In a bid to make more efficient use of valuable nutrients on maize crops, French firm Agrisem has introduced a high-tech inter-row applicator.
The Fertill comes in a range of sizes, with both mounted and trailed configurations, topping out at an acre-gobbling 12m.
In all cases, the company has designed the chassis with plenty of clearance so that it can be used well into the growing season.
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Application is via a set of disc coulters that are designed to slice into the soil and cut through any trash. The liquid is then dribbled behind this using a special boot, before an angled wheel closes the slot.
To maintain ground contact and give even placement, the disc units ride on parallel linkages with air bags to vary the amount of pressure they put on the soil.
There are also springs on each disc to help them react to some of the finer undulations.
In most cases, fertiliser is piped from a front tank, available in capacities from 700 to 2,200 litres, but larger trailed machines can have these mounted on the top of the chassis.
To warn the operator of any blockages, the liquid passes through a simple floating-ball flow gauge.
The firm is completing its final tests before putting the Fertill on sale. Since ending its relationship with KRM in 2019, Agrisem has no UK distributor. However, it says it is actively looking for one.
