3c concept leaflet

AMAZONEN-Werke H. Dreyer GmbH & Co. KG • www.amazone.de

3C – the crop establishment concept

MI1677 (GB) 2008

3C –

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Publisher:AMAZONEN-Werke, H. Dreyer GmBH & Co. KGD-49205 Hasbergen-Gaste

www.amazone.de

Authors: Dr. Sven Dutzi, AMAZONE product managementDirk Brömstrup, AMAZONE marketing Editor: Dr. Franz-Peter Schollen, www.luftbild-auto.deLayout and setting: Marion Schnepf, www.lokbase.comMedia technique: Köster & Gloger GmbH, OsnabrückPrint: Wentker Druck, Greven

Reprint, even in parts, only with the written approval of the publisher.

Token fee 10,– Euro© AMAZONEN-Werke 2008


Contents

The 3C crop establishment concept and the AMAZONE philosophy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 1. Cost advantage or safety? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

The objectives of all soil cultivation measures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9Factors for successful conservation soil cultivation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11Reasons for conventional crop establishment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12The 3C crop establishment concept. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

2. What counts: The basic rules of the 3C crop establishment concept . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14Rule 1: As deep as necessary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15Rule 2: As fl exible as possible. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15Rule 3: Soil moisture preservation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16Rule 4: Optimising straw incorporation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16Rule 5: An early, speedy fi nish. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

3. AMAZONE machinery within the 3C crop establishment concept . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

First operational pass: Stubble working and volunteer germination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19Second operational pass: Deep soil cultivation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20Third operational pass: Sowing operation (solo or in combination) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21Fertilisation and crop protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

4. Cooperation: Theory and practice together for optimum functionality . . . . . . . . . . . 23Stubble germination with the Catros compact disc cultivator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24Soil cultivation with the Cenius or Centaur. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26Sowing with rotary cultivator-sowing combinations, Cirrus or Citan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

5. Trials results: Constant high yields with clear cost advantages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32AMAZONE trials at Leipzig, Saxony. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34AMAZONE trials at Huntlosen, Lower Saxony . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36AMAZONE trials at Petersdorf (Fehmarn, Schleswig-Holstein) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38Results with regard to fuel consumption and establishment time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

6. AMAZONE methodology – the systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .423C technology for areas up to 100 ha . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .443C technology for areas from 100 to 300 ha . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .463C technology for areas from 300 to 500 ha . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .483C technology for areas of more than 500 ha . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .503C technology for contractors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 523C technology for different climatic zones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54

7. Professionals report on their experiences with AMAZONE machinery . . . . . . . . . . . .56Catros and Cenius on a mixed farm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58With Catros and Cirrus in the most arduous conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61The effects are really put into action . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64

8. Result: Conservation soil cultivation will prevail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68

Epilogue of the editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70AMAZONE: Factory sites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71Additional information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72

The 3C crop establishment concept and the AMAZONE philosophyNow, 3C – the crop establishment concept is available to you in its 5th edition – with a new look and new content. Again the focus is the knowledge concerning conservation soil cultivation techniques and in this new edition, AMAZONE has, systematically and concisely, compiled together the most important facts, objectives and measures.

The 3C concept – Cost-Cutting-Concept – that means reducing costs and in today’s world that’s what matters above all! Not only for every geographical location and its peculiarities, but also for any farm size, the right machinery and methods for soil cultivation and sowing have to be used. It is basically a matter of faith, whether to operate with the plough or without in a conservation regime. Rather important is the practical answer to this, how soil cultivation and sowing can be carried out at the most reasonable cost according to the farm’s specifi c circumstances. So, there are farms which cultivate their land completely without the plough whereas others prac-tice this partially or not at all, depending on the given facts of a farm. In this way this brochure impartially discusses the possibilities, however, also the possible diffi culties with conservation soil tillage.

For AMAZONE – as a global specialist for intelligent crop production – it is a special challenge, to be able to always offer the right machinery and optimum systems, worldwide, for any climate and for any farm structure. AMAZONE has this possibility due to the extensive, well-rounded AMAZONE machinery programme. With its range of active and passive soil tillage implements and sowing combinations matching systems can be put together for any farm and cultivation structure. Add to that the comprehensive AMAZONE programme for ferti-liser spreaders and crop protection sprayers and in this way AMAZONE is then able to offer its customers com-plete system chains from stubble working to fi nal spray-ing operation. The AMAZONE programme – even with-out a plough in it – provides the customer with a solution for all operational passes prior to and following the plough and also with well-matched system components.

