Planter Aid for Heavy Residue Conservation Tillage Systems

Abstract

The use of conservation tillage systems has many crop production advantages. However, plant residue left on the soil surface makes planting the crop more difficult. One potential problem is that standing residue often gets caught in the moving mechanisms of the planter, causing the planter to become clogged. To overcome this constraint, a forward residue mover was constructed. The forward residue mover pushes the standing residue away from the planter and prevents entanglement in the row cleaner mechanism. The device is constructed of a rigid steel frame and uses attached flexible hoses to move the standing residue away from the moving mechanism of the planter as it travels across the field. A description of the forward residue mover is given. Use of this device greatly improves planter performance by preventing clogging of the moving parts of the planter.