Abstract: A field planting system for use in conjunction with large span and wheel tower irrigation apparatus to place seed in a field across a number of rows simultaneously. Seed is suspended uniformly in a gel solution and injected into a stream of carrier water. The seeds, suspended in water, travel in piping separate from irrigation piping to a manifold suspended from the overhead span section. Each manifold distributes seed and carrier water to a plurality of drop tubes. A tube valve locate in each drop tube is closed to permit the manifold to be charged with seeds and water under pressure. Once the manifold is charged, the tube valves open simultaneously and the water and seed discharges from the manifold through drop tubes to a planting shoe. The planting shoe includes a forward nozzle to emit a high pressure stream of water to excavate a small trench or furrow into which the seed is dispensed.

Abstract: A field planting system for use in conjunction with large span and wheel tower irrigation apparatus to place seed in a field across a number of rows simultaneously. Seed is suspended uniformly in a gel solution and injected into a stream of carrier water. The seeds, suspended in water, travel in piping separate from irrigation piping to a manifold suspended from the overhead span section. Each manifold distributes seed and carrier water to a plurality of drop tubes. A tube valve located in each drop tube is closed to permit the manifold to be charged with seeds and water under pressure. Once the manifold is charged, the tube valves open simultaneously and the water and seed discharges from the manifold through drop tubes to a planting shoe. The planting shoe includes a forward nozzle to emit a high pressure stream of water to excavate a small trench or furrow into which the seed is dispensed.

Abstract: Apparatus for precise water and liquid chemical application to agricultural fields is provided comprising a control platform with two motors, each motor driving a separate set of drive wheels. The speed of the first platform motor being selectable, the speed of the second motor being controlled by a variable frequency AC motor controller which receives a signal from a linear position transducer which senses the positional relationship of the control platform to a pre-determined path so as to maintain the platform on a pre-determined path. A second variable frequency AC motor controller receives a signal from a second linear position transducer between the control platform and a plurality of span sections supported by a plurality of motorized, wheeled towers which is operable to maintain alignment between the towers and the control platform, and the span sections are provided with switches operable to switch the motors of the towers on and off momentarily as required to keep them in alignment with each other.