It is obvious, the international trend and the demand tends more and more to be in the direction of conserva-tion soil tillage systems, in order to further reduce costs.

Therefore, AMAZONE, with its own developments con-sciously focuses in this area. In general here not where the individual machines are concerned but the different systems. “Saving from the system” therefore is a very important part of the 3C crop establishment concept. It is embedded in the “architecture of modern crop pro-duction” containing the entire chain from harvest and straw distribution up to the new sowing operation.

The AMAZONE philosophy also includes an advisory serv-ice around the effective utilisation of the different sys-tems. Therefore, the basis for all AMAZONE activities is the co-operation with numerous farms and scientifi c in-stitutions. To optimise the practical operation, AMAZONE co-operates with farmers and contractors all over the world and also in co-operation with science, on the other hand, where establishment trials on different sites have been carried out for many years. The analysis of these results under different conditions such as climate, soil, farm size, etc. provides specifi c recommendations for farming practices and in this way any individual farm-ing situation is competently attended to.

When reading this booklet consider the actual level of knowledge as it not only informs of the latest, highly interesting trials results, but also of the systems that are available for putting that knowledge into practical operation.

Hasbergen, October 2007

Christian DreyerManaging director

Dr. Justus DreyerManaging director

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Defi nitions concerning soil cultivation

in Germany science, consultation and practice agreed jointly to the following defi nitions (KTBL working paper, 1990):

Conventional soil cultivation Main feature is the yearly loosening of the top soil with the plough. Weeds and organic residual matter are inverted into the soil resulting in a loose fi eld surface, free from residual material, enabling the trouble-free operation of common sowing techniques.

Conservation soil cultivation Renouncing the plough and leaving the residual matter from a previous and/or catch crop on the fi eld’s surface, conservation cultivation features two basic ideas: • The reduction of the usual intensity of the primary soil tillage accord-

ing to method, depth and frequency of the mechanical operation. The aim of a non-inversion loosening is a stable, fi rm soil structure as a preventive measure against compaction by following vehicles.

• Leaving crop residues in the vicinity to or on the soil surface. The target is possibly soil coverage over the whole year via an intact soil structure as preventive protection from capping and erosion. The sowing opera-tion is defi ned as mulch sowing as one sows into the prevailing mulch layer.

Direct sowing Sowing without any prior soil cultivation since the previous harvest. Disc, tine, or chisel openers are utilised.

Source: Architecture of modern plant production 2005 (AMAZONE publication)

3C crop establishment conceptCost-Cutting-Concept: the optimum combination of the system steps: stubble work, soil tillage, sowing and husbandry of the standing crop.

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1. Economical advantages or safety?

The objectives of all soil cultivation measures

For a better understanding of conservation soil cultiva-tion, it is necessary fi rst of all to remember once more the general objectives to be achieved by the use of any system, no matter with or without the plough. At the top are economy and ecology: On the one hand a sus-tainable soil fertility has to be ensured, whereas on the other hand the production of high acreage yields, the

maintenance of high quality yet at reduced costs. Going further into detail the objectives listed in table one can be laid out as the criteria of arable farming, crop pro-duction and system technology.

Against the backdrop of these objectives a comparison can be made between conventional soil cultivation using the plough and conservation soil tillage without the plough. Some criteria support the advantages of conser-vation soil cultivation, others show possible diffi culties.

1. Cost advantage or safety?

Table 1: Aims of soil cultivation In accordance with Lütke-Entrup and Oehmichen, Textbook plant production, volume 2, 2000

Arable farming objectives Plant production objectives System technical objectives

