https://www.engineeringnews.co.za

Revolutionary New Maize Trials Planter

13th January 2016

  

Font size: - +

This article has been supplied as a media statement and is not written by Creamer Media. It may be available only for a limited time on this website.

Plant  (0.02 MB)

Company Announcement - A unique and revolutionary eight-row precision planter, the first of its kind in South Africa, has been imported by Monsanto to accelerate the planting of maize yield trials and to improve data quality with more accurate precision planting technology. The project was initiated in February 2011 and finally came to fruition with the delivery of the planter in August 2014. The Almaco precision planter has sophisticated engineered features and boasts the world's most advanced technology. A John Deere 8245R tractor with auto steer functionality was also purchased to operate the planter.
 
The planter can be programmed to implement planting density, fertiliser application rates, plot length and row width. "Plant population can be programmed while planting, from 20 000 plants/ha to 130 000 plants/ha. Fertiliser buckets are electronically operated to ensure that each plant gets precisely the same application. Up to four different fertiliser applications can be accommodated in one experimental field if required," says Mauritz Lombaard, testing operations manager of the maize breeding team at Monsanto.
 
Experimental plots of varying lengths are planted at 75cm, 91cm, 1.5m or 2.3m row widths, depending on the precipitation levels of the area. The planter is operated by two persons seated on top of the planter who feed the planting tubes with pre-packed seed envelopes containing different experimental hybrids. Every plot is mapped according to GPS coordinates and is harvested with specially converted New Holland combines to collect yield data. Research Yield Trials are planted across five provinces – Gauteng, Free State, Mpumalanga, North West and Northern Cape – by a skilled testing team.
 
All trials are planted on land rented from commercial farmers. The farmers play a critical role in the quality of the trials. Trials are adapted according to the farmer’s practices and fertiliser recommendations, as well as insect and weed control measures.
 

Edited by Creamer Media Reporter

Comments

Showroom

Weir Minerals Africa and Middle East
Weir Minerals Africa and Middle East

Weir Minerals Europe, Middle East and Africa is a global supplier of excellent minerals solutions, including pumps, valves, hydrocyclones,...

VISIT SHOWROOM 
Hanna Instruments Image
Hanna Instruments (Pty) Ltd

We supply customers with practical affordable solutions for their testing needs. Our products include benchtop, portable, in-line process control...

VISIT SHOWROOM 

Latest Multimedia

sponsored by

Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):

Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format

Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):

All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.

Already a subscriber?

Forgotten your password?

MAGAZINE & ONLINE

SUBSCRIBE

RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA

SUBSCRIBE

CORPORATE PACKAGES

CLICK FOR A QUOTATION







sq:0.078 0.141s - 158pq - 2rq
Subscribe Now