Testing of drift reducing maize sowing machines

Abstract

The sowing machines used today are mostly precision airplanters with vacuum singling. In southern Germany, Monosem sowing machines are widespread but Kuhn, Amazone and Gaspardo are also used.

The main problem with all sowing machines with vacuum singling is that abrasion dust which contains a lot of seed treatment products is blown through the fan outlet into the air and drifts to flowering plants nearby (but sometimes also further afield).

Together with the manufacturers Julius Kühn-Institute (JKI) has established a drift test where modified sowing machines are tested against standard machines with high drift. In autumn 2008 the sowing machines of all well known manufacturers were tested by the Institute for Application Techniques in Plant Protection and those which proved a drift reduction of at least 90 % were registered in the JKI-list “drift reducing maize sowing machines“.

In the meantime the legal regulations have been modified resulting in both a higher quality of seed coating as well as drift reduction. The first re-registration of an insecticide for maize seed shows that maize seed treated with Mesurol may not be sown by precision airplanters with vacuum singling unless they have been modernised so that a drift reduction of more than 90 % is guaranteed. Precision airplanters registered in the JKI-list “drift reducing maize sowing machines” fulfil these demands. This requirement is not relevant for precision airplanters with mechanical or overpressure singling.

Precision airplanters for maize already used by farmers can be equipped with drift reduction kits tested and registered by the JKI. Precision airplanters, for which drift reduction kits have not been tested or listed, cannot be used any more. A modification of the sowing machines by the farmer himself is not allowed.