The Bullet Features cont'd

Trash

The alternate row is left undisturbed and the stubble is left standing. Where trash is lying on the ground, The Bullet will cut through it and plant beneath the trash and leave the trash on top. The disc is angled to the direction of travel and the vertical. The size of the disc and the angle to the direction of travel enables the disc to grab the trash and tear it sideways as it is pushing it into the ground. It is this action that has virtually eliminated hair pinning.

Trash handling in this manner has a number of benefits.

The stubble rots on top as in nature rather than incorporated as in mechanical or chemical solutions and therefore does not lock up nutrients in the soil
The stubble root gives the soil some structure which helps to prevent erosion
The standing stubble slows down the wind speed at ground level thus reducing wind erosion
The standing stubble helps to protect the ground from the heat of the sun thus aiding in moisture retention for the growing season
The standing stubble protects the emerging seedling from the heat of the sun
It simplifies trash management
The trash laying on the ground aids in moisture retention for the growing season
Green manure can also be incorporated

Caution: If down stubble is excessive, it may prevent emergence much like garden mulch.

Spacing

Standard spacing is 8 in. between each pair of discs and 10.5 in. on the alternate row. Other spacings we have available are an even 10in. and 10 and 20 inch paired rows.

Spacing may vary slightly depending upon machine width, planting speed and soil flow.

Double shooting

There are two methods of double shooting

The urea is placed on top of the ground between the discs. Incorporation relies on disturbance at the faster speeds referred to above. This method relies on disturbance for I corporation and works best in friable soils. Incorporation varies on heavier soils, particularly when there is moisture.
The urea is placed between the discs using a set of nitrogen banding discs out front (or in-frame on the wider spaced machines). This method works well in all conditions and gives guaranteed separation of urea from the seed. Using this method gives the potential to achieve slow release characteristics. The urea will not move until there is enough moisture and then only some will move directly to the seed, most will meander and reach the roots at later stages. Further, whilst the roots cannot sense the nitrogen, the roots that the nitrogen reach first will develop vigorously and head towards the source of this nitrogen. This increases the ability of the plant to intercept less mobile trace elements and increase utilisation of moisture and other nutrients in the soil.

There are two types of nitrogen banding kits available

1. Flat disc kit This type creates minimal disturbance and places the urea in a band between the rows.

2. Fluted disc kit This is a wavy disc and is used to achieve cultivation beneath the seed. This is advisable when combating rhizoctonia or other root diseases that may be dormant in the soil. This is available to cultivate in each seeding row or between the rows. If using on each row, then total separation of urea from the seed may not be effected.