Work machines incorporating fertilizer opener assemblies, fertilizer opener assemblies therefor, and methods of operating work machines

A fertilizer opener assembly for a work machine including a chassis and a frame coupled to the chassis for movement relative thereto, the fertilizer opener assembly comprising:

• an actuator that is extendable and retractable to vary a length of the actuator;
• a cutting implement to selectively form trenches in the soil for the deposition of fertilizer, wherein the cutting implement is movable relative to the soil between a cutting position, in which the cutting implement makes contact with the soil to form trenches therein, and a transport position, in which the cutting implement is raised above the soil;
• a positional adjustment linkage coupled to the actuator and the cutting implement such that operation of the actuator drives movement of the cutting implement between the cutting position and the transport position through the positional adjustment linkage, and
• a control system including at least one sensor to provide sensor data indicative of a force applied by the actuator to the cutting implement and a controller communicatively coupled to the at least one sensor,
• wherein extension of the actuator drives movement of the cutting implement through the positional adjustment linkage toward the transport position, and wherein retraction of the actuator drives movement of the cutting implement through the positional adjustment linkage toward the cutting position.

A method of operating a work machine including a chassis, a frame coupled to the chassis for movement relative thereto, and a fertilizer opener assembly coupled to the frame to selectively form trenches in the soil for the deposition of fertilizer, the method comprising:

• directing, by a controller, movement of the frame relative to the chassis;
• directing, by the controller, movement of a cutting implement of the fertilizer opener assembly independently of movement of the frame relative to the chassis, wherein directing movement of the cutting implement independently of movement of the frame relative to the chassis includes providing, by the controller, control signals to an actuator of the fertilizer opener assembly to cause extension or retraction of the actuator such that the cutting implement moves between a cutting position, in which the cutting implement makes contact with the soil to form trenches therein, and a transport position, in which the cutting implement is raised above the soil;
• directing, by the controller, movement of the cutting implement to the cutting position independently of movement of the frame relative to the chassis;
• and
• determining, by the controller, a depth of the cutting implement in the soil when the cutting implement is in the cutting position.