Method and apparatus for planting seed crops
OwnerBilly R. Masten, Gaylen R. Stukey +1inventors
InventorsBilly R. Masten, Gaylen R. Stukey, Leland P. Stukey
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A process and apparatus for controlling the moisture content of soil deposited in a furrow during seed planting comprises tilling the soil to an adjustable depth to expose soil corresponding to a reference soil moisture setting, selecting covering soil from the exposed soil having a moisture content that matches the moisture content of the reference soil moisture setting, and depositing the covering soil over the seed.
Claims19
During operation of a planter implement having at least one coulter disc, an adjustable ploughshare, a seed dispensing device, and first and second furrow closing discs disposed along a common chassis, an improved process for covering seed with soil having a set moisture content, comprising the steps of:
- associating a soil moisture content setting for germinating seed with a reference soil conductivity;
- loosening soil to an adjustable depth with said at least one coulter disc to provide exposed soil for planting seed;
- creating a furrow to a preset planting depth with said ploughshare and planting said seed in said furrow;
- measuring the conductivity of said soil between said first and second furrow closing discs;
- controlling said adjustable depth corresponding to said reference soil conductivity;
- and
- covering seed planted in said furrow with exposed soil from said loosening step having said set moisture content.
Apparatus for covering seed dispensed into a furrow with soil selected according to a soil moisture content setting for germination, comprising:
- a planter chassis;
- a coulter adjustable to excavate a soil surface along a path to a depth corresponding to a soil moisture setting and depositing said excavated soil adjacent said path;
- a ploughshare for forming a furrow in said soil surface to a preset depth appropriate to the seed to be dispensed;
- a control circuit responsive to said soil moisture setting for adjusting said coulter to said depth;
- and
- a covering member assembly for urging soil excavated by said coulter and having a soil moisture content approximately equal to said soil moisture content setting over said seed;
- wherein
- said coulter, control circuit, and covering member assembly are supported by said planter chassis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.