Fans of power harrow seed drill combinations can go to 6m with a trailed implement now that Lemken has introduced the Solitair PT.

Complementing the manufacturer’s tractor-mounted 8+ and MR versions in 3m to 4m sizes, the newcomer offers greater output without needing the tractor lift power to handle a linkage-carried tool.

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The Solitair PT combines a Lemken Zirkon power harrow with a 4,400-litre seed-only hopper or 5,100-litre seed and fertiliser tank, and an OptiDisc seeding bar carrying double-disc openers.

A rubber tyre packer roller of 900mm diameter and in a slightly staggered single-row formation comes between the two, consolidating the tilth produced by the harrow to retain moisture and give the coulters a firmer surface to work into.

While this is the standard setup – with the addition of tine or disc wheel track eradicators – growers who plan to use the outfit on pre-tilled or ploughed ground can add a leading rubber tyre packer to crush clods and level the ground before the harrow does its bit.

Soil working

The Zirkon harrow features a heavy-duty all-welded gear trough and four tine carriers for every metre of working width.

There is a choice of standard, hard-faced or carbide tines, all secured by bolts or a quick-change mechanism, and positioned in a forward angled “grip” or trailing “drag” arrangement.

Hydraulic depth adjustment enables operators to fine-tune the setup for fast and shallow to slow and deep working.

Variation of forward and rotor speed is matched to the prevailing soil type and conditions, and the effect required.

Mid-way through the implement, a set of rigid, rearward angled straight tines can be added behind the packer tyres to further level the resulting surface.

A row of plastic trapezoidal discs is available as an option with in-cab pressure adjustment for pre-coulter consolidation on light to medium soils.

Out back, the familiar Solitair OptiDisc places seed or seed and fertiliser from the same coulter, together with a further component in this one-shot approach when Lemken’s 500-litre MultiHub unit is added.

The double-disc coulters are set 125mm or 167mm apart on trailing parallel linkages providing mechanical up to 45kg or hydraulic up to 70kg pressure adjustment.

An integrated press wheel brings up the rear, together with “S” flexible harrow tines with depth and pressure adjustment to finish the surface.

An isobus universal terminal such as Lemken’s CCI-1200 is used for all calibration and control functions.

The iQblue app for Android and iOS devices is an option to link to the drill without a physical connection and gain remote error code access.