Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for planting and treating seedlings of an agricultural plant. In particular, the apparatus is adapted for planting and treating sugar cane seedlings. The apparatus comprises means for moving the apparatus over a field with soil in which the seedlings are to be planted. Further, it comprises a tray for holding a plurality of seedlings and a furrow opener for automatically creating a furrow in the field when the apparatus is moved over the field. Moreover, the apparatus comprises a spraying device for applying a fertilizer, an insecticide, a fungicide, and/or a nutrient to the furrow. Furthermore, the apparatus comprises a furrow compactor that is adapted to close the furrow with soil and to compact the soil surrounding the seedling in the closed furrow. Moreover, the invention relates to the use of this apparatus for planting a seedling of a graminaceous plant, in particular the seedling of a sugar cane plant.

Abstract: A row unit for use with an agricultural implement is provided. The row unit includes a frame, a winged shank opener operatively connected to the frame, a depth-setting member operatively connected to the frame such that at least a portion of the winged shank extends below the depth-setting member to form a furrow and the depth-setting member at least partially controls the depth of said furrow, and a seed meter for planting seed in the depth formed by the winged shank opener. The depth setting member can be a ski, one or more gage wheels, or a combination of the same. A depth control mechanism can also be included to aid in controlling the depth of the furrow created.

Abstract: A suspension system for a row cleaner used with an agricultural row unit. A base is connectable with the agricultural row unit and a support is provided for journaling row cleaner sweeper blades. Links pivotally connect the base and the support for up and down movement of the sweeper blades towards the ground. A pair of coil springs have one end connected to the upper links and the other a free end. A series of holes in the base receive an adjustment pin to provide preselected levels of downward force towards the ground.

Abstract: Land cultivating systems and methods utilizing high-pressure fluid jet cutting techniques are disclosed. An example system includes a mobile unit, a traveler arrangement operably coupled to the mobile unit to ride on the surface of stubble residues as the mobile unit moves across land to be cultivated, and a fluid jet cutting head supported by the traveler arrangement. The cutting head is configured to selectively discharge a high-pressure fluid jet to make a cut through the stubble residues and underlying soil as the mobile unit moves across the land. A soil opening device is provided to form a furrow in the ground in line with the cut made by the high-pressure fluid jet, and a liquid injector nozzle is provided to discharge fertilizer or other chemical(s) into the soil.

Abstract: A row unit for use with a planter includes a furrow creator and an apparatus for controlling the depth of furrow created. The furrow creator can be a blade and shank. A seed meter, for example, a positive pressure meter, can be included that provides precision planting of one or more particulates. The seed meter can be a single meter or can include more than one meter at each row unit, such as to provide for multi-hybrid or multi-particulate planting. The positive pressure can then be used to delivering the seed via a seed to ground device to plant the one or more particulates in the created furrow. The row unit as provided will be a more precise planting for both seed spacing and depth, as well as other planting characteristics.

Abstract: A soil opener comprises a tip attached to or integral with a body. The tip includes furrowing prow for cutting a furrow in the soil surface, a protrusion on the underside of the tip for cutting a trench within the furrow, and a seed distributor for depositing seeds within the furrow in laterally displaced seed rows. The body includes a seed passage for directing a seed stream to the seed distributor, a primary fertilizer passage for depositing a primary fertilizer stream, and a secondary fertilizer passage for depositing a secondary fertilizer. As the soil opener is moved across the soil surface, the body opener deposits primary fertilizer in the vicinity of the seed rows, and secondary fertilizer between the seed rows in a trench slightly below the surface of the seeds.

Abstract: A furrow opener comprises an opener body for mounting on a cultivator shank for movement therewith in a forward working direction and which supports a knife on a front end to deposit a fertilizer row and a wing attachment at a rear end to deposit paired seed rows in the ground. The bottom side of the opener body is stepped in profile between the knife and the wing attachment to comprise an enclosed front portion extending generally horizontally rearward from the knife, a step portion which extends upward from the front portion and primarily locates a fertilizer outlet therein and a rear portion extending generally rearward from the step portion to the rear of the opener body. The fertilizer outlet in the step portion primarily faces rearwardly and is more vertical in orientation than the enclosed front portion of the bottom side of the opener body ahead of it to shield the fertilizer outlet from the wake of earth displaced by the knife.

