Quick, cheap and timely cover crop establishment are the attractions of the NutriSeeder applicator developed specifically for Claydon’s 7.5m Straw Harrow.

Two versions are available – one with a single 200-litre Techneat-sourced hopper and the firm’s own metering unit, and a second with a pair of each.

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Perks of the twin arrangement include the obvious increase in carrying capacity, and the ability to store two seed types or mixes before they meet in the distribution head.

This allows for more accurate metering of different species, says Claydon, and avoids the risk of seed separating in the hopper as the outfit rattles across stubble fields.

© MAG/Oliver Mark

Forward spreading

Unusually, the eight broadcast spreader plates point forward from the front of the implement.

As these harrows tend to accumulate a fair bit of straw, this ensures distribution is uniform, the seed reaches the ground, and that it is lightly worked into the soil – to a maximum depth of about 30mm – as the tines pass through.

Claydon recommends making headland turns with the harrow on the deck to avoid leaving clumps or straw and weed seeds around the field boundary.

Because of this, it has opted to run the on/off control of the applicator through one of the tractor’s spool valves.

Working speed will be governed by seed rate which, at 15kph, is up to 30kg/ha for wheat, 15kg/ha for grass, and 25kg/ha for cover crops. Different metering wheels are available to suit.

The NutriSeeder will initially be available on the 7.5m Straw Harrow, before a likely rollout to the 3m, 7.5m and 9m mounted models and, in time, the 12m and 15m traileds. No word yet on price.