KUHN’s Aurock has the versatility to drill in no-till conditions, including into standing cover crops, and is equally effective in minimal cultivation systems. At Cereals, the company will demonstrate the 6 metre Aurock 6000 RC, with dual metering and a 5,000 litre capacity split hopper.
This drill is designed for a low horsepower requirement, needing a modest 180hp to operate. The ability to work in varying field conditions starts at the front with two rows of opening discs. There is the option of 460mm diameter corrugated discs, for working in prepared soil or soil mixing, or a 430mm diameter embossed disc for cutting residues efficiently and minimising soil ejection.
Seed placement is carried out by the double disc seeding unit mounted on a parallelogram for optimum delivery accuracy and perfect ground following. Alignment with the opening discs is maintained by a central pivot point between the coulter bar and the chassis. This ensures that seeds drop accurately into the furrow, whether the drill is operating on a slope or around a bend. The opener discs and seeding unit assembly form the triple disc that has underpinned KUHN’s success in drill manufacture for forty years.
The Aurock is ISOBUS compatible, available with CCI 1200 or CCI 800 terminals (ISOBUS certified by the AEF). For enhanced ergonomics, a joystick is also available as optional equipment. Regardless of the selected control terminal, the operator has a user-friendly and intuitive interface developed by KUHN. A simple press of a button at the headland allows successive lifting of the front tools, then the stop of the metering units, ensuring perfect seeding to the edge of the field.
The ability to carry out row-by-row seed rate variation is a good example of why KUHN’s electric drive Maxima 3 precision drills are proving so popular with farmers and contractors.
At Cereals 2021, the company will demonstrate the Maxima 3 RXe, an 8-row model with a three-section foldable frame.
Work carried out by KUHN in the development of its electric drive seeding technology has shown that varying the seed rate in response to soil conditions can lead to seed savings of 2-3% when used in conjunction with section control (automated row shut-off). In addition to seed savings, variable seed rate also optimises plant populations according to available water and soil nutrients, with this resulting in an overall potential yield gain of between 5 and 8%.
Maxima 3 precision drills are suitable for drilling maize, sunflower, beetroot, sugar beet, peas, beans, onions and other crops where row spacings from 37.5 to 80cm are used. The range includes 12 models in a choice of configurations, with electric drive versions being available in mounted formats including telescopic, foldable, and telescopic with adjustable spacing.
A wide choice of optional equipment includes angle-adjustable V-Max rear closing wheels, which provide a furrow closing pressure of up to 45kg. Fertiliser hoppers, front, rear and intermediate press wheels, clod cleaners and trash wipers are also available.
KUHN’s Performer non-powered, deep working disc and tine cultivator will be demonstrated with the SH 600 seeder as an attachment. A 4m model will be at the event, representing a single pass range that now also includes 3, 5, 6 and 7 metre versions.
The Performer can be equipped with two rows of 510mm independent and hydraulically adjustable discs and four rows of non-stop hydraulic (900kg) tines capable of working to a maximum depth of 350mm. Hydraulically adjustable levelling discs can also be used.
A choice of shares for mixing or loosening soil, including standard 80mm shares, 50mm subsoiling shares or wing shares, can be specified. For effective soil consolidation the Performer uses the HD Liner 700 notched roller with up to 225kg/m of hydraulically adjustable pressure.
The Performer offers an effective single-pass solution as well as the versatility of different modes to suit a range of soil conditions and cultivation requirements. It can be used with discs and a roller for surface cultivation or with tines and a roller for sub-soiling; it can also operate with discs and tines for more aggressive work, or in a roller-free configuration for non-consolidation work.
At the Cereals 2021 demonstration, KUHN’s Performer will be fitted with the SH 600 cover crop seeding unit, which offers the capability of applying all types of seed, or fertiliser, at rates from 1 to 430kg/ha.
In response to the growing interest in minimal tillage cultivations, KUHN has developed its Striger strip-till range and will demonstrate this machine at Cereals 2021.
Available from 4 to 12 rows, the Striger 100 is designed around a parallelogram system that allows all elements to operate independently, ensuring excellent ground following characteristics.
KUHN will demonstrate its TF 1512 high-capacity front hopper at Cereals 2021, positioning it as a versatile option for seeding crops and cover crops as well as serving as a fertiliser hopper. Hopper capacities of either 1,500 or 2,000 litres make this a combination option that can add significant efficiency to a range of operations.
The TF 1512 hopper can be used in combination with mechanical seed drills, precision seed drills and tillage tools.
