Horsch Serto SC air seeder

This relatively simple machine, available in 10m and 12m (33ft and 40ft) widths, comprises a trailed chassis, 6,000 litres (212cu ft) twin hopper and double-disc openers arranged on a centre-split vertically-folding toolbar. Wavy disc tractor wheel track eradicators can be installed either side of the chassis and in work, the 2 transport wheels are retracted so that the weight of the drill is distributed to packer tyres extending across the full working width of the seeder. These are intended to consolidate the pre-prepared seedbed so that the openers get a good ‘bite’ into the surface for accurate seed placement. Horsch says the opener assemblies, which are carried on trailing coulter arms with adjustable pressure, have discs running on large bearings to cope with rough seedbed conditions as well as fine soils.

Twin outlet hopper

2 openers spaced 166 mm (6.5 in) apart are positioned behind each of the traction-grip packer tyres – similar to the arrangement on the Horsch Pronto drills – with an individual soft rubber press wheel mounted behind each opener to regulate sowing depth and provide good seed-to-soil contact. Each press wheel is mounted on the same trailing arm assembly as the openers, with vertical movement over surface undulations regulated by a link that forms a parallelogram with the coulter arm.

Seed flow from the twin outlet hopper is regulated by an electrically-driven Horsch metering system before air from a front-mounted fan carries it to a distribution head mounted on each of the coulter bar wing sections. The 50:50 hopper split can be used for all seed or to apply fertiliser ‘down the spout’ to give the germinated seed an early shot of nutrition.

A list price of around £160,000 is quoted for the 12m (40ft) version.