Seeding Tips

Sowing Small Seeds

To enhance the establishment of small seeds i.e Canola adopt one or more of the following measures:

• Use a wider closing tool i.e 45mm or 60mm;
• Use the optional small seeds boot ( must be used with a 45 or 60mm closing tool);
• Increase press wheel pressure by one notch;
• Slowing seeding speed by approximately 1 km/h;
• Reduce digging depth by 25mm (1") using the same blade or utilise last seasons blade;
• Use coulters; and/or
• Reduce or eliminate nitrogen based fertilisers placed with the seed.

Fertiliser Toxicity

Due to the inherent accuracy of the DBS Auseeder, the placement of seed and starter fertiliser will generally vary by no more than 6mm (1/4 ").

Be aware when deep banding fertiliser, raising the digging depth will bring the fertiliser and seed closer together.

The table below demonstrates how the risk of fertiliser toxicity generally increases with the following conditions and/of factors:

Low Risk	Medium Risk	High Risk
Heavy/Clay Soil	Medium Soil	Sandy/Light Soil
Large Seeds (i.e. Peas & Lupins)	Cereals (i.e. Barley, Wheat & Oats)	Small Seeds (i.e. Canola & Clover)
Wet Soil	Dry Soil	Marginal Moisture
Low Fertiliser Rates	Moderate Fertiliser Rates	High Fertiliser Rates
Low Operating Speed	Average Operating Speeds	High Operating Speeds

Seeding in Non-Wetting Sands

The following factors should be considered when seeding into non wetting sands:

• Increase digging depth by approximately 25mm (1") to allow the head of the digging blade to work below ground level; and
• Reduce forward operating speed by 1-2km/h to reduce the incidence of trench back filling by dry, non-wetting sand.

Cheese Cutting

It's a condition encountered using knife blades in wet clays, where the soil does not close properly, allowing the seed to fall to the bottom of the trench left by the digging blade.

The condition can be improved by using one or all of the following measures:

• Using a shorter blade;
• Using a wider closing tool;
• Using a split boot; and
• Using a DBB (Deep Bursting Blade)

DBS Blade Not Bursting Soil

May be caused by the DBS blade may not bursting the soil properly if the blade is excessively worn. To rectify, replace with a new DBS blade, or if greater bursting action is required, consider fitting the DBB (Deep Bursting Blade).

Closing Tool Not Closing Slot

This can an be caused by the following factors:

• The closing tool is excessively worn;
• The closing tool is set too shallow and is not contacting the soil;
• The digging blade is creating a slot that is too wide for the closing tool to close;
• Excessive speed; and/or
• Working too deep

To rectify this issue, consider the following solutions:

• Replace the closing tool;
• Reset the depth on the closing tool;
• Fit a wider closing tool;
• Fit a longer digging blade and at the same time, lift the bar working height to ensure the head of the DBS blade is working above ground level;
• Fit coulters to reduce the build-up of trash and root material on the head of the DBS digging blade; and/or
• Slow forward operating speed.

Excessive Soil Throw

This can be caused by the following factors:

• Operating at speeds too fast for the conditions;
• The head of the DBS blade is working below ground level; and/or
• Root material is building up on the blade.

To rectify this issue, consider the following solutions:

• Reduce operating speed;
• Adjust operating depth;
• Fit longer digging blades; and/or
• Fit coulters.

Excessive Soil Trenching

This can be caused by the following factors:

• The head of the DBS blade is working below ground level;
• The spring pressure on the parallelogram is set too high;
• The press wheel is too narrow;
• Root material is building up on the front of the digging blade; and/or
• The soil is too wet.

To rectify this issue, consider the following solutions:

• Adjust operating depth;
• Fit longer digging blades and at the same time, lift the bar working height;
• Adjust spring tension on the DBS parallelogram;
• Fit wider press wheels;
• Fit coulters; and/or
• Wait for better seeding conditions.

Press Wheel Stops Turning

This can be caused by the following factors:

• There is an excessive build up of clay on the press wheel; and/or
• The parallelogram is not working in a horizontal position.

To rectify this issue, consider the following solutions:

• Increase spring tension on the press wheels or fit heavier springs;
• Fit shorter blades to maintain the parallelogram's horizontal working position;
• Fit spear mud scrapers;
• Fit 'V' press wheels; and/or
• Wait for more suitable working conditions.