Creation of optimum growth preconditions

Targeted and demand orientated cultivation

Preservation of a stable soil structure

Incorporation of organic residual matters

Compliance to relevant environmental demands

Preservation/increase of productivity

Creation of optimum fi eld emergence

Preventive and direct weed control

Fulfi lling specifi c demands of plants

High effi ciency and timeliness of operation

Reduction of variable costs

Versatile utilisation of the technology applied

Creation of favourable conditions for the following operational passes

Table 2: System effects on soils and seedbeds in comparison

Conventional soil cultivation with the plough

Conservation soil tillage without the plough

Incorporation of crop residues Complete, however uneven Partial, however uniform

Plough pan, compaction damage Yes No

Deeper loosening Yes Only if necessary

Over-loosening of the soil Yes No

Soil warming and drying out of the seedbed Quick Slow

Danger of capping and erosion High Minor

Carrying capacity and traffi c carrying ability of the soil Worse Better

Biological activity and water volume Worse Better

Nutrient issue in surface water and in ground water Higher Minor

Disease pressure from contaminated residues Minor Bigger

Problems with weeds and volunteer grain Minor Bigger

Inputs for herbicide and fungicide measures Minor Higher

Operational costs Higher Minor

Energy demand for machine operation Higher Minor

Demands on straw management Minor Higher

Demands on sowing technology Minor Higher

Demands on system Minor Higher


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The overview in table 2 makes it clear: Because of the lower operational intensity during conservation soil cultivation, organic residual matter can partly remain on the soil surface reducing the danger of soil capping and erosion and the top soil deep loosening is only car-ried out where necessary. The renouncement of regular and intensive loosening results in a better soil structure stability and the improved ability to carry traffi c. At the same time water can be better kept in the soil which is a major factor, especially where little annual rainfall and/or bad distribution of rainfall prevail.

Altogether reducing the operational passes and the operational intensity offers an enormous potential to save costs. Following experts’ valuation this potential is, depending on the relevant farm situation, between 50 and 150 Euro/ha.

On the other hand the remaining crop residues on the surface require special demands on the sowing technique. Thus one would have to turn one’s attention especially to a system that allows the trouble-free seed placement and yet the accurate maintenance of sowing depth. On top of this there are perhaps more problems due to disease pressure, weeds and volunteer grain resulting in possi-bly increased herbicide and fungicide expense. Also, the demands on straw management and the system manage-ment are increased.

The higher demands on the system management should not be underestimated as the unique conditions on each individual farm may be more or less ideal for the conser-vation soil cultivation.

Factors of success for the conservation soil cultivation

Average soils with a soil rating of 50 to 70 points offer the best preconditions for conservation soil cultivation with-out the plough. At the time of operation they mostly have the right structure, they fall well and are can be cultivated problem-free. In this way, for example, sandy clays and loams are superbly suited or even make conser-vation cultivation an absolute necessity as on sloping terrain this soil structure quickly leads to erosion.

The distribution of the cost allocation shows a big saving potential can result from the reduction of soil cultivation intensity (In the graph the item “other costs” is not considered).

Pict. 1: Cost structure in arable farms from 100 ha

Pict. 2: Overview of farming systemsSystem differentiation with the help of straw distribution for ploughing, mulch or direct sowing

50

40

30

20

10

0

Distribution of costs (%)

Harvest Ploughing Seedbed preparationand sowing

Fertilisation and crop protection

Sowing following the plough

Mulch sowing

Direct sowing

Straw Soil


Heavy soils, also called minute soils, are more critical as they are diffi cult to handle, not only without the plough but also with the plough. Mostly these soils distinguish themselves by short periods for cultivation. However, AMAZONE trials in the Schleswig-Holstein Oppendorf near Kiel show that the conservation soil cultivation also works in these conditions. Here one can even take it as a decisive advantage that these soils can be worked more effi ciently and with better timeliness.

Most demanding on cultivation are the light, sandy soils due to possible compaction. Thus continuous shallow operation is not advisable, but rather every two to three years a deeper cultivation should be carried out, possi-bly even with a deep loosener. Otherwise oxygen will become the limiting factor on the compacted soils, as the plant’s roots requires 10% by volume Oxygen in the soil air. That conservation soil cultivation also works on sandy soils is proven on many farms, for example in the Uckermark (Brandenburg) region where they have oper-ated for many years with this system.

Besides soil type the crop rotation is an important factor for success. The longer the intervals in the crop rotation the easier the cultivation of the soils gets. Especially in

winter orientated crop rotations as the continuous sow-ing of winter sown crops following winter sown crops hampers the success of the soil regeneration during that short period between harvest and the sowing operation. Nevertheless, AMAZONE trials on Fehmarn in Eastern Holstein also show that farming without the plough can be successful in this type of rotation and here, high effi -ciency and a well functioning straw management regime are important. Crop rotations with a big share of root crops or spring cereals on the other hand allow for a clearly extended soil regeneration period. This substan-tially corrects many of the potential problems, such as in the disease sector, because more time is available for straw rotting.

