Precea precision air seeder and harrow-mounted precision air seeder

Fast, accurate, user-friendly

At Agritechnica, AMAZONE will be showing the new Precea precision air seeder. The rigid Precea 3000 and the telescopic Precea 4500-2 will be introduced in the first release. An additional highlight of the AMAZONE offering is the Precea 3000-A harrow-mounted, precision air seeder with QuickLink interface. At the heart of the Precea is the new singling method that combines the positive characteristics of the ED and the EDX. This results in very accurate singling, even at high driving speeds up to 15 km/h.

Precise singling

The metering of the Precea is based on overpressure. The seed and the entire metering unit are pressurised by a blower fan. The seed flows out of the seed hopper and in front of the centralised singling disc. The centralised singling disc hermetically seals the metering unit. The maize seeds are pressed against the holes in the disc and carried along as the centralised singling disc rotates. As the disc rotates further, the maize seeds, which are pressed against the disc, pass three stripper fingers. If several seeds are located in one hole, the excess grains are knocked away, so that there are no doubles. As an option, the stripper can be adjusted from the terminal in the tractor cab. After the maize seeds are singled by the strippers, they are then propelled onwards over a short distance. As soon as the seed reaches the propulsion channel, the overpressure on the centralised singling disc is interrupted and the seed is shot into the propulsion channel. An optical seed monitor is located above the propulsion channel. It monitors the singling and indicates any misses and doubles on the terminal in the tractor.

The Precea is available with the SmartControl automated stripper adjustment to facilitate further optimisation and automation of the singling process. During this procedure, the optical seed monitor detects the misses and the doubles and adjusts the stripper accordingly. This makes it easier for the driver, prevents any unintended misses and doubles, and results in very accurate singling of the seeds on the disc. The furrow former cuts a clean furrow in the ground. The seed is shot into the furrow and is consistently placed by the catcher roller. This prevents the seed from rolling away and the seed acquires optimum soil contact and thus optimum water contact.

One special aspect is the sealing of the over-pressure singling. The centralised singling disc is in close contact with the pressure chamber. The pressure chamber rotates along with the centralised singling disc, so that any abrasion of the disc against the seal of the pressure chamber is avoided. The torque values generated by the Precea are therefore very low, meaning that the machine does not require its own power supply apart from the electric drive of the machine. The machine also offers completely new opportunities regarding high speed and precision, even with the mechanical drive.

New opportunities provided by the singling drive

Singling on the rigid Precea 3000 and the telescopic 4500-2 can be driven either mechanically or electrically. The Precea 3000-A precision air seeder attachment is only available with electrical drive.

Precea Special precision air seeder

The SpeedShaft mechanical drive in combination with the easy-driving, over-pressure singling system facilitates driving speeds up to 12 km/h without compromise in regard to the longitudinal distribution, even for entry-level models. AMAZONE is the first company to combine high-speed singling with mechanical drive. The drive is provided by the so-called Flex-shaft. Whilst chain drives tend to build up oscillations at high driving speeds, and thus have a negative effect on longitudinal distribution, the Flex- shaft runs very smoothly, even at high driving speeds. The drive is also very maintenance-friendly, since all the components are lubricated for life and the SpeedShaft drive demonstrates very little wear. This innovative mechanical drive can outperform comparable systems in this sector by 15 to 25 %.

Precea Super precision air seeder

The ElectricDrive option provides a separate electric motor for each overpressure singling unit. The seed rate can thus be adjusted very easily on the terminal. Alternatively, the seed rate can be adapted to suit specific part-areas using application maps. It is also very easy to implement single row shut-off for the creation of tramlines or accurate switching on or switching off in wedge-shaped fields and tapering headlands. This electric drive also provides the option of individually increasing the seed rate in selected marginal rows or rows next to the tramline. In combination with the electric drive, the Precea is capable of singling at speeds of up to 15 km/h.

PreTeC mulch seeding coulter

The PreTeC mulch seeding coulter has a maximum coulter pressure of 220 kg, using mechanical coulter pressure, and 400 kg using hydraulic coulter pressure. This ensures smooth running and even field emergence under the hardest of soil conditions. The coulter can be used for seeding after the plough, mulch seeding or direct seeding. The complete mulch seeding unit is reliably guided by two large carrying rollers. Soil opening is performed by a double disc unit, including a furrow former. Once the seed has been embedded in the soil by the catcher roller, the V-pressure rollers follow to close up the furrow again.

The coulter unit can be quickly adapted to the specific field requirements without the need for tools. The placement depth can be individually adjusted using a quadrant. This reduces the load on the catcher roller. The coulter pressure is either determined mechanically by a spring for each separate coulter unit, or, as an alternative, be adjusted remotely from the tractor cab using hydraulics. The contact pressure and the opening angle of the V-pressure rollers can also be adjusted very easily without the use of tools.

The complete coulter unit is easily accessible. The maintenance involved is very low, due to the use of well-sealed, maintenance-free bearings and bushes. In addition, the propulsion channel can be easily removed and cleaned.

Additional soil-engaging options for the PreTeC coulter

Working with additional soil-engaging options on the coulter may be necessary, depending on the soil conditions and the preceding crop. AMAZONE offers both clod and star clearers to run in front of the coulter. The clod clearers are used to remove clods and stones from the seeding area. The star clearers remove straw or other plant remains from the row of seeds. The working depth of both systems can be individually adjusted.

