Amazone, Lemken and Maschio Gaspardo lay claim to the most notable changes in this year’s buyer’s guide to trailed combination drills.

These implements pair disc coulters with a cultivation element to complete seed-bed preparation and sowing in a single pass.

See also: Angus grower builds custom single-pass drill to save labour

© Amazone

Amazone

Two new models have been added at the top end of the already large Cirrus line-up.

The 8m Cirrus 8004 Grand TwinTecC+ and 9m 9004 version both carry two rows of fixed-angle serrated or notched discs running in pairs on rubber-cushioned arms.

These are followed by a full-width tyre packer, then 380mm twin-disc openers with up to 100kg of downforce.

There’s a choice of 125mm or 166mm row spacings, with the coulters fed by a 5,900-litre seed and fertiliser hopper and individual row shut-off as standard.

Additional options include a front-mounted “crush board” or a traction tread tyre packer, and a “green seeder”.

© Lemken

Lemken

New Solitair PT drills replace Compact Solitair models and are available in four 6m versions with a choice of 4,400 or 5,100-litre hopper and 125 or 167mm row spacing.

A full-width, three-section tyre packer leads the way, followed by a Zirkon power harrow, a mechanical or hydraulically adjustable levelling bar, a second set of consolidation wheels and then a choice of seed coulter bars at the rear.

Four modular metering units supply seed and fertiliser through a seed wheel and bottom flap system, and control is by way of the isobus-based iQblue Drill system via a tractor screen or any compatible terminal.

© Maschio

Maschio Gaspardo

Maschio Gaspardo’s Opera 600 is a 6m combination drill designed for cultivating, drilling seed and applying fertiliser in one pass.

The standard format includes 380mm cultivator discs at the front – with the option to incorporate fertiliser – followed by a staggered, full-width row of consolidation wheels.

Then come the 380mm double-disc seeding coulters (48 in total) and a spring tine rake at the rear.

Seed and fertiliser is supplied by a 5,100-litre hopper, split 60/40 or 50/50.

Cultivating discs and seed coulter assemblies are all independently mounted for accurate ground contour following, and scrapers inside the latter allow it to work in wetter conditions without clogging up.

A 3m Opera is in development and likely to be added to the line-up next year.