Abstract: An agricultural implement for delivering ammonia gas to soil includes a soil cutting device for forming a furrow in the soil to be fertilized, a closing device trailing the cutting device for closing the furrow, and an ammonia gas delivery tube extending downwardly into the furrow between the cutting device and the closing device, and then extending rearwardly along the furrow to the closing device for delivering ammonia gas onto at least one wall of the furrow rearwardly of the trailing end of the cutting device and of the leading end of the closing device. A discharge nozzle is mounted on the trailing end of the ammonia gas delivery tube for discharging ammonia gas onto the bottom and/or sides of the furrow. The ammonia gas delivery tube and the discharge nozzle may be made of non-metallic material, such as polymeric material, to reduce or avoid freezing of soil and moisture on the implement.

Abstract: An agricultural implement for tilling at least a strip of soil to be planted includes a tillage device for penetrating and tilling a strip of soil and displacing soil and residue upwardly, and a depth control device laterally offset from the centerline of the strip of soil and mounted for rotation about an axis of rotation located rearwardly of the tillage device and positioned to intercept soil and residue displaced upwardly by the tillage device. Multiple tines mounted on the depth control device extend laterally away from the depth control device toward the centerline to intercept a portion of the soil and residue displaced upwardly by the tillage device. The tines are attached to the depth control device only at one end of each tine, and the free ends of the tines terminate laterally short of the centerline and vertically between the elevations of the upper and lower edges of the depth control device.

Abstract: An agricultural implement for tilling at least a strip of soil to be planted includes a tillage device for penetrating and tilling a strip of soil and displacing soil and residue upwardly, and a depth control device laterally offset from the centerline of the strip of soil and mounted for rotation about an axis of rotation located rearwardly of the tillage device and positioned to intercept soil and residue displaced upwardly by the tillage device. Multiple tines mounted on the depth control device extend laterally away from the depth control device toward the centerline to intercept a portion of the soil and residue displaced upwardly by the tillage device. The tines are attached to the depth control device only at one end of each tine, and the free ends of the tines terminate laterally short of the centerline and vertically between the elevations of the upper and lower edges of the depth control device.

Abstract: An agricultural implement is directed to delivering multiple fluids to the soil of an agricultural field. The implement includes a frame for carrying a soil cutting device and a closing device. The cutting device forms a furrow in the soil and the closing device, which trails the cutting device, closes the furrow. A fluid delivery tine is mounted on the frame and extends downwardly into the furrow between the cutting device and the closing device. The tine has a pair of coaxial tubes, including an outer tube and an inner tube, wherein the coaxial tubes form an outer passageway between the outer tube and the inner tube for delivering a first fluid toward the furrow. The inner tube has an internal passageway for delivering a second fluid toward the furrow.

Abstract: An agricultural implement for delivering ammonia gas to soil includes a soil cutting device for forming a furrow in the soil to be fertilized, a closing device trailing the cutting device for closing the furrow, and an ammonia gas delivery tube extending downwardly into the furrow between the cutting device and the closing device, and then extending rearwardly along the furrow to the closing device for delivering ammonia gas onto at least one wall of the furrow rearwardly of the trailing end of said cutting device and of the leading end of said closing device. A discharge nozzle is mounted on the trailing end of the ammonia gas delivery tube for discharging ammonia gas onto the bottom and/or sides of the furrow. The ammonia gas delivery tube and the discharge nozzle may be made of non-metallic material, such as polymeric material, to reduce or avoid freezing of soil and moisture on the implement.

Abstract: An agricultural row-clearing unit for use with an agricultural row unit attached to a towing frame hitched to a tractor comprises an attachment frame adapted to be rigidly connected to the towing frame, a support element having a leading end pivotally connected to the attachment frame for vertical pivoting movement relative to the attachment frame, at least one agricultural tool mounted on the trailing end of the support element, and a hydraulic cylinder connected between the attachment frame and the support element for pivoting the support element around the pivotal connection to the attachment frame.

Abstract: An agricultural implement for clearing and tilling soil to be planted includes a residue-clearing sub-assembly including a first rotatable coulter wheel and at least one toothed wheel mounted for rotation about an axis located rearwardly of the axis of rotation of the first coulter wheel of forward portion of the toothed wheel overlaps a rear portion of the first coulter wheel. A tillage sub-assembly includes second and third coulter wheels that are offset from each other both laterally and fore and aft, and are mounted for rotation about axes of rotation that are located rearwardly of the axes of rotation of the toothed wheels. A depth control device is mounted for rotation about an axis of rotation located rearwardly of the axis of rotation of the rearmost of the second and third coulter wheels. A common frame carries the residue-clearing sub-assembly, the tillage sub-assembly, and the depth control device so that all of the axes of rotation are fixed relative to each other.

Abstract: An agricultural implement for tilling at least a strip of soil to be planted includes a tillage device for penetrating and tilling a strip of soil and displacing soil and residue upwardly, and a depth control device laterally offset from the centerline of the strip of soil and mounted for rotation about an axis of rotation located rearwardly of the tillage device and positioned to intercept soil and residue displaced upwardly by the tillage device. Multiple tines mounted on the depth control device extend laterally away from the depth control device toward the centerline to intercept a portion of the soil and residue displaced upwardly by the tillage device. The tines are attached to the depth control device only at one end of each tine, and the free ends of the tines terminate laterally short of the centerline and vertically between the elevations of the upper and lower edges of the depth control device.