Abstract: A bracket assembly for supporting seed planting appurtenances in substantial alignment with respect to a seed tube of an agricultural planter. The bracket assembly includes a shaft mount and a shank mount.

Abstract: A method for the subsurface application of fertilizers, biologicals, fumigants, non-fumigant pesticides or other chemicals to soil with reduced application rates. Discrete amounts of the materials are injected into the soil at numerous sites along a path during a pass through the soil. At the injection sites, the materials form diffusion patterns which may touch or overlapping with diffusion patterns of adjacent soil injections. The application of materials to soil in this manner maintains optimum efficacy with the use of the least amount of materials necessary per acre of soil.

Abstract: A method of stimulating root growth of seeds is disclosed in which seeds are treated with an effective amount of an aqueous ammoniacal ionic solution of metal alkanoates. Alkanoates having from 2 to 6 carbon atoms are preferred, with acetates most preferred. Metals selected from the group consisting of boron, calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, potassium, sodium and zinc are preferred, with zinc particularly preferred. In one embodiment, an aqueous ammoniacal ionic solution of zinc acetate is applied to seeds in-furrow. In another embodiment, seeds are treated with an aqueous ammoniacal ionic solution of zinc acetate prior to planting. In yet another embodiment, an aqueous ammoniacal ionic solution of zinc acetate is mixed with an insecticide and resulting solution applied to seeds in-furrow.

Abstract: A method of stimulating root growth of seeds is disclosed in which seeds are treated with an effective amount of an aqueous ammoniacal ionic solution of metal alkanoates. Alkanoates having from 2 to 6 carbon atoms are preferred, with acetates most preferred. Metals selected from the group consisting of boron, calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, potassium, sodium and zinc are preferred, with zinc particularly preferred. In one embodiment, an aqueous ammoniacal ionic solution of zinc acetate is applied to seeds in-furrow. In another embodiment, seeds are treated with an aqueous ammoniacal ionic solution of zinc acetate prior to planting. In yet another embodiment, an aqueous ammoniacal ionic solution of zinc acetate is mixed with an insecticide and resulting solution applied to seeds in-furrow.

Abstract: The placement device utilizes a flat, upright shank having a pair of rotatable residue cutting discs secured to opposite faces of the shank just outside of a slender, generally crescent shaped, replaceable insert component at the bottom of the shank which is only slightly wider than the shank itself. Instead of transverse fasteners which would widen the overall width of the assembly, a single draw bolt extends generally longitudinally of the shank and attaches the lower component to the lower end of the shank which is configured in the nature of a notch so as to complementally receive in edge-to-edge abutting relationship a matingly configured corner of the component.

Abstract: A planting, and agri-chemical applicating farming implement for multiple tilling functions. The implement can be deployed in multiple gang configurations. Each gang comprises a frame for coupling the implement to a tow vehicle, a blade depending downwardly from the front of the frame for initially contacting, shaping, and leveling a raised row or bed, means for applying agri-chemicals and seed to soil behind the blade, and multiple spider gangs for vigorously mixing and incorporating agri-chemical, seed, and soil. The spider gangs comprise a first gang of rotatable spiders disposed in a row beneath said frame and journaled for rotation about a first adjustable common axis of rotation, and a second gang of rotatable spiders disposed in a row beneath said frame means and journaled for rotation about a second adjustable common axis of rotation. The first and second axes of rotation preferably form equal and opposite acute angles with respect to the implement's longitudinal axis.

Abstract: An insert for use in an agricultural tool having a cutting edge for forming a furrow. The insert includes an elongated wedge having a leading end, a trailing end, a top surface, a first side surface and a second opposing side surface coterminous therewith defining a longitudinally extending lowermost edge. The first and second side surface converge from the trailing end to the leading end and diverge from the lowermost edge to the top surface to form a v-shape leading end. In a preferred embodiment the insert includes a means for aligning the lowermost edge of the insert with the cutting edge of the tool.