Method and system for planting grain

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and system for planting grain using the no-till technique, comprising the steps of opening a furrow in the soil, fertilizing, and seeding. The furrow opener uses a subsoiler shank attached to an agricultural seeding implement, configured so that the end thereof penetrates the soil to a depth of 20 to 40 cm at a speed of 4.5 km / h to 6 km / h. Furrow opening and fertilizing are performed simultaneously by means of a furrow opener (1) that incorporates, in a single unit, decompacting means (2, 3) and fertilizing means (5, 7) through the application of granulated fertilizer, and seeding is carried out after said fertilizing, through a dispensing nozzle (43) positioned to the rear of said furrow opener (1).

Description

GRAIN PLANTING METHOD AND SYSTEM Field of Invention

[0001] This method and system refers to the field of agriculture and, more precisely, to the planting of grains using the direct planting technique. State of the Art

[0002] Direct planting is a sowing technique that aims to reduce the costs involved in cultivation, in which the seed is placed in the undisturbed soil (without prior plowing or light leveling) using special seeders. Thus, the same residues from the last crop, such as straw, branches and leaves, remain in the soil and on top. In this way, the soil is better protected from moisture loss and results in an improvement in the quantity and quality of soil organic matter (SOM), when compared to other forms of management.

[0003] In direct planting, the soil is usually highly compacted due to previous cultivation, in addition to being deficient in nutrients. Therefore, methods have been developed that use implements that, in addition to planting, decompact the soil and fertilize it.

[0004] One of these implements is described in patent document US4244306 entitled MINIMUM TILLAGE PLANTER and illustrated in Fig. 1. This implement comprises a subsoiling knife 14, 16 which digs a furrow; a roller 17 equipped with shovels which break up the clods of soil brought to the surface. Along the rear face of the knife there is a pipe 24 of liquid fertilizer which is applied to the furrow through outlet 26. This liquid fertilizer is applied to the bottom of the trench opened by the knife and is partially covered by the soil broken up by the roller 17. Due to the fact that the furrow is partially clogged by said broken up soil, it becomes necessary to widen it, a function performed by the double disc widener 31, illustrated in detail in Fig. 3.

[0005] As shown in this figure, this widener comprises two discs positioned at an angle, so as to form a “wedge” that separates the walls of the furrow, enabling the application of seeds from reservoir 28 and drop tube 29. Finally, the groove is closed by roller 32.

[0006] This implement has several drawbacks, the first of which is that the fertilizer goes to the bottom of the furrow, that is, just above the compacted soil, and is subject to leaching and dilution by rainwater and consequent dragging of the fertilizer to the compacted soil region, below the bottom of the furrow. As a result, the roots do not fully benefit from this fertilizer, due to the difficulty of the roots in penetrating the compacted soil.

[0007] Another drawback is that, due to the widening of the furrow produced by the double-disc widener, the seeds may stop at the bottom of the furrow, being damaged by contact with the concentrated liquid fertilizer. Objectives of the Invention

[0008] In view of the above, the present invention aims to provide a direct planting method that provides better use of the fertilizer, distributing it in a diffuse manner and not at a single depth.

[0009] Another objective of the method is to avoid direct contact between the seeds and the concentrated fertilizer, so as not to damage the seeds. Brief Description of the Invention

[0010] The above objectives, as well as others, are achieved by the invention by providing a method comprising the steps of opening a furrow in the soil, fertilizing the soil and seeding the soil, where the opening of the furrow and the fertilization are carried out simultaneously by means of a furrower that integrates decompaction means and fertilizer application means in the same unit.

[0011] According to another characteristic of the invention, fertilization is carried out with granulated fertilizer.

[0012] According to another characteristic of the invention, the granulated fertilizer is distributed at different depths within the furrow.

[0013] According to another feature of the invention, the depth of the groove varies between 20cm and 40cm.

[0014] According to another feature of the invention, sowing is carried out by throwing the seeds into the furrow after it has been opened and fertilized.

[0015] According to another feature of the invention, the furrow is closed immediately after the seeds are released.

[0016] According to another characteristic of the invention, an implement pulled by a tractor is provided, where said implement comprises a furrowing device, a fertilizing device and a seeding device installed on the same chassis, where the furrowing device and the fertilizing device are mounted on the same support.

[0017] According to another characteristic of the invention, said support has the form of an arm at the end of which the furrowing device is attached and at the rear edge of which the fertilizing device is installed.

[0018] According to another characteristic of the invention, a furrow closing element is provided positioned immediately after the seeding device, which is located separately at the rear of the furrower / fertilizer device, where said closing element has the function of closing the furrow following the seed release by the seeding device.

[0019] According to another characteristic of the invention, the closing of the furrow by the closing element keeps the seeds at the correct depth at which they were thrown. Description of figures

[0020] The other characteristics and advantages of the proposed model will become more evident from the detailed description of the same and the figures that refer to it, in which:

[0021] Figure 1 shows a state-of-the-art subsoiler-fertilizer-planter implement.

