre packers across its full width, with each tyre running before two double-disc seeding coulters. Consolidation is provided by a rubber press wheel following each coulter. Two pairs of wavy discs can be specified to eradicate vehicle tracks, and the firm reckons forward speeds of more than 10kph are possible.
Thanks to the use of two individual metering systems, the Serto's 6,000-litre split-hopper can be used to apply seed only or a mixture of seed and fertiliser, and a 300-litre micro-granular hopper can also be specified.
Available in 10 and 12m working widths, prices for a 12m model are expected to be in the region of £140,000.
Serto pic
Folding Express combi-drill
Expanding its range of rigid power-harrow combination drills, Horsch has developed its first hydraulically folding version.
Currently only available in a 4m working width, the firm's KR power-harrow vertically folds in two sections, with 14 rotors across its working width. Consolidation is via either the firm's trapeze ring roller or toothed packer, with the same double-disc coulters and rubber depth wheel as used on its rigid Express drills. Cultivation depth is set via packer roller, with hydraulic adjustment available as an option.
The front-mounted 1,600-litre hopper provides two equal compartments for seed only or seed and fertiliser, with two separate metering systems to cater for the latter. Each of the drill's folding sections feature individual distribution heads allowing half-width shut off; this can be automatically controlled via GPS.
Express pic
Narrower Avatar direct drill
Following the launch of its Avatar direct drill in 6m working width, the firm has added rigid 3m and hydraulically folding 4m working widths to its range.
Suited to drilling into prepared seedbeds, stubble or heavy cover crops, Horsch says the Avatar is a low-disturbance drill with two staggered rows of single-disc coulters. Coulter-depth is set via a rubber wheel mounted next to the opening disc, with consolidation via steel or rubber following press wheels.
For applications where fertiliser and/or companion crops are required, the Avatar's standard 2,800-litre single hopper can be ousted for a split 3,800-litre unit, which benefits from separate metering systems for each compartment. A further 200-litre micro-granular applicator is also available.
Avatar pic
Sprayer central tyre inflation system
Aiming to reduce compaction, Horsch is developing an automatic tyre inflation system for its range of Leeb trailed sprayers.
Named Auto Tyre Pressure (ATP), the system monitors sprayer fill level, and once in work or transport mode, tyre pressures can be automatically adjusted within parameters set through the in-cab terminal. Horsch says this allows suitable pressures for high-speed road travel, and tyre footprint in the field can be maximised and maintained, with pressures lowered as the sprayer empties to reduce compaction.
