Mechanical principles and requirements of a DD

[mikep]

The main problem you would find with any powered system is that each Coulter needs its own power source if it is to have independent depth control!and contour following. It would need some weight to allow penetration in hard conditions in which case protection against stones would be difficult. Not all forces are vertical as you are moving unless you had a lightning fast action there would be angled entry and angled exit in which case you could end up with a trench.
Tull was right use a slot.

 

[DrWazzock]

Bit of an aside but you do wonder just how little you could get away with to establish a crop.

If ground conditions were ideal with a nice mulchy top, could you not just broadcast the seed and leave it at that. Grows well out of the back of the combine and OSR and stubble turnips do OK just broadcast if conditions are right.

When Mr Tull was around, the concept of traffic management, cover crops and building organic matter was not really considered so he had to design a drill to "cut it in".

Mother Nature doesn't use a drill.

"What about preems?" you say. Well the need for preems has probably arisen due to cultivation. With pre broadcasting glyphosate for a few years and no disturbance the preem might not be needed. This approach would favour same crop every year, just as Mother Nature does. Rarely in nature does a plant species get wiped out to be replaced by another every year. It builds a microcosm that suits it or it dies out completely and something more suited to the soil type takes over. With us its grass, so grass it shall be!

 

[DrWazzock]

Or develop a perennial wheat.

 

[mikep]

Or develop a perennial wheat.

Breed black grass to be useful would be my wish.
Some areas used to just broadcast and use sheep to plant so it needs very little but rather you than me.

 

[jaan14141]

I got good example of not overthinking, last autumn we had good conditions after OSR, then i decided to drill all WW with no till even if i have only Väderstad Rapid 600s for the job. When the snow is melted then i will do more pictures of these fields.

https://scontent-fra3-1.xx.fbcdn.ne...=eed31c7b81810f2fd68900e0acf40ed9&oe=575BDA65