A dynamic duo
Lemken has launched a new mounted Solitair drill and Zirkon power harrow combination with a working width of 3-4m. The Solitair MR features a 1,500L tank, which is suitable for fertiliser even in its basic configuration, according to the company. The tank is optionally available with a 2,000L capacity, which can be split 60:40, on request, for simultaneous application of several components. Add the 200L MultiHub to the tank and the Solitair takes efficacy and flexibility to new heights.
MultiHub
Mixed-crop systems can be cultivated in a single pass. Seeds from the MultiHub are placed via the existing seed lines or via a baffle plate in front of or behind the harrows. The MultiHub offers the same number of width sections as the seed drill. The controls are also very user-friendly. The MultiHub control is fully integrated into the user interface of the Isobus terminal as an additional seed line.
Coulter bar
The Solitair MR is equipped with the maintenance-free OptiDisc coulter bar with row spacings of 12.5cm or 15cm and features parallelogram-guided double-disc coulters and trailing depth control rollers for absolutely uniform field emergence. To achieve this, the coulter system is available in a hydraulic version (up to 70kg coulter pressure) and a mechanical version (up to 45kg coulter pressure). Both coulter pressure and seed depth can be adjusted independently of each other and do not affect each other. This is particularly useful in the increasingly popular cultivation of mixed crops, according to Lemken. The correct placement depth for the different crops can be set by applying a separate drilling depth setting to each second row. Seeds are always placed at the same depth, even at high-forward speeds and in changing soils. The depth control roller then presses the seeds down to ensure rapid and even emergence. The distributor heads, which are positioned directly above the coulter bar and do not require a seed return function, ensure excellent transverse distribution.
Metering systems
The new Solitair is equipped with two metering systems. Each of these supplies one distributor with seeds, so that even the basic configuration offers width section or half-width control. A hydraulic tramline mechanism can be added as an option. The Lemken iQblue Drill software supports the work in the field, for example by checking if tramline control is possible. For customers opting for the single or double shot version, the Lemken Solitair MR comes with four metering units for two width sections each, i.e. each tank is connected to two metering units. This means that each of the two distributors can be supplied with both components (single shot) or each of the four distributors can be supplied with one component each (double shot).
A powerful partner
Successful and high-yielding drilling depends on careful seedbed preparation, which must be adapted to the individual conditions on the farm. Here, a combination with a rotary harrow is often the best solution, says Lemken. When the top-mounted seed drill is mounted on the roller of the new generation of Lemken Zirkon MR rotary harrows, the result is a powerful duo, Lemken says. After analysing numerous field trials and measurements, the new Zirkon MR is now approved for tractors up to 240hp, depending on the working width, and can be used in even more versatile applications. The new mounting system ensures that the working depth of the rotary harrow and the sowing depth of the seed drill are not influenced by each other. This makes it easier for customers to set up the machine to suit their needs. The Zirkon offers even greater convenience with hydraulic adjustment of the levelling bar and working depth. Both the Solitair and the Zirkon rotary harrow are available now in limited quantities and will be available in series production from 2025.