Väderstad’s Spirit 600 is a 6m pneumatic seed drill designed to prepare seedbeds and consolidate seed. The firm’s Andrew Gamble highlights that although it’s often perceived as a lighter land drill, this is in fact a myth. “We’ve always attested that it’s a medium to heavy land drill but on the heaviest clays it may require further tilth creation so it can close the slot.”

The front system features a Disc Aggressive, similar to a Carrier and with the same disc profile, explains Andrew. “This is there to produce tilth, remove weeds, lumps and clods and create a seedbed.”

To consolidate the seedbed, staggered wheels then pack ahead of seed placement. The staggered set-up helps to prevent the bulldozing of soil which happens when wheels are lined up, and the wheels are set at a wider width to allow for an improved weight footprint.

The 380mm coulters are hydraulically controlled to produce up to 80kg of pressure, says Andrew. “The double disc system allows for the first disc to cut the slot while the second opens it. The seed is then slotted into the furrow before the shaft so it’s not dropped into contaminated soil off the back of the disc.”

OPTIMUM WORKING

The wide coulter wheels help maintain working depth and the following harrow works between the seed rows to preserve moisture. “I always call the drill a power-harrow combination but we’re doing everything mechanically: creating the seedbed, consolidating it, running coulters through this and then pressing behind these – it’s a very traditional system,” says Andrew.

On the S version of the machine the 5000-litre hopper is a single tank but on the C models this is split for the combined application of seed and fertiliser, either at 50/50 or 60/40.

The drill features the Fenix II metering system which is an electric system to simplify adjustments between seed types, and connected to the SeedEye system it can minimise calibration, adds Andrew. “The fleeted rollers are simple to change depending on seed type, whether growers are drilling oilseed rape or beans.”

The SeedEye system itself will count and calibrate seed on the move, accounting for 100% of the grain weight and adjusting for any inaccuracies. It has real-time blockage monitoring which alerts operators to any obstructions and allows them to make adjustments from the cab, he comments.

E-Services allows wireless access to the machine via an iPad located in the cab whereby operators can monitor every coulter, input maps and control tasks. “It’s cross-platform compatible so will work with whatever tractor brand you’re operating.”

The Spirit also features contouring coulters to improve accuracy on hilly terrain, as well as automatic headland management and half-width shut off, says Andrew. “In addition, the oil is constantly running to maintain pressure, turning on and off when required.”

This article was taken from the latest issue of CPM. For more articles like this, subscribe here.

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