Seed hopper

The seed hoppers hold 55 l. The pressurised tanks can be opened with one hand and are protected by a rubber lip against dust ingress. Furthermore, the hopper lids have a chute for removing the residual seed. The seed hopper and the centralised singling unit can be quickly emptied without the need for tools. The seed chute, which is part of the delivery, can be mounted on both sides of the singling unit. The seed hopper can also be equipped with a fill level sensor, so that the driver is warned early of low seed reserves.

The fertiliser hopper
The Precea precision air seeder can be combined with double-shoot under-root fertilisation. If the Precea is equipped with this fertiliser system, the model description of the machine includes a “CC”, e.g. the Precea 4500-2CC. Depending on the model and the level of equipment, a 950 l or a 1,250 l fertiliser hopper can be utilised. The large hopper opening of 225 mm width by 70 mm depth makes filling with an auger conveyor system just as convenient as filling with a front end loader bucket. The large window at the rear of the fertiliser hopper also helps make filling easier. The roll-over cover protects the fertiliser from dust ingress and the twin-tip hopper profile ensures low residual volumes and clean fertiliser metering. The fill level can also be checked using appropriate sensor systems.

The comfortable Precis fertiliser metering system

The fertiliser metering system of the precision air seeder is handled by the Precis metering system via the SmartCenter. The electric metering drive with standard agitator shaft ensures a high level of operating comfort and reduced set-up times, which results in higher work rates. In this combination, the fertiliser application rate can easily be changed via the terminal or automatically using application maps, if required. Calibration is carried out on the operator terminal or using the TwinTerminal down at the machine. Or, as an alternative, the fertiliser metering can also be mechanically driven and adjusted manually.

The fertiliser is individually metered for each row and is actively conveyed by an air stream to the FerTeC Twin double disc fertiliser coulters, which are individually adjustable for depth. This avoids blockages and ensures continuous fertiliser feed.

Machine control for every individual demand

The electrically driven Precea can be operated and monitored via ISOBUS. For ISOBUS versions, machine control is carried out using any of the AMAZONE ISOBUS terminals (AmaTron 4 and AmaPad 2) plus other suitable commercially available terminals. The clearly laid-out AMAZONE ISOBUS software is controlled via user-friendly symbol keys and buttons. The touch-optimised operation makes it easy for the user to navigate through the software. Freely programmable buttons and status displays allow individual adaptation of the operating interface for each driver. The terminal can therefore easily be used to monitor and adjust fertiliser metering and grain singling. Parameters such as target spacing and doubles and blanks are displayed on the terminal.

Checking the singling with the machine-specific AmaCheck terminal allows reliable monitoring of the singling process on an otherwise purely mechanical Precea machine.

The Precea 4500-2 and 4500-2CC come with different frame options

The Precea 4500-2 and 4500-2CC are based on a telescopic frame. The singling units are clamped to this special carrying frame. The customer can choose between simple telescopic, two-section telescopic or variable telescopic frames. With the simple telescopic and two-section telescopic frames, the units are mounted at a set row spacing, for example the 6 units on the Precea 4500-2 for maize sowing are mounted at a fixed row spacing of 75 cm. Row spacings from 45 cm to 80 cm are possible with the Precea. Whilst the transport width of the simple telescopic frame is greater than 3 m, the transport width of the two-section telescopic frame is just 3 m. The variable telescopic frame is then available if the machine is required to be operated at two different row spacings.

The Precea can therefore be used for 6-row sugar beet sowing at 45 cm spacing and at 75 cm spacing for maize sowing.

The unique bearing concept of the telescopic frame minimises wear and keeps surface tracks to a minimum.

The QuickLink quick-release coupling system for the harrow-mounted Precea 3000-ACC precision air seeder

The Precea 3000-ACC is combined with an AMAZONE soil tillage unit by the QuickLink quick-release coupling system. The Precea can be mounted on a KX or KG rotary cultivator, and the maize sowing can be combined with seedbed preparation in a single pass. The QuickLink quick-release coupling system allows for rapid separation of the Precea and the soil tillage unit without the need for tools. The same soil tillage unit can also be combined with the AMAZONE grain drill system, since it has the same QuickLink quick-release coupling system.

Micro micro-granular applicator

Along with the introduction of the new Precea precision air seeder, AMAZONE has developed a new micro-granular applicator. The 17 l hopper, with separate metering unit, facilitates accurate metering of the various materials. The Micro applicator is, for example, used for spreading micro-nutrients, insecticides, slug pellets, etc. and AMAZONE offers 3 different metering rollers for distributing the different materials. The granules can be distributed at various positions. The micro-granules are distributed directly in the seed row, together with the singled seed. A diffuser that applies the granules above the closed furrow is a further option for applying micro-granules.

The coulter can, at the same time, be provided with several distribution points.

The new micro-granular applicator is installed on each individual seed row. The decentralised Micro applicator can switch off individual rows, depending on the seed, so that micro-nutrients are saved in odd-shaped field corners. The quantity applied can also be controlled using application maps.

Operation of the micro-granular applicator is looked after by the Precea ISOBUS control.

The micro-granular applicator fulfils the highest quality expectations and also meters perfectly even where very small amounts are required.