Abstract: An agricultural implement for clearing and tilling soil to be planted includes a residue-clearing sub-assembly including a first rotatable coulter wheel and at least one toothed wheel mounted for rotation about an axis located rearwardly of the axis of rotation of the first coulter wheel of forward portion of the toothed wheel overlaps a rear portion of the first coulter wheel. A tillage sub-assembly includes second and third coulter wheels that are offset from each other both laterally and fore and aft, and are mounted for rotation about axes of rotation that are located rearwardly of the axes of rotation of the toothed wheels. A depth control device is mounted for rotation about an axis of rotation located rearwardly of the axis of rotation of the rearmost of the second and third coulter wheels. A common frame carries the residue-clearing sub-assembly, the tillage sub-assembly, and the depth control device so that all of the axes of rotation are fixed relative to each other.

Abstract: An agricultural implement for clearing and tilling soil to be planted includes a residue-clearing sub-assembly including a first rotatable coulter wheel and at least one toothed wheel mounted for rotation about an axis located rearwardly of the axis of rotation of the first coulter wheel of forward portion of the toothed wheel overlaps a rear portion of the first coulter wheel. A tillage sub-assembly includes second and third coulter wheels that are offset from each other both laterally and fore and aft, and are mounted for rotation about axes of rotation that are located rearwardly of the axes of rotation of the toothed wheels. A depth control device is mounted for rotation about an axis of rotation located rearwardly of the axis of rotation of the rearmost of the second and third coulter wheels. A common frame carries the residue-clearing sub-assembly, the tillage sub-assembly, and the depth control device so that all of the axes of rotation are fixed relative to each other.

Abstract: An apparatus for preparing soil for the placement therein of at least one of seed and fertilizer. A frame is provided with there being first structure on the frame for penetrating the soil to create an opening for at least one of seed and fertilizer as the frame is advanced in a travel direction. A second structure is provided on the frame at least partially downstream of the first structure for at least one of a) stripping soil clods from the first structure and b) loosening soil downstream of the first structure.

Abstract: An agricultural planter comprises a frame with a plurality of wheels and adapted to be towed by a tractor. The planter has a plurality of row planting units mounted on the frame and carrying planting implements, and the planting units are vertically movable relative to the frame. A soil-hardness sensing unit carried on the frame produces a signal representing the hardness of the soil. A controllable biasing device is connected to the planting units for adjusting the force applied to the soil by the planting units, in response to the signal representing the hardness of the soil.

Abstract: A mechanism for planting agricultural seed. The mechanism has a frame to be drawn by a towing vehicle in a forward direction, a seed supply hopper on the frame, structure on the frame for directing seed from the hopper to a delivery point adjacent to a surface on underlying soil into which seed is to be planted, structure on the frame for pressing seed from the seed directing structure into underlying soil adjacent to the delivery point as the frame moves in the forward direction, and cooperating first and second soil parting structures on the frame for defining a receptacle for seed at the delivery point.

Abstract: An apparatus for continuously planting seed in subjacent soil over which the apparatus traverses. The apparatus has a frame to be drawn by a towing vehicle, structure on the frame for resituating residue away from a row into which seed is to be deposited, structure on the frame for continuously parting soil as the apparatus is advanced in a direction of travel to define a seed slot, structure on the frame for continuously depositing seed in the seed slot, structure on the frame for continuously replacing soil in the seed slot to cover seed in the seed slot, and structure on the frame for continuously applying an additive to the soil between the residue resituating structure and the seed depositing structure. The invention is also directed to a method of planting and applying an additive.

Abstract: A soil treating system having a frame, a first implement to engage soil to effect treatment thereof and mounted to the frame in an operative position in which the implement can be moved vertically relative to the frame, and an hydraulic actuator acting between the frame and implement for exerting a variable downward force on the implement.

Abstract: A soil treatment apparatus is provided having a main frame to be drawn by a towing vehicle over subjacent soil, a subframe, a structure for mounting the subframe to the main frame for vertical movement relative thereto between first and second position, and structure for attaching a plurality of soil treating implements to the subframe to follow movement of the subframe between the first and second positions.

Abstract: An apparatus to be advanced in a travel direction by a vehicle to continuously mark underlying soil. The apparatus has an elongate body with first and second portions and leading and trailing surfaces. Structure is provided at a first location on the elongate body for engaging and marking underlying soil as the soil marking apparatus is advanced over underlying soil. Structure is provided for connecting the elongate body to a vehicle to advance the soil marking apparatus over underlying soil. First structure cooperates between the first and second elongate body portions to allow the first portion of the elongate body to reposition relative to the second portion of the elongate body upon the first portion of the elongate body being acted upon by a predetermined force applied in the first direction at a first point.

Abstract: A holder for an agricultural tool. The holder has a shaft with first structure at a first location for mounting at least one agricultural tool to the shaft. The shaft has a portion that is movable guidingly in first and second opposite directions relative to a support on which the holder is mounted. A second structure is integrally formed as one piece with the shaft to limit movement of the shaft portion in one of the first and second directions relative to a support on which the holder is mounted.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating a signal indicative of the hardness of soil. The apparatus has a frame to be moved relative to soil on which a hardness analysis is to be conducted and a sensing element mounted to the frame so that the sensing element engages soil relative to which the frame is moved and structure associated therewith generates a) a first signal as the sensing element encounters soil of a first hardness and b) a second signal as the sensing element encounters soil of a second hardness.

Abstract: A method of continuously applying an additive to soil with a soil treating apparatus as the soil treating apparatus is advanced in a travel direction along a planting path on soil being treated. The method includes the steps of resituating residue in the planting path in a lateral direction transverse to the travel direction away from the planting path, applying an additive to the soil, and moving soil laterally inwardly over the planting path after the additive is applied to the soil. An apparatus is provided for practicing the method.