Problems due to disease pressure, weeds and volunteer grain can be solved by the use of appropriate crop pro-tective agents and special care with variety choice. Even though the costs will increase, these additional meas-ures will mostly come out better all in all than the addi-tional effort and cost when using the plough.

Really diffi cult, and perhaps even impossible, is con-servation cultivation without the plough in an organic farming regime where however, although the wide crop


12 | 13

rotations offer good pre-conditions, the possibilities of using crop protection agent applications does not exist at all.

Straw management belongs to the important factors of success. Thus the intensity of the following soil cul-tivation operational passes depends, amongst others, on the quality of the straw chopper and distributor on the combine harvester. Faults within this sector can-not be compensated for later no matter how good the machine solutions utilised for the sowing technology may be.

Reasons for conventional crop establishment

Though, soil cultivation without the plough is basically possible everywhere, many farms go on using the plough in the whole or partially due to different reasons: The renouncement of the advantages of conservation soil cultivation is easier the lower the cost differential is, the more diffi cult the soil management is and also at the same time the better the rainfall is distributed. Above all regarding fusarium in problematic crops and close crop rotations make the use of the plough prefer-able and more unproblematic. On top of this is relative yield safety, a simple remedy for weeds, grass weeds and volunteer grain and a residue-free sowing horizon.

The 3C crop establishment concept

The all deciding and most important argument in favour of cultivating without the plough is the fact that a considerable saving potential can be opened up. To implement this three system steps: stubble working, primary soil tillage and sowing have to be optimally matched.

However, the handling is different depending on climate regions, yield expectations and farm or acreage struc-tures, resulting in different experiences and recommen-dations. Nevertheless, the aim of all AMAZONE activities is to develop a system concept as comprehensive as pos-sible for all operational conditions. This concept should be reduced to a few basic rules that, however, still allow the adaptation to the individual farm specifi c condi-tions. This is the 3C concept – “Cost-Cutting-Concept”, offering for all farms and all conditions the matched machinery and systems.

Table 3: Problems and solutions with conservation soil cultivation

Problem Solution

Soil compaction Deep loosening if necessary

Increased infection pressure due to straw

chopping straw into shorter pieces, good distribution and good mixing

Poor seed soil contact Better re-consolidation

Weed problems Good and shallow stubble working, Glyphosate containing agents

Mice and slugs Good incorporation of straw, reduction of green matter growth, avoiding an open structure by improving re-consolidation

Trials area and test tracks behind the AMAZONE BBG factory site in Leipzig


2. What counts: The basic rules of the 3C crop establishment concept

“3C” – hidden behind this banner headline is the AMAZONE “Cost-Cutting-Concept”. With a view to achieving cost minimised system procedures the main focus of this concept is in the reduced soil cultiva-tion and through the 3C concept AMAZONE combines their experience around the machinery and systems for soil cultivation and sowing. The AMAZONE 3C concept contains different opera-tional options which, in spite of different technical solutions, always have the same target: cultivation at a reasonable cost that results in high yields.

New findings from science, consultation and agricul-tural practice continuously merge into the 3C concept allowing the further optimisation of the AMAZONE machinery programme to derive practical recommen-dations for the optimum operation.

Since the individual demands of farms depends on many factors, such as the relevant field structure, the climatic conditions or crop rotation, different machines are used depending on the individual farm. Included here should be the different stages of intensity when carrying out the operational passes.

In spite of all these differences in the individual opera-tions basic rules can be derived offering practitioners a good guidance. These rules show what matters in order to achieve, via reduced soil cultivations, high yields at an as favourable cost base as possible.

Rules:

As deep as necessary

As fl exible as possible

Preservation of soil moisture

Optimised incorporation of straw into the soil

Quick and early preparation


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Rule 1: As deep as necessary

The preservation of the soil structure is an important target at soil cultivation. On the other hand the greater or lesser amounts of crop residue that remain from the relevant previous crop have to be incorporated into the soil prior to the new sowing operation.

That means: The better the straw distribution provided by the combined harvester and the shorter the chop length is the less the intensity of the straw incorpora-tion into the soil can be. At the same time the working depth/intensity after leaf crops, such as beet and pota-toes and rape can be lower than after crops with large amounts of straw (maize, cereals). After leaf crops often even only one relatively shallow operational pass is nec-essary.

