Abstract: An applicator unit for applying slurry fertilizer beneath the soil with reduced soil displacement includes a spring-cushioned main mounting shank and a forward spring-biased colter. A narrow applicator shank is mounted to the main mounting shank by a pair of vertically spaced bolts, including a lower shear bolt, at a location just above the surface of the soil. The sweep shank is generally upright and includes a nose portion at a lower leading edge which includes a generally blunt lower portion and a tapered leading edge for forming a furrow without tilling the soil. The furrow is formed in three stages by the blunt nose pad, the upright tapered leading edge of the sweep shank, and by a pair of mounting plates carrying the slurry tube and widening the top of the furrow.

Abstract: An applicator unit for applying slurry fertilizer beneath the soil with reduced soil displacement includes a spring-cushioned main mounting shank and a forward spring-biased colter. A narrow applicator shank is mounted to the main mounting shank by a pair of vertically spaced bolts, including a lower shear bolt, at a location just above the surface of the soil. The sweep shank is generally upright and includes a nose portion at a lower leading edge which includes a generally blunt lower portion and a tapered leading edge for forming a furrow without tilling the soil. The furrow is formed in three stages by the blunt nose pad, the upright tapered leading edge of the sweep shank, and by a pair of mounting plates carrying the slurry tube and widening the top of the furrow.

Abstract: Apparatus for deep plowing highly compacted soil includes successively forming troughs of loosened soil immediately adjacent a previously formed trough. After each pass the plow leaves a trough of loosened soil having a transverse vertical profile (called a "fracture profile") in the general shape of a parallelogram with sides inclined upwardly and toward the unplowed ground. Each successive trough is formed by pulling a first set of point plows located on the unplowed side of said successive swath and at a depth of approximately one-half the desired depth to loosen soil in the upper portion of the fracture profile. A second point plow located to the rear of the first plows and at the desired depth is pulled approximately midway of the bottom of the fracture profile to loosen the remaining soil in the lower portion of the fracture profile.