Just under a year after the launch of the Solitair 9+ pneumatic seed drill, German farm machinery manufacturer Lemken has introduced a new "duo" version with a divided seed hopper.
This machine offers a range of options for simultaneously spreading seeds, fertiliser and even catch (green manure) crops.
The seed hopper of the Solitair 9+ Duo holds 1850 litres. Its capacity can be split 50/50 or 60/40, depending on requirements.
As a result, two application variants are possible.
In the single-shot version, seeds and fertiliser are combined downstream from the two metering units in each of the two hopper segments.
The different components are guided to the double disc coulters via a seed pipe and deposited in a seed furrow.
This allows a suitable starting dose of fertiliser to be added for winter sowing or a complete fertiliser application for summer sowing.
An automatic tramline mechanism is integrated into the distributors.
The double-shot system provides greater deposition flexibility.
With this system, the two components flow separately to a double disc coulter via doubled distributors in two seed pipes.
They can then be spread either in a single row, as with the single-shot method, or separately and alternately in two rows following a quick exchange of the tramline cartridge in the distributor.
In addition, the deposition depth of every other row can be adjusted separately via the pressure roller up to a difference of 5cm.
This allows two different seeds to be placed at different, optimum seeding depths or inter-row fertilisation to be applied while seeding.
The Solitair 9+ Duo will be available in working widths of three and four metres.
Lemken said full availability of the new machine is scheduled for January next year.
