STRIP TILLAGE IMPLEMENT AND METHOD

Abstract

A strip tillage implement includes a frame, a plurality of row units and a plurality of auxiliary tillage units. The plurality of row units are carried by the frame and spaced apart from each other at a common row spacing, with each row unit being configured for preparing a strip of soil for application of a crop input. The plurality of auxiliary tillage units are located between the row units and spaced apart from each other at the common row spacing, with each auxiliary tillage unit being configured for at least partially processing remains from an already harvested row of crop material.

Claims

1. A strip tillage implement, comprising: a frame; a plurality of row units carried by the frame and spaced apart from each other at a common row spacing, each said row unit being configured for preparing a strip of soil for application of a crop input; and a plurality of auxiliary tillage units located between the row units and spaced apart from each other at the common row spacing, each said auxiliary tillage unit being configured for at least partially processing remains from an already harvested row of crop material.

2. The strip tillage implement of claim 1, wherein each said auxiliary tillage unit is located approximately centered between an adjacent pair of row units.

3. The strip tillage implement of claim 1, wherein each said auxiliary tillage unit is configured to include at least one of: at least one colter blade; at least one turbo blade; a chopper/roller device; and a cutting blade.

4. The strip tillage implement of claim 3, wherein each said auxiliary tillage unit is configured for at least partially processing below ground surface remains from the already harvested row of crop material.

5. The strip tillage implement of claim 3, wherein each said colter blade is flat or waffled.

6. The strip tillage implement of claim 5, wherein each said colter blade is a concave disc.

7. The strip tillage implement of claim 3, wherein the already harvested row of crop material is corn, and wherein each said cutting blade is a generally horizontal cutting blade configured to cut off corn stalks within approximately an inch or less above the ground surface.

8. The strip tillage implement of claim 1, wherein the frame includes a first cross frame member and a second cross frame member, spaced apart from each other in a travel direction of the strip tillage implement, the first cross frame member carrying the plurality of row units and the second cross frame member carrying the plurality of auxiliary row units.

9. The strip tillage implement of claim 1, wherein the crop input includes at least one of seed, fertilizer, herbicide and insecticide.

10. A method of strip tillage, comprising the steps of: preparing a plurality of strips of soil for application of a crop input using a plurality of row units spaced apart from each other at a common row spacing; and at least partially processing remains from an already harvested row of crop material using a plurality of auxiliary tillage units located between the row units and spaced apart from each other at the common row spacing.

11. The method of strip tillage of claim 10, wherein the at least partially processing step includes at least partially processing below ground surface remains from the already harvested row of crop material.

12. The method of strip tillage of claim 10, wherein each said auxiliary tillage unit is located approximately centered between an adjacent pair of row units.

13. The method of strip tillage of claim 10, wherein each said auxiliary tillage unit is configured to include at least one of: at least one colter blade; at least one turbo blade; a chopper/roller device; and a cutting blade.

14. The method of strip tillage of claim 13, wherein each said colter blade is flat or waffled.

15. The method of strip tillage of claim 14, wherein each said colter blade is a concave disc.

16. The method of strip tillage of claim 13, wherein the already harvested row of crop material is corn, and wherein each said cutting blade is a generally horizontal cutting blade configured to cut off corn stalks within approximately an inch or less above the ground surface.

17. The method of strip tillage of claim 10, wherein the crop input includes at least one of seed, fertilizer, herbicide and insecticide.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0018] FIG. 1 is a top view of a portion of a strip tillage implement, including an embodiment of an auxiliary tillage arrangement of the present invention;

[0019] FIG. 2 is a side schematic view of an auxiliary tillage unit used in the auxiliary tillage arrangement shown in FIG. 1;

[0020] FIG. 3 is a top view of a portion of a strip tillage implement, including another embodiment of an auxiliary tillage arrangement of the present invention;

[0021] FIG. 4 is a front schematic view of another embodiment of an auxiliary tillage unit which can be used with a strip tillage implement;

[0022] FIG. 5 is a top view of a portion of a strip tillage implement, including another embodiment of an auxiliary tillage arrangement of the present invention;

[0023] FIG. 6 is a top view of a portion of a strip tillage implement, including yet another embodiment of an auxiliary tillage arrangement of the present invention; and

[0024] FIG. 7 is a top schematic view of a further embodiment of an auxiliary tillage unit of the present invention.

[0025] Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplifications set out herein illustrate embodiments of the invention, and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown a strip tillage implement 10 which generally includes a frame 12 with a hitch 14 which can be towed in a travel direction 16 by a traction unit (such as a tractor, not shown).

