Knife applicator for applying liquid fertilizer in the ground

A knife applicator for a tillage implement to apply fertilizer into the ground, comprising:

• an upper mounting portion adapted for mounting on a shank member of said tillage implement to be removable therefrom;
• a lower furrow making portion including:
• a lower leading edge having a rounded tip to glide through the ground beneath the surface thereof to lift soil upwardly and outwardly in the creation of a furrow;
• and
• a generally vertical leading edge extending upwardly from said lower leading edge to said upper mounting portion;
• a fertilizer tube positioned behind said upper mounting portion and terminating at an end positioned above said lower leading edge to place fertilizer into the ground behind said lower leading edge;
• and
• a wedge member having wings positioned on opposing sides of said fertilizer tube to engage soil raised by said lower furrow making portion and forces said raised soil downwardly to seal said fertilizer within the soil.

A knife applicator for a tillage implement to apply fertilizer into the ground, comprising:

• an upper mounting portion adapted for mounting on a shank member of said tillage implement to be removable therefrom;
• a lower furrow making portion including:
• a lower leading edge having a rounded tip to glide through the ground beneath the surface thereof to lift soil upwardly and outwardly in the creation of a furrow;
• and
• a generally vertical leading edge extending upwardly from said lower leading edge to said upper mounting portion;
• and
• a fertilizer tube positioned behind said upper mounting portion and terminating at an end positioned above said lower leading edge to place fertilizer into the ground behind said lower leading edge, said lower leading edge extending rearwardly to terminate adjacent said end of said fertilizer tube to form a dirt shield preventing soil from entering into said end of said fertilizer tube.

A knife applicator for a tillage implement to apply fertilizer into the ground, the applicator comprising:

• an upper mounting portion adapted for mounting on a shank member of said tillage implement, the upper mounting portion including a lower forward end;
• a tip member secured to the lower forward end of the mounting portion and forming a convex upwardly facing surface that begins at a rounded lower leading edge tip and slopes upward toward the mounting portion;
• and
• a fertilizer tube positioned behind the upper mounting portion and terminating at an end positioned above the lower leading edge to place fertilizer into the ground behind the lower leading edge.