A fertilizer row unit including a toolbar coupling, first and second suspension members, a pressure applying device, a wheel assembly, a knife assembly and a wheel down pressure system. The first suspension member has a first end pivotally coupled to the toolbar coupling. The second suspension member is generally parallel to the first suspension member. The pressure applying device is coupled to the first or second suspension member. The wheel assembly has at least one wheel. The knife assembly is pivotally coupled to both the first and second suspension members. The wheel down pressure system is coupled to the wheel assembly, the wheel down pressure system substantially maintaining a selected pressure on the wheel assembly while the pressure applying device applies varying pressure to at least the first suspension member and the second suspension member.

Electric fluid flow monitoring apparatus, and agricultural fluid application systems and methods including the same are described. The fluid flow monitoring apparatus generally includes a housing, a sensor assembly, and a traveler. The housing defines an interior cavity, and includes an inlet for fluid to enter the interior cavity and an outlet for fluid to exit the interior cavity. The sensor assembly is disposed in the interior cavity, and extends longitudinally in the direction of fluid flow. The traveler is movably supported by the sensor assembly such that fluid flow through the interior cavity causes the traveler to move longitudinally along the sensor assembly. The sensor assembly detects a longitudinal position of the traveler relative to the sensor assembly.

A ground treatment apparatus comprises a support device, injection elements, a fluid providing device that is fluidically connected to the injection elements, a drive device by which the injection elements are on the one hand lowerable and raisable in relation to the support device and on the other movable along a working direction of the ground treatment apparatus. The injection elements are insertable into the ground by being lowered in order to inject fluid into the ground in a treatment region, wherein the injection elements remain stationary during engagement in the ground in the treatment region, with relative movement in relation to the support device that is moved in the working direction, wherein the injection elements are raisable after the injection of fluid and are movable in the working direction in relation to the support device, wherein, on being lowered again, the injection elements are insertable into the ground in a further treatment region that is downstream of the first-mentioned treatment region, as seen in the working direction.

Systems, methods and apparatus for monitoring soil properties and applying fertilizer during a planting operation. Various sensors are disposed in ground engaging components for monitoring soil properties. The ground engaging components may have structure for opening a side trench in the sidewalls of the seed trench and may include liquid application conduits for injecting liquid into the sidewalls of the resulting side trenches.

A fluid injection system includes a container, fluid injection device and a fertigation basket. The fluid injection device includes a housing having a flow tube having an inlet end and an outlet end. A shroud is positioned between the inlet end and the outlet end and redefines at least a portion of the fluid pathway as a constricted fluid pathway. A diverter port is between the inlet end and the shroud and diverts a portion of the inlet fluid into the container. An injection port is between the shroud and the outlet end and receives an injection tube. The fertigation basket holds dry product which is dissolved into the container to be drawn out of outlet end via the injection tube.

Systems, methods and apparatus for monitoring soil properties and applying fertilizer during a planting operation. Various sensors are disposed in ground engaging components for monitoring soil properties. The ground engaging components may have structure for opening a side trench in the sidewalls of the seed trench and may include liquid application conduits for injecting liquid into the sidewalls of the resulting side trenches.

The applicator embodiments for applying liquid livestock waste in the form of a slurry beneath the soil surface. Some embodiments include a leading swivel-mounted, spring-cushioned, conical-shaped wavy coulter blade angularly offset from the direction of travel which displaces the soil laterally in forming a furrow adapted to receive slurry. The coulter may be trailed by a single or a pair of optionally spring-cushioned rotary closing blade(s) that are to close the furrow containing the deposited liquid. One or more rotary closing blade(s) is optionally spring loaded to follow the soil contour. Some alternative embodiments utilize a rotary covering blade pivot assembly that is positioned lower and more forward, a larger spring for more blade depth, and/or a single or a pair of rotary covering blades for a scooping movement of the soil and results in more soil to cover the deposited liquid. In various embodiments, a number of injector units are mounted in a side-by-side relation in a spaced manner and springs maintain individual assembly alignment when blades are not engaged in the soil.

A liquid manure spreader includes a spreader vehicle, a transversely extending injector boom having at least one outer boom section pivotable between a transversely-oriented position and a vertically-oriented position, at least one first actuatable linkage assembly for translating the boom vertically between a lowered working position and a raised position, and at least one second actuatable linkage assembly for arcuately pivoting the boom about an axis parallel to the transverse axis between a highest vertical height position and a lower transport position when the boom is in the raised position and the at least one outer boom section is in the vertically-oriented position.

A system for handling a fluid includes a container for separating the fluid into a liquid and a vapor such that at least a portion of the vapor is disposed above the liquid. The system also includes at least one valve for releasing the vapor from the container, at least one sensor to detect a level of the liquid in the container, and a controller in communicatively coupled to the at least one valve and the at least one sensor. The controller is configured to control the at least one valve to release the vapor such that the liquid level is maintained at or above a desired liquid level. The controller is configured to determine diagnostic data based at least in part on signals received from the least one valve and the at least one sensor.

An opener attachment for an agricultural row unit including a frame, an arm pivotally coupled to the frame, an opener disc coupled to the arm and configured to excavate a trench into soil, and a gauge wheel coupled to the arm and configured to block movement of the opener disc into the soil to control a depth of the trench. The opener attachment also includes a mechanical stop coupled to the frame and configured to block the gauge wheel and the opener disc moving toward the soil. In addition, the opener attachment includes an air bag configured to urge the gauge wheel and the opener disc toward the soil.