GB2175185A

GB2175185A - A plough seeding and fertilising assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2175185A
Application number: GB08611783A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John William Ryan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1985-05-14
Filing date: 1986-05-14
Publication date: 1986-11-26
Also published as: GB8611783D0

Abstract

A seeding and fertilising assembly for a plough having a plough shank 10 which extends generally vertically downward into a soil layer, the assembly includes a fertiliser duct 18 blade means 19 and a seed duct 20, with the fertiliser duct terminating at a predetermined position below the surface of the soil and behind the shank, and the seed duct terminating a position above the lower end of the fertiliser duct so that the seed is located above the fertiliser. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A plough seeding and fertilising assembly The present invention relates to ploughs and more particularly but not exclusively to seeding and fertilising apparatus suitable for use with the plough described in Australian Patent Applications Nos 38716/78,52823/78 and 90262/82.

Traditionally, where seeding is carried out in conjunction with a fertilising function, the fertiliser is usually delivered to a position adjacent the seed with the seed itself being positioned relatively shallow in respect of depth.

The above described conventional seeding and fertilising methods suffer from the disadvantage that the seed and new growth resulting from the germination thereof is often damaged (burnt) by the fertiliser. Additionally, the fertiliser is not positioned so as to encourage root development since the root system of the resulting plant is encouraged to spread laterally rather than to penetrate deep into the soil.

It is the object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate the above disadvantages.

There is disclosed herein a seeding and fertilising assemblyfora plough having a shankto extend downwardly into the soil over which the plough passes and having a leading and a trailing portion relative to the normal direction of travel of the shank through the soil, said assembly including a fertiliser duct to extend downwardly behind said shank and to terminate at a position within said soil so that seed delivered therethrough is located above fertiliser delivered into said soil through said fertiliser duct, and blade means located below the terminating position of said seed duct to provide a seed bed for said seed.

A preferred form of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings; wherein: Fig. 1 is a schematic side elevation of a plough shank with a seeding and fertilising combination attached thereto; Fig. 2 is a schematic rear end elevation of the shank and seeding and fertilising combination of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a schematic section top plan view of the shank and seeding and fertilising assembly of Fig.1 sectioned along the line 3.3.

In Figs. 1 to 3 there is schematically depicted a shank 10 attached to the frame of a plough by means of a carrier 11. It should be appreciated that the shank 10 may be directly coupled to the frame of the plough or alternatively coupled to the frame via a jump mechanism. Stili further, the shank could be attached to a trailing arm assembly to aid in maintaining the lower end of the shank at a predetermined soil depth.

The shank 10 has a rear portion 12 providing lobes 13 and 14 which are engaged by a clamp assembly 15. The clamp assembly 15 includes two clamp plates 16 through which a bolt 17 passes to fix the plate 16 in a clamping mannerto the trailing portion 12. The plates 16 secure a fertilising conduit 18 to the trailing portion 12. The conduit 18 runs downwardly behind the rear of the shank 10 so as to deliver fertiliser to a predetermined position behind the shank 10. More particularly, in operation, the shank 10 creates a cavity adjacent its trailing portion 12 within which the fertiliser is delivered.

Accordingly, the fertiliser is delivered to a position substantially below the terminating position of the conduit 18.

Also engaged with the trailing portion 12 is a seed blade 19 through which the conduit 18 passes or is provided with an aperture through which the fertiliser may pass. The blade 19 is generally horizontal, but is inclined to the horizontal by an acute angle so as to extend rearwardly upward.

Extending downwardly behind the conduit 18 is a seed conduit 20 which terminates at a predetermined position adjacent the blade 19.

Preferably the conduit 20 would be fixed to the blade 19 so as to extend therethrough or alternatively the blade 19 could be provided with an aperture through which the seed may pass.

Accordingly, the seed delivered into the soil through the conduit 20 passes through the blade 19 to be delivered to a position below the blade 19.

Attached to the blade 19 is a deflector plate 21 which engages the seed to deflect the seed transversely of the normal direction of travel of the shank 10 through the soil. The seed would be delivered to the left and right hand sides randomly so that the seed is spaced laterally of the shank 10.

The deflector plate 21 would be attached to the blade 19 via a bolt 22. As can be seen from Fig. 2, the deflector plate 22 is provided with a central ridge 23 to aid in deflection of the seed to the left and right hand sides of the shank 10.

In a modification of the above described preferred embodiment, the blade 19 could be attached in a pivoting manner in order to adjust to the direction of travel of the soil past the shank 10.

In operation of the above described shank 10 and seeding and fertilising combination, a plough would be provided with a number of shanks 10 and their associated digging points 24. A series of troughs of loosened soil would be created by the digging points 24, with the troughs separated by a series of ridges. This ridge and trough system would then direct water into the troughs. As the shank 10 passes through the soil, a cavity is created behind the shank 10 into which the fertiliser is delivered. Accordingly, the fertiliser is delivered to a position adjacent the lower extremity of the trough. At a position spaced rearwardly from the fertiliser conduit 18, the seed is delivered through the conduit 20 to impact against the deflector plate 21. The deflector plate 21 then locates the seed at transversely spaced locations upwardly in the trough relative to the position of the fertiliser. Still further, by having the blade 19 of triangular plan configuration, fine earth particles are directed underthe blade 19 to provide a fine seed bed into which the seeds are delivered.

The above described preferred embodiment has the advantage of locating the fertiliser substantially below the seed while spacing the seeds laterally.

This enhances plant growth since the germinated seed would not be exposed to the fertiliser until it was well established and, additionally, by having the fertiliser spaced below the seed, the plant roots are encouraged to grow down into the soil where moisture is retained.

Claims

1.A A seeding and fertilising assembly for a plough having a shank to extend downwardly into the soil over which the plough passes and having a leading and a trailing portion relative to the normal direction of travel of the shank through the soil, said assembly including a fertiliser duct to extend downwardly behind said shank and to terminate at a position within said soil so that seed delivered therethrough is located above fertiliser delivered into said soil through said fertiliser duct, and blade means located below the terminating position of said seed duct to provide a seed bed for said seed.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said blade means is a blade which extends substantially horizontally from the rear of the shank.

3. The assembly of claim 2 wherein said blade is slightiy rearwardly upwardly inciined at an acute angle.

4. The assembly of claim 2 or 3 wherein said blade is of a generally triangular configuration with the sides thereof diverging rearwardly relative to the normal direction of travel of the blade through the soil.

5. The assembly of any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein said fertiliser duct extends through said blade means or said blade means is provided with an aperture so that said fertiliser may fall beneath said blade means, and said seed duct terminates generally at the same height as said blade means.

6. The assembly of any one of claims 1 to 5 further including a deflector plate located below the terminating end of said seed duct and against which seed impacts to be distributed by said plate.

7. The assembly of claim 6 wherein said plate has a central rib so that seed delivered from said seed duct is directed to both sides of said plate.

8. The assembly of claim 7 wherein said plate is attached to said blade means.

9. The assembly of any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein said blade means is adapted to be pivotally attached to said shank.

10. A seeding and fertilising assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

11. A plough having a seeding and fertilising assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 10.