Efficient fertilization
using a hoe &
pneumatic seeding box
Excessive energy prices – what can be done?
The cost of fertilizer is going through the roof, and farmers are just as limited on time as ever. A well-planned fertilization strategy comes into focus, which means that in future, fertilization needs to be both efficient and effective. Hoeing technology can play a pivotal role in this.
Fertilizing and weed control in just one pass
Spotlight on row-crop cultivators in conventional farming. The classic farm management strategy is to use a two-disc fertilizer spreader for fertilizing and a plant protection sprayer or row-crop cultivator for weed control. But those who want to work efficiently use clever combinations. In addition to cleanly undercutting weeds, the shares on a row-crop cultivator also effectively incorporate fertilizer into the soil, which is a top priority for urea fertilizers that do not contain a urease inhibitor. They can also encourage row crops such as maize to grow with one pass. This is because row-crop cultivators not only mechanically control weeds, they also loosen up the upper soil layer, which increases nitrogen mineralisation and promotes gas substitution in the soil. It also makes sense from an arable point of view to combine nitrogen fertilization at the four-leaf stage with a pass of row-crop cultivation. Maize needs nitrogen the most just before and during flowering, however, a later dose of fertilizer can delay maturation in autumn and the nitrogen applied is no longer completely absorbed by the plant.
Nitrogen efficiency instead of high application rates
Input prices are higher than they have been for a long time, which has forced us to focus on using our available fertilizer efficiently. To ensure the nitrogen fertilizer we apply actually reaches the plants, fertilizer losses need to be reduced to a minimum. Although losses from leaching can be significantly reduced by applying fertilizer at the right time, outgassing losses can only be prevented by incorporating fertilizer immediately or injecting it straight into the ground (depot fertilization). Using a row-crop cultivator to incorporate fertilizer unlocks many other advantages as mentioned above.
The advantages at a glance:
- Reduction in N outgassing
- Same yield with lower nutrient quantities – higher N efficiency
- Two work processes in one: fertilizing and hoeing
- Increased N mineralisation
- Improved gas substitution in the soil
Micro-granular compounds at the sowing stage
Whether you’re applying micronutrients, fungicides, insecticides or molluscicides (snail bait), they can all be distributed in granular form at the sowing stage using specially designed granulate spreaders. On the one hand, they can protect seedlings, and on the other, they can provide the young plants with key nutrients. Micro-granular compounds can either be spread on a broad scale (e.g. fungicides, insecticides and molluscicides) or deposited directly in the seed furrow (50:50 placement) along with the seed (micro- and macronutrients). When fertilizers are placed directly in the seed furrow, they must have a high plant tolerance level in order not to damage the seedling.
“From an arable and economic point of view, it makes sense to combine fertilization with hoeing or harrowing.”
Use Einböck equipment to spread fertilizer efficiently
The pneumatic seeder – fertilization model
The fertilization model of the P-BOX-STI pneumatic seeder with a 300 or 500-litre tank is specially manufactured in a robust, corrosion resistant material for spreading various types of fertilizer. The eight outlets ensure extreme flexibility and options for combining with a diverse range of implements. This enables the P-BOX-STI to quickly switch between seed drill, row-crop cultivator, weeder or and various tillage implements (such as blade cultivator, universal cultivator and disc harrows). These combinations enable granulated fertilizer and plant protection products as well as catch crops, undersown crops and grass seed to be spread efficiently and above all economically.
JUMBO-SEED front tank for large fields
To enable you to apply fertilizer efficiently and economically even when working with larger working widths and high spread rates, we developed the JUMBO-SEED front tank. The core unique selling point of the front tank is its four outlets. The 1600l fertilizer tank is also controlled electrically from the tractor cab via the well-known SPEED-TRONIC operating terminal.
SPEED-TRONIC: Simple and intuitive operation
The user-friendly, computer-driven metering function regulates the spread rate in line with the actual speed of travel via the SPEED-TRONIC operating terminal in the tractor. The required speed data can be recorded via various sensors or via the 7-pin signal socket on the tractor. Various types of fan can be mounted depending on the working width and spread rate.
- Automatic calibration test
- Pre-metering via headland management
- Intuitive coloured menu navigation
- 5-inch display with appealing design and IP65 protection rating
- Protected plug connections
- Physical buttons so the implement can be operated ‘blindly’
- One cable between the seeder and the operating unit
This and many other advantages make the pneumatic seeding box P-BOX-STI and the front tank JUMBO-SEED, both with SPEED-TRONIC controls, a completely reliable, accurate and practical seeder.
Seeding of undersown crops
In addition to spreading fertilizer, the P-BOX-STI and the front tank JUMBO-SEED can also be used to deposit seeds for undersown crops e.g. in maize during the final pass of hoeing. Undersown crops fix nutrients, improve the soil fabric, protect against erosion, suppress weeds and increase the field’s biodiversity both above and below ground. They also make the ground easier to drive over during harvesting. Turfgrasses, white clover, black medic, mustard, camelina, perko, grass-clover leys, red clover and lucerne are all particularly suited to this. When the main crop is harvested, the undersown crop is suddenly no longer under shade. The undersown crop then starts to vigorously bulk up, enabling it to establish a nice catch crop without any tillage.
“Undersown crops accumulate nutrients in the soil, activate the soil life, protect against erosion, suppress weeds, form humus, increase biodiversity and much more.”
Know-how. News. Information.
News
