When planting seeds in the farmland, the two things that are important for the producers are the uniformity and consistency of germination and emergence of the seeds. It is only with the uniformity and consistency of germination and emergence, that the corns can grow at the same pace to deliver higher potential yield. To achieve this objective, conditions of the soil, farming equipment, weather conditions, tillage, etc. play a crucial role. One of the important agriculture equipment is the standard closing wheel which is attached with the planters or tractors to cover the seed furrow.
The standard closing wheel is ideally required by the planters to not just close the seed furrow but also to eliminate the sidewall compaction. Most of the standard closing wheel fails to give the desired results under certain soil conditions, especially in no-till soil conditions. However, the advanced and innovative steel-made Germinator closing wheels are better than the traditional and outdated standard closing wheel that eliminates the risk of sidewall compaction as well as air pockets. Hence, there is proper seed-to-soil contact that keeps the seed moisten and helps in faster and consistent germination and emergence of the seed.
How can producers attain the desired uniformity when planting the seeds?
It is found that closing the seed furrow properly and maintaining appropriate seed-to-soil contact is necessary for achieving uniform germination and emergence of the seeds. To improve the uniformity of the seed at the time of placing and for consistent germination, it is necessary that proper farming equipment or the corn planter closing wheels should be used for closing the seed furrow.
Closing wheels have turned out to be a major contributor to uniform germination and emergence. Various spiked closing wheels made from rubber, iron, and copper have been tested by the producers in their farmland in various soil conditions such as dry, moist and wet, including no-till soil conditions.
Are Closing Wheels effective in uniformity of the germination and emergence?
Indeed, the closing wheel of the planter is helpful in uniform germination and emergence of the seed. The following are the reasons that make corn planter closing wheels an effective solution for the uniformity of germination and emergence.
1. Tail of the standard closing wheel
The tail of the standard closing wheel is also one of the major factors that affect the emergence of the seed. A tail that has been used for a minimal amount of vertical movement, results in potential inconsistencies in the covering of the trench. The other reason that is observed for inconsistencies in the trench is that due to the limited amount of vertical movement, the pitch of the standard closing wheels changes. As the tail of the closing wheels moves up, then the pitch of the closing wheels becomes wider. On the other hand, when the tail of the closing wheels moves down, the pitch becomes narrower which leads to the struggle of closing the trench successfully.
2. Eliminating Sidewall Compaction
One of the best closing wheels, that is, Germinator Closing Wheels is made from steel that does not have sharp edges. It is suitable for all soil conditions including no-till soil when it comes to covering the seed furrow properly. As a result, it eliminates the sidewall compaction which is necessary for the proper growth of roots and development of the stem.
3. Reduce down pressure
When the appropriate down pressure is applied on the soil to cover the seed furrow, the seed is covered properly from all sides. As a result, better seed-to-soil contact is maintained and the seed remains moist. This leads to uniformity of the germination of the seeds at a similar pace.
4. Remove air pockets
The standard closing wheels made from steel are helpful in eliminating the air pockets which hinders the growth and development of the seeds as well as the roots. When there are no air pockets while the seed is covered, the seed germinates and emerges faster.
5. Proper depth
Ideally, the depth of placing the seed is 1.5 inches to 2 inches. The standard closing wheels must be able to cover the seed while maintaining the ideal depth. If the seed is placed at a depth less than 1.5 inches, then it is going to make the seed dry due to lack of moisture, and the seed may eventually dry. On the other hand, if the seed is placed deeper than 1.5 inches, then the germination and emergence of the seed will be slower. This will lead to inconsistency in the germination and emergence of the seed. As a result, there is going to be a huge loss per bushel per acre to the producer.
Above are some of the points that are helpful in uniform germination and emergence of the seed. However, it is necessary to employ the best agriculture equipment such as Germinator Closing Wheels that are made from high-grade steel. It is resistant to corrosion and rust and is an ideal choice for producers in all soil conditions including no-till soil conditions. The results are incredible and the potential yield is high.