[0022] Figure 2 is a detail of the subsoiler of the implement in the previous figure.

[0023] Figure 3 is a view of the double disc reamer of the implement shown in Fig.

[0024] Figure 4 shows the assembly formed by the furrower, the fertilizer spreader and the seeder mounted on the same chassis.

[0025] Figure 5 details the subsoiler / fertilizer used in the invention. Detailed description

[0026] The direct planting method of the invention uses a furrower comprising a subsoiling rod, fixed to an agricultural seeding implement, adjusted to make its end penetrate 20 to 40 cm into the soil. Such depth requires greater traction effort, causing a lower gear to be adopted on the tractor, so as not to strain the engine, resulting in a speed of 4.5 km / h to 6 km / h.

[0027] This greater penetration into the soil provides deeper decompression, generating better conditions for the longitudinal growth of the roots, which results in a greater absorption capacity of the fertilizer that is dispersed at different depths, allowing better absorption of nutrients, greater resistance to water stress and a substantial increase in productivity.

[0028] As mentioned, soil decompaction is carried out simultaneously with fertilization. For this purpose, a fertilizer distribution device 7 is provided positioned on the shaft 2 on the side of the working edge 3, which comprises two parallel side plates 7.1 with the gap between them accommodating the granulated fertilizer duct. In the lower region of this gap, an angled plate (not visible in the figure) is fixed at between 30 and 60 degrees, which alters the trajectory of the fertilizer grains that are in free fall inside the duct 5: in this way, the fertilizer is distributed in a fan-shaped pattern, symbolized by the dashed arrows, at different depths, starting at 5 cm from the bottom of the furrow.

[0029] Thus, even if leaching occurs due to rainwater, there are at least 5 cm of uncompacted soil in which the plant can still benefit from the fertilizer through root growth, which is not possible when the fertilizer settles on the compacted soil at the bottom of the furrow. In this way, the plant's roots have access to the fertilizer throughout its growth.

[0030] A flexible pipe (not shown in Fig. 4) carries the granulated fertilizer from a reservoir 25, introducing the grains into the duct 5 as symbolized by the arrow.

[0031] As shown in Fig. 4, the seed applicator comprises the drop tube 42 and the launcher nozzle 43 which is located at the rear of the furrower / fertilizer spreader. The seeds are launched at the depth appropriate to the type of crop, remaining at that depth due to the immediate approximation of the side walls of the furrow as a result of the closing of the latter by the furrow closing element 44 located immediately after said launcher nozzle.

[0032] The furrow closing element 44 is a device known from the prior art, and may comprise one or two wheels resting on the ground.

[0033] The invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment, and may be modified as long as it remains within the basic inventive concept. Thus, for example, the step of cutting straw (residue from the previous harvest) by means of a disc 41 positioned in front of the furrower may be added without this altering the nature of the invention, which is delimited and defined by the set of claims that follow.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. METHOD OF PLANTING GRAINS using the direct planting technique, comprising the steps of opening a furrow in the soil, fertilizing the soil and sowing, characterized by the fact that said opening of the furrow and fertilization are carried out simultaneously by means of a furrower (1) that integrates, in the same unit, decompaction means (2, 3) and fertilization means (5, 7) through the application of granulated fertilizer and by the fact that sowing is done after said fertilization, by means of a dispensing nozzle (43) positioned at the rear of said furrower (1).

2. GRAIN PLANTING METHOD according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the granulated fertilizer is distributed at different depths, starting 5 cm from the bottom of the furrow.

3. GRAIN PLANTING METHOD according to claim 1, characterized in that said furrow has a depth of between 20cm and 40cm.

4. GRAIN PLANTING METHOD according to claim 1, characterized in that the furrow walls are vertical.

5. GRAIN PLANTING METHOD according to claim 4, characterized in that the seeds, thrown into the furrow by said dispensing nozzle (43), remain at the throwing depth.

6. GRAIN PLANTING METHOD according to claim 5, characterized in that the seeds remain at the depth at which they were thrown by the immediate closing of the furrow using a closing device (44) located immediately after said launching nozzle (43).

7. GRAIN PLANTING METHOD according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the speed of movement of the furrower (1) is between 4.45 km / h and 6 km / h.

8. GRAIN PLANTING SYSTEM using the direct planting technique, using an implement comprising a furrowing device (1), a fertilizer device (5, 7) and a seeding device (28, 42, 43) installed on the same chassis (40), towed by a tractor, characterized by the fact that the furrowing device (3, 6) and the fertilizer device (5, 7) are mounted on the same support (2).

9. GRAIN PLANTING SYSTEM according to claim 8, characterized in that said seeding device comprises a seed outlet nozzle (43) positioned at the rear of said furrowing and fertilizing device (1), as well as a furrow closing element (44).

10. GRAIN PLANTING SYSTEM according to either of claims 8 or 9, characterized in that it additionally comprises a straw cutting disc (41) positioned in front of said furrower and fertilizer spreader (1).

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