Work Machines Incorporating Fertilizer Opener Assemblies, Fertilizer Opener Assemblies Therefor, and Methods of Operating Work Machines

An apparatus comprising:

• a main frame;
• an opener frame coupled to the main frame for movement relative thereto;
• and
• a cutting implement assembly coupled to the opener frame to selectively form trenches in the soil for the deposition of fertilizer that comprises
• an actuator,
• a cutting element coupled to the actuator and driven for movement by the actuator between a deployed position, in which the cutting element makes contact with the soil to form trenches therein, and a stowed position, in which the cutting element is raised above the soil, and
• a control system including a first sensor to provide first sensor data indicative of a depth of the cutting element in the soil when the cutting element is in the deployed position and a controller communicatively coupled to the first sensor.

An apparatus comprising:

• a main frame;
• an opener frame coupled to the main frame for movement relative thereto;
• and
• a cutting implement assembly coupled to the opener frame to selectively form trenches in the soil for the deposition of fertilizer that comprises
• an actuator,
• a cutting element coupled to the actuator and driven for movement by the actuator between a deployed position, in which the cutting element makes contact with the soil to form trenches therein, and a stowed position, in which the cutting element is raised above the soil, and
• a drive mechanism coupled to the actuator and the cutting element that includes a first drive link, a second drive link, and a cutting element guide link that at least partially cooperate to maintain an angular orientation of the cutting element relative to the soil.

An apparatus comprising:

• a main frame;
• an opener frame coupled to the main frame for movement relative thereto;
• and
• a cutting implement assembly coupled to the opener frame to selectively form trenches in the soil for the deposition of fertilizer,
• wherein:
• the cutting implement assembly includes an attachment kit to attach the cutting implement assembly to the opener frame, and
• the attachment kit includes a mount plate arranged in contact with the opener frame and a mount bracket extending outwardly from the mount plate that is affixed to the mount plate and an actuator of the cutting implement assembly.