Method and apparatus for seeding agricultural crops
First Claim
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1. A method of seeding agricultural crops with branching root systems comprising the steps of:
- (a) placing seed in a plurality of elongated furrows forming a plurality of substantially parallel seed rows;
(b) placing fertilizer in a plurality of bands parallel with, adjacent to, and generally directly below each of the seed rows;
(c) covering the seed with soil and closing the fertilizer band openings;
the seed rows and fertilizer bands arranged such that the seminal roots from each seed row will share access to multiple bands of fertilizer whereby efficiency of fertilizer utilization, plant growth and productivity are improved.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for seeding agricultural crops in which seed is placed in residue-free rows that are closely aligned and associated with bands of deeply placed fertilizer whereby the plants from each seed row may access more than one deep band of fertilizer for the purpose of improving the utilization of fertilizer, improving plant growth and plant yield. The method is further enhanced by an apparatus that can seed, fertilize, and move residue by means of large deep-running blades in combination with a residue knife, a seed placement device, and a fertilizer placement device.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. A method of seeding agricultural crops with branching root systems comprising the steps of:
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(a) placing seed in a plurality of elongated furrows forming a plurality of substantially parallel seed rows; (b) placing fertilizer in a plurality of bands parallel with, adjacent to, and generally directly below each of the seed rows; (c) covering the seed with soil and closing the fertilizer band openings; the seed rows and fertilizer bands arranged such that the seminal roots from each seed row will share access to multiple bands of fertilizer whereby efficiency of fertilizer utilization, plant growth and productivity are improved. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus for seeding agricultural crops with branching root systems comprising:
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(a) a plurality of furrowing means for forming elongated furrows in the soil; (b) a plurality of means for placing seed in the elongated furrows resulting in substantially parallel seed rows in corresponding seed furrows; (c) a plurality of means for placing fertilizer in bands parallel with, adjacent to, and generally directly below each of the seed rows; (d) a means for covering the seed with soil and closing the fertilizer band openings; the plurality of furrowing means, the plurality of means for placing seed and the plurality of means for placing fertilizer being sufficiently close together that seminal roots from each seed row will share access to multiple bands of fertilizer, whereby the efficiency of fertilizer utilization is improved, and plant growth and productivity are enhanced. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An apparatus for placing seed and fertilizer for the purpose of planting an agricultural crop comprising:
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a mobile framework which is forced to move overtop the surface of the soil by a propelling means in a direction of forward motion thereby defining a leading and trailing direction; a plurality of soil opening devices adjustably mounted on said mobile framework by means of subframe means, each soil opening device further comprising; a single deep-running rigid circular disc rotatably mounted to said subframe means and forced to turn by engagement with the soil and the forward motion of the framework means for the purpose of opening a substantially vertical slot in the soil; a seed furrowing device rigidly attached to said subframe means and located beside said deep-running rigid circular disk for the purpose of opening a seed furrow; a seed placement means rigidly attached to said subframe means and located immediately trailing said seed furrowing device for the purpose of placing seed in the seed furrow; a fertilizer placement means rigidly attached to said subframe means in close proximity to said deep-running rigid circular disc for the purpose of placing fertilizer in said vertical slot in the soil;
generally directly below the seed furrow and,a seed storage and dispensing means mounted on said mobile framework for the purpose of delivering a stream of seeds to said soil opening devices; and
,a fertilizer storage and dispensing means mounted on said mobile framework for the purpose of delivering a stream of fertilizer to said soil opening devices, wherein said soil opening devices are arranged sufficiently close together to place seed and fertilizer in the soil in a configuration in which the roots from each seed row will share access to the fertilizer in a plurality of fertilizer bands. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification