Yorkshire-based seed drill supplier, KRM, has launched its new seed drill with the Sola Aura front hopper and Seed Ramp rear mounted tine coulter frame.
The design of the new 2000 litre drill allows growers to sow companion crops or grain and fertiliser simultaneously. it can be supplied for a single product with a single metering unit or with two metering units to provide ½ width shut off. The Aura can also be supplied as a split hopper where 1000 litres of two separate products can be accommodated and individually metered. In this configuration it can sow either two types of seed for those wishing to sow a companion crop; or seed and fertiliser can be applied.
The machine benefits from the stainless steel metering units see on the Ares-P and SM-P drills and also includes the same ISObus control. The hopper is pressurised with a sealed lid to ensure a consistent and even seed slow to the metering unit from hopper full to empty, on level seedbeds or when working on slopes.
Each Sola developed metering system is electrically driven with ISObus control of all functions of the drill including 2+2 tramline shut-off and monitoring of forward speed. The Aura is ready prepared for auto on/off section control at headlands and for variable seed rate. Both left and right half width shut-off is available as an option, which can be controlled manually or automatically by GPS section control.
Calibration of the Aura is straight-forward allowing the operator, from one initial calibration, to quickly and accurately set the desired sowing rate. A button activates the metering unit to collect an amount of seed and by entering this into the ISObus, the metering unit is then automatically set precisely to the rate required. A high-speed airstream provided by a hydraulically driven fan carries the seed from the metering unit to each coulter.
The Seed Ramp on the rear of the tractor features a strong space frame chassis to save weight, allowing use with a lower horsepower tractor so saving costs and reducing overall weight on the seedbed. The Aura incorporates the same heavy duty SM tine coulter as the SM-P and SM1909 drills which will work directly into unmoved soil, into min-till seedbeds and into ploughed land. The SM coulter has a narrow, rigid tine angled forward for positive penetration with minimum soil disturbance. The tine is tungsten carbide tipped for maximum tine working life in the hardest ground conditions. Sowing widths of 4m, 4.8m, 5m, 6m and 7m are available to match tractor and tramline width requirements. The seed ramp folds hydraulically to 3m for safe and fast transport between fields. The Seed Ramp can be fitted with one or two distribution heads and piped according to the customers’ requirements.
The coulters are mounted in four rows at an effective row spacing of 16cm (25cm spacing is available as an option) with a stagger of 40 cm to ensure free movement of trash or large stones. Each coulter mounting incorporates an auto reset spring to protect against damage from hidden obstructions below the soil surface.
Following the coulters is a combination following harrow of angled and straight tines to ensure the seedbed is left level and firmed for good soil/seed contact and to retain moisture in dry conditions. Large 400mm diameter, rear fold disc markers provide a clear mark for accurate bout matching in difficult seedbeds and incorporate a safety break back system.
Some farmers are saving costs by using Tine Drills for direct drilling, but are also adopting this technique for cereal growing to minimise soil movement in the seedbed for blackgrass control. Tine Drills avoid the need for heavy disc systems required to ensure penetration in hard conditions and avoid the risk of smearing and not always covering the seed in wetter soil conditions.
KRM will be exhibiting the new Aura front hopper and Seed Ramp at the Cereals Event in June 2023.
