Independent Coulter Spacing

[Will7]

I was wondering why the majority of independent tine coulters are spaced at 250mm? The reasons I can think of are cost, trash flow, physically fitting the coulters in (I don't think this is a problem) and soil throw.

Does anyone have a definitive answer??

I would like them closer for blackgrass control and thought about bringing them down to 200mm. Any thoughts

Thanks

 

[dontknowanything]

It's a subjective question, so you're not going to get a definitive answer.

 

[Will7]

Or put more simply,
1) What is the over riding factor that makes manufacturers space independent tined coulters at 250mm?
2) Would the seeding depth be affected by soil throw too much if using a seedhawk opener at 200mm centres?

Thank you in advance

 

[dontknowanything]

Or put more simply,
1) What is the over riding factor that makes manufacturers space independent tined coulters at 250mm?
2) Would the seeding depth be affected by soil throw too much if using a seedhawk opener at 200mm centres?

Thank you in advance

1) Probably because its a round number
2) Dale drills use seed hawk openers at 125mm spacings

 

[York]

if you can find conclusive reasons why maize rows are generally 75 cm you might be able to get a conclusive answer for your question.
In the early 70's they where advocating 12.5 cm row spacing our of the same reason: earlier soil cover etc.. A researcher which was in it told me lately that this was the "Make up story" as the farmers had all done the switch from horse drawn seeders to tractor and the industry needed a new topic / incentive to get the farmers to get new drills.
Sorry, can it be that with a good soil cover, like a matt of 5 cm residue, we will eliminate the germination of Black grass? Why do not a home trial to role out a round bale right after the wheat drill has left the field and see what happens? role it out in the worst Black grass spot you have on that paddock. Even if no wheat germinates it will not bankrupt your farm.
York-Th.

 

[dontknowanything]

I would like them closer for blackgrass control and thought about bringing them down to 200mm. Any thoughts

Thanks

It depends on what camp you're in.

1) Close rows for quicker competition
2) Wider rows to leave more undisturbed soil, and stimulate less BG (or other weeds) to grow

Second option is going to work best with no-till.

 

[SilliamWhale]

Or put more simply,
1) What is the over riding factor that makes manufacturers space independent tined coulters at 250mm?
2) Would the seeding depth be affected by soil throw too much if using a seedhawk opener at 200mm centres?

Thank you in advance

trash flow i'd say. You may have to make another bank of coulters if you narrow the gap and which may cost more and be longer. Also most tine no till drills started life in Canada/Oz I expect where they are happy with such a spacing.

 

[LoamRanger]

Should we buy drills by working width, 250mm fits with 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 12m - any whole meter, even half. At a push 4.8m is v close to 4.75.
It would be a cynic who points out that strip til legs are at 333.3mm, also working into a per meter build. Other disc drills are sold at 166.66 mm. I'm sure this is just a happy coincidence

 

[dontknowanything]

Should we buy drills by working width, 250mm fits with 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 12m - any whole meter, even half. At a push 4.8m is v close to 4.75.
It would be a cynic who points out that strip til legs are at 333.3mm, also working into a per meter build. Other disc drills are sold at 166.66 mm. I'm sure this is just a happy coincidence

Whys that cynical? It would be pretty absurd to chose a spacing that wasn't divisible by either meters or feet?

 

[LoamRanger]

"I was wondering why the majority of independent tine coulters are spaced at 250mm? The reasons I can think of are cost, trash flow, physically fitting the coulters in (I don't think this is a problem) and soil throw." asked WIll7. (sorry dont know how to copy a quote) - I agree with you @dontknowanything , it would be pretty absurd, as you say to choose any other spacing - IF you are a manufacture thinking about COST. So @Will7 s first reason probably answers the question. Whereas surely we would all hope for any other reason as the answer.

 

[dontknowanything]

I agree with you @dontknowanything , it would be pretty absurd, as you say to choose any other spacing - IF you are a manufacture thinking about COST. So @Will7 s first reason probably answers the question. Whereas surely we would all hope for any other reason as the answer.

Don't think cost has anything to do with it

50cm
33.3cm
25cm
20cm
16.7cm
14.3cm
12.5cm
10cm

All of these are fractions of a meter, do you really think there would be an agronomic benefit to choosing something between these values? I don't believe 18.2cm would be better than 16.7cm for example.

 

[Clive]

I keep seeing wider rows do better here whenever we trial them

I'm very tempted to mod a 750a to 10"


I think the optimum spacing depends on your soils moisture holding capacity at grain fil so the answer is probably different for every farm

 

[dontknowanything]

I keep seeing wider rows do better here whenever we trial them

I'm very tempted to mod a 750a to 10"


I think the optimum spacing depends on your soils moisture holding capacity at grain fil so the answer is probably different for every farm

We will be drilling 40ha of wheat at 10" tomorrow

 

[Clive]

We will be drilling 40ha of wheat at 10" tomorrow

What with ?

 

[dontknowanything]

What with ?

Just our horsch. Will DD @ 10" then go back to normal for the rest of the wheat.

 

[Clive]

Just our horsch. Will DD @ 10" then go back to normal for the rest of the wheat.

What is normal horsch spacing ?

 

[dontknowanything]

What is normal horsch spacing ?

Well, legs are set at 10", but the normal duett coulter has two outlets, I think they are about 4" apart.

 

[Clive]

Well, legs are set at 10", but the normal duett coulter has two outlets, I think they are about 4" apart.

So 10" is a simple sae of new coulter ?

Unfortunately trying it on the 750 is a bit of a job just for a trial

 

[dontknowanything]

So 10" is a simple sae of new coulter ?

Unfortunately trying it on the 750 is a bit of a job just for a trial

You could block some pipes couldn't you, and try 13" rows?

I'm not convinced going over 8" is a good idea for yield reasons. Would like to be wrong though.

 

[Clive]

You could block some pipes couldn't you, and try 13" rows?

I'm not convinced going over 8" is a good idea for yield reasons. Would like to be wrong though.

13" is a bit wide imo but if we get time I will try a few runs