When the pre-condition of good straw distribution and chaff quality is fulfi lled, and in addition the subsoil is well structured and suffi ciently provided with oxygen the general rule applies: 1 t straw/ha requires a mini-mum of 1 cm working depth for incorporation. On soils with a weaker structure, however, for example, on sandy soils which tend to compact, or in areas with temporary stagnant water the soil requires the top soil loosening down to 20 to 30 cm. Only in this way can suffi cient oxygen supply down to the roots be ensured.

Rule 2: As fl exible as possible

Theory requires: shallow stubble working (1st opera-tional pass, e.g. using the Catros) followed by a deeper operation (2nd operational pass, e.g. using the Centaur). For different reasons (crop rotation, soil type and weather), however, this procedure can not always be implemented completely or in this sequence.

Still valid rather is: • When the 1st operational pass was shallow, the 2nd

operational pass is deeper to incorporate volunteer grain.

• When the 1st operational pass was deep, the 2nd operational pass has to be shallow (no cultivator) in order not to lift the straw again, possibly it can be left out completely.

• Sometimes the 1st and 2nd operational passes are reduced to one pass which then mostly takes place immediately before sowing the following crop. In some cases if the previous crop was rape it even remains unworked until the next sowing operation.

Table 4: Alternative combinations of 1st and 2nd operational pass

1st operational pass

2nd operational pass Notes

Alternative 1 Shallow Deep Incorporation of volun-teer grain and weeds

Alternative 2 Deep Left out or very shallow

Do not lift the straw again in the 2nd

operational pass

Alternative 3Combined into one operational

pass immediately prior to sowing

Alternative 4 Both operational passes are left out e.g. after rape

The better the straw and chaff distribution provided by the combine harvester and the shorter the chop length, the inten-sity of straw incorporation into the soil can be lessened.

In most cases the first operational pass is shallow stubble working.

2. What counts: The basic rules of the 3C concept

Rule 3: Preservation of soil moisture

Above all, in areas where the soil moisture content acts as the limiting factor, evaporation should be prevented as far as possible. Therefore stubble breaking should be carried out immediately following the combine harvester and so the output capacities of the compact disc harrow and combine harvester must be nearly the same. Work-ing widths and operational times of these machines should be accurately matched.

The same applies to the operation of cultivator and seed drill, because any second operational pass and sowing operation also should take place within a few hours, the best being that both systems operate simultaneously in the same fi eld. Thus the required acreage output of the cultivator depends on the acreage output of the sowing technique used. The target is also here to preserve the remaining soil moisture allowing the freshly sown grain to germinate. In cases of insuffi cient capacity of the cul-tivator this can be increased either via larger working widths following bigger tractors or by prolonged opera-tional times or shift work within the time available for working in the fi eld.

However, one has to bear in mind that shift work in re-gions near built-up areas may cause problems in case the residents are bothered by night-time machine noise. On top of this it is getting more and more diffi cult to fi nd qualifi ed people who are prepared to work also at night and employing less qualifi ed people may result, not only in damage to the machine, but also in a reduced opera-tional quality, for example by sowing errors. Everywhere, where such problems exist, the working capacity can only be increased by larger working widths.

Rule 4: Optimised incorporation of straw into the soilThis rule is also valid in adverse conditions. Therefore, the Catros compact disc harrow is the preferred machine for stubble breakage. It is easily pulled and provides high area effi ciency simultaneously with a low specifi c fuel consumption.

In case of problems, such as, for example insuffi cient straw distribution by the combine harvester or long/ lying chaff after lodged grain, the fi rst operational pass is carried out with a heavy disc harrow or a straw har-row, if available on the farm. In this case, however, one can also – equipped with the appropriate shares – utilise a cultivator such as the Centaur to mix the straw into the soil.

Where dry conditions prevail and there are signs that straw rotting after the fi rst operational pass is less than expected the rule then is: The less rot, the deeper the crop residues should be incorporated with the second pass.

In this situation some farms use the plough in order to loosen and mix the soil as deeply as possible. One prefer-ably ploughs between maize and wheat and also follow-ing wheat or maize where the rotation is a following spring sowing (beet, potatoes, malting barley, peas, etc.).

These cultivation effects, however, can be achieved more effectively by using the Centaur. It also loosens the soil down to the desired depth and mixes in the straw without, however, simultaneously inverting the soil.

The Centaur loosens the soil without inverting it and superbly mixes in the straw.