[0027] A plurality of row units 18 are carried by the frame 12 and spaced apart from each other at a common row spacing. In the embodiment shown, the strip tillage implement is assumed to be set up for a 30 inch row spacing (referenced RS). Each row unit 18 is configured for preparing a strip of soil for application of a crop input, such as seed, fertilizer, herbicide and/or insecticide. Examples of row units which are effective for use with a strip tillage implement are shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,794,345 (Knobloch et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 7,156,186 (Knobloch et al.) and U.S. Pat. No. 6,871,709 (Knobloch et al.), each of which are assigned to the assignee of the present invention.

[0028] The frame 12 also carries an auxiliary tillage arrangement 20 with a plurality of auxiliary tillage units 22 which are located between the row units 18 and spaced apart from each other at the common row spacing RS; the same as the row spacing between the row units 18. Each auxiliary tillage unit 22 is located approximately centered between an adjacent pair of row units 18. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the frame 12 can include a first cross frame member 12A and a second cross frame member 12B, spaced apart from each other in the travel direction 16 of the strip tillage implement 10, with the first cross frame member 12A carrying the plurality of row units 18 and the second cross frame member 12B carrying the plurality of auxiliary row units 22.

[0029] Each auxiliary tillage unit 22 is configured for at least partially processing the remains from an already harvested row of crop material 23, such as corn stalks 23A having root balls 23B below the ground surface G. The auxiliary tillage unit 22 processes the remains of the already harvested row of crop material in such a way that it will better decompose in the time period before the next crop is planted. For example, each auxiliary tillage unit 22 can be configured for at least partially processing the below ground surface remains from the already harvested row of crop material. In the case of a crop such as corn having a root ball below the ground surface, this auxiliary processing reduces the size of the root ball, returns nutrients to the soil, and allows a better strip to be formed during the following strip tillage operation.

[0030] Various types of auxiliary tillage units 22 can be used with the auxiliary tillage arrangement of the present invention. For example, each auxiliary tillage unit 22 can be configured to include: at least one colter blade; at least one turbo blade; a chopper/roller device; and/or a cutting blade. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the auxiliary tillage units 22 are configured as chopper reels to chop up the corn stalks above the ground surface level and also chop up and stir the soil and upper portion of the corn root balls.

[0031] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the auxiliary tillage units 22 (only 1 of which is shown) are configured as generally vertical colter blades 24 which are positioned on either side of the corn stalks and cut into each side of the root crown of the root ball. The colter blades 24 can be flat or waffled, and dislodge the root crown. The colter blades 24 can extend downwardly enough to cut through the root crown and into the root ball. An optional generally vertical third colter blade (not shown) can also be added between the colter blades 24 to dissect the corn stalks and root crown. In this embodiment, one of the auxiliary tillage units 22 is carried by first cross frame member 12A and another one of the auxiliary tillage units 22 is carried by the second cross frame member 12B. Although the various embodiment only show a few of the auxiliary tillage units, it is to be understood that auxiliary tillage units are likely positioned between each of the row units 18.

[0032] Referring to FIG. 4, another embodiment of an auxiliary tillage unit 22 can include colter blades that are oriented at an angle to cut into the underground remains of the crop. For example, the colter blades 24 can be oriented at an approximate 45 angle to dissect the root ball. The colter blades can be flat, concave or waffled.

[0033] Referring to FIG. 5, another embodiment of an auxiliary tillage unit 22 can include turbo blades 26 that cut into the underground crop remains. A first turbo blade 26 dislodges the underground crop remains in a first lateral direction, and a second turbo blade 26 dislodges the underground crop remains in an opposite second lateral direction. A Turbo Blade is the name of a colter blade manufactured and sold by the assignee of the present invention which uses shallow blade concavity and turbo vanes to move soil up, over and out.

[0034] Referring now to FIG. 6, another embodiment of an auxiliary tillage unit 22 can include wavy colters 28 that cut into the underground crop remains. The wavy, waffled or fluted colters 28 can be oriented generally vertically on either side of the corn stalks, and can be spaced apart at a predetermined distance (e.g., 4 inches).

[0035] Referring now to FIG. 7, there is shown another embodiment of an auxiliary tillage unit 22 including a generally horizontal colter blade 24 acting as a cutting blade to cut off corn stalks within approximately an inch or less above the ground surface.

[0036] During operation of a strip tillage implement utilizing an auxiliary tillage arrangement 20 of the present invention, a plurality of strips of soil are prepared for application of a crop input using a plurality of row units 18 spaced apart from each other at a common row spacing RS. Remains from an already harvested row of crop material are at least partially processed using a plurality of auxiliary tillage units 22 located between the row units 18 and spaced apart from each other at the common row spacing RS. The plurality of auxiliary tillage units 22 can be used to at least partially process the below ground surface remains from the already harvested row of crop material.

[0037] While this invention has been described with respect to at least one embodiment, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.