Drill or Seeder Attachments

A. Packer Wheels

Packer wheels are necessary on any drill or seeder to plant grass or legumes. It is crucial to have the soil firmed around the seed to keep it in contact with moisture during germination and emergence. After broadcast seeding, the last planting operation should be packing with a roller packer. Packing following seeding restores capillary pores to facilitate capillary soil moisture movement to the seed for germination and seedling establishment.

B. Fertilizer Attachments

Fertilizer attachments on drills enable placement of fertilizer near the seed where it will do the most good. When fertilizer is broadcast, a high percent of it is used by weeds which become more competitive with the developing grass or legume seedlings. Some drills are equipped to deliver a deep band of fertilizer ahead of the seed placement, and in this case complete fertilization can be made during the seeding operation.

The seed box should be of the force-feed type. In grain drills, the fluted feed has generally proved the best force-feed type. A simple agitator prevents bridging of the seeds being planted in Montana. Very few Montana drills are equipped with an agitator. Stands would be much more uniform if they were so equipped. Bridging can also be reduced by never filling the drill box more than one-third to one-half full or someone may ride the drill and stir the seed frequently with a stick.

For seeding steep slopes install baffles in the drill box every two feet to prevent the seed from running to one end of the box when seeding on the contour.

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Last Modified: 07/05/2007