Recently, the market for direct seeding devices with discs has seen the emergence of a new trend with mounted seeding booms combined with a front hopper. A category of seeders which, until now, was dominated by trailed models.
Among the new arrivals in this niche: Horsh with theAvatar SL or even English Horizon Agriculture with the MDSX. These machines include a mounted chassis without hopper (Horsch offers an 800 liter rear hopper). Although the architecture of the disc seeding units does not change, they are however mounted in a single row, unlike certain trailed seeders.
« THE elements in one row aim to facilitate sowing on simplified preparationsexplains Florent Hugon, tillage and sowing support at Horsch. In fact, they limit the phenomenon of stepping (burying the sowing line of the first row of elements by the second row of elements) at working speeds exceeding 7-8 km/h. The idea, with the Avatar SL, is to offer a seeding ramp for installation in a simplified manner, behind soil preparation. It’s also about being able to carry out direct sowing opportunistically. »
Privileged TCS
Through this extended variation, the firm priority given to seedlings in TCS, more than in SD. In fact, it indicates that 70 % of the use of Avatars in France is done using simplified preparations.
With this ported configuration, we find there the advantages of the front hopper : a versatility with the possibility of using the hopper for other applications, a good rear visibility on the seeder or even a balance of masses between front and rear. The carried side also provides additional maneuverability. However, these tools are for the most part limited to a maximum working width of 6 m.
What pressure on the sowing elements?
Chez Horsch, the pressure on the sowing element is less strong on the carried version than on the trailed version. It goes up to 350 kg per element on the trailed Avatar and up to 240 kg for the Avatar SL.
To obtain this earthing pressure on the carried model, a system of hydraulic load transfer is proposed. In addition to the machine’s own weight, part of the tractor’s weight can be transferred to the sowing elements, to facilitate passage in difficult conditions.
Horizon Agriculture indicates, for its part, up to 300 kg of pressure on both trailed and carried models. Here, the sowing element is mounted on a parallelogram. A load transfer system also equips the MDSX as an option.
A load transfer system is offered on these mounted devices to increase the earthing pressure.
© Horizon Agriculture
Two products at once
At Horsch as at Horizon Agriculture, these carried equipment can receive mass blocks on the ends of the frame. On theAvatar SLof the additional masses of 336 kg can be placed on the machine. They increase penetration capacity in more difficult conditions.
These seeders are also capable to bring two products at oncelike fertilizer. At Horsch, fertilizer and seed meet again in the same seed row. At the same time, the German firm offers a selective distribution of seed descents. It is then possible to sow only every other row (every 50 cm) or to plant two different species every other row and at two distinct depths.
The MDSX can also manage two different products, on the same seeding line or every other row. On the power side, 10 hp more per meter linear are announced to take a Avatar dragged 6 m compared to a worn the same width (210 hp vs 150 hp). Horizon Agriculture recommends 150 hp for its MDSX in 6 m and 180 to 220 hp for the 6 m trailed DSX.
Working widths up to 6 m
The price of a Avatar SL 6mcombined with a Partner FT front hopper and associated with the Sprinter tine seed baralso in 6 m, is announced at 150.000 euros. An Avatar dragged 6 m costs around 12,000 euros more.
Chez Horsch, l’Worn avatar is available in 4 and 6 m working width. The spacing between rows is 25 cm. There are no technical differences on the sowing element between the trailed and mounted versions.
Special feature of sowing units arranged in a row, they can benefit from star residue chasers. An option which is also found on trailed Avatars from 8 to 12 m, but not on models with double row of sowing units, from 3 to 8 m with row spacing of 16.7 cm. Horizon Agriculture offers its MDSX mounted seeder in widths of 3, 4, 4,8, 5 and 6 mfor spacings of 22 or 25 cm.
Although the architecture of the disc seeding units does not change, they are however mounted in a single row, unlike certain trailed seeders. © Horsch
More versatility
If at the level of the sowing elements, these mounted designs differ little from their trailed counterparts, they aim for more versatility in cultivation techniques and in the valorization of the front hopper on other activities. If it is already present on the farm, the latter can reduce the cost of the investment, particularly compared to a trailed seeder.
Note thatAgrisem also recently unveiled a mounted version of its Boss direct disc seeder. This extends up to 7 m working width (depending on configuration). The device is available with one or two rows of sowing elements.
>>> Also read: Agrisem’s Boss direct disc seeder becomes mounted