Active combinations of rotary cultivator/harrow and seed drill achieve, depending on the working width (3 to 6 m) daily outputs of 15 to 50 hectares.


16 | 17

The second operational pass and sowing should ideally be carried out within only a few hours, preferably both systems working simultaneously in the field.

Rule 5: Quick and early preparation

In order to maintain time schedules, especially in bad weather conditions, farms have to have available, ma-chinery with high area effi ciency. This not only applies just to stubble working, but also above all however, to the sowing operation.

Sowing combinations with actively operating cultiva-tors are used in preference on small to medium size farms. Combinations of rotary cultivator/harrow and seed drill: Depending on working width (3 to 6 m) com-binations with rotary cultivator/harrow and seed drill provide a daily output of 15 to 50 hectares where the advantage of the active combinations is an optimum combination of soil tillage and sowing operation.

If the total fi eld area cannot be cultivated with an active combination at the optimum time, the AMAZONE pro-gramme includes the Cirrus sowing combination. These combination machines, equipped with pre-cultivation disc elements, manage daily outputs of 25 to 60 hec-tares (in working widths of 3, 4 or 6 m).

For even higher acreage outputs AMAZONE recommends the Citan solo large area seed drills in working widths of 8, 9 and 12 m providing daily outputs of 75 to 120 ha. However, they are not equipped with any method of pre-cultivation. So, the bigger the necessary acreage output of the seed drill is, the more this is at the expense of the intensity of seedbed preparation, so much so, that in the end, a separate operational pass prior to sowing is necessary.

Cirrus is equipped with pre-cultivating disc elements and achieves daily outputs of 25 to 60 hectares (depending on working widths of 3, 4 or 6 m).

2. What counts: The basic rules of the 3C concept

3. AMAZONE machines in 3C crop establishment concept

For the different system variations of conservation soil tillage and the following crop establishment AMAZONE offers an optimally matched programme: The Catros compact disc cultivator, the Cenius mulch cultivator, the Centaur cultivator disc harrow combination and various seed drills or till and drill combinations as well as fertiliser spreaders and crop protection sprayers.

Catros mounted compact disc cultivator, 3 to 6 metres


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First operational pass: Stubble working

For the fi rst operational pass – the stubble working – the Catros compact disc cultivator (3 to 7.5 m working width) provides a uniform shallow soil tillage over all the area – even in undulating terrain.

For farms where the purchase of a solo machine for stub-ble work is not worthwhile, AMAZONE offers the two row Pegasus cultivator (3 to 5 m working width) or the Cenius three row cultivator (3 m). Both machines can be used both for the intensive mixing, medium deep to deep soil tillage (second operational pass) and for the fi rst operational pass for shallow stubble working. The Cenius can be equipped with special share types, suit-able for any operational requirement.

3. AMAZONE machines within the 3C-concept

Catros trailed compact disc cultivator, 3 to 7.5 metres

Second operational pass: Deeper soil tillage

The Centaur cultivator-disc harrow combination in working widths of 3.0 to 7.0 m is the ideal machine for the second operational pass on larger farms. The Centaur provides a reliable, intensive mixing of crop residues and soil at a medium working depth, yet how-ever, also with the possibility of working deeper for top soil loosening.

As a multi-function soil tillage machine for plough-less farming the Centaur can also be used for shallow stub-ble working. Depending on the kind of operation and the desired working depth specifi c operational shares are available for the Centaur to achieve an optimum result.

The Centaur is ideally suited for the second operational pass on larger size farms.


20 | 21

Third operational pass: Sowing (solo or in combination)

For the sowing operation AMAZONE supplies both ma-chines with PTO driven and also passive cultivation. The advantages of the active solutions, such as, rotary culti-vator-Pack Top sowing combination, Avant front tank combination in up to 6 m working width or Cirrus Activ with integrated rotary cultivator, are demonstrated in high soil moistures (due to reduced slippage) and on sloping terrain, in unfavourable fi eld sizes, on heavy or clayey soils, poor straw management and where there is

a little share of fi ne soil. In addition the PTO driven combinations often prove to be the “problem solution” for late sown crops.

In good straw management, larger areas and medium soils, however, the passive combinations are streets ahead due to their faster forward speed and higher acre-age outputs. Here AMAZONE recommends the use of the Cirrus sowing combination with front mounted twin-row compact disc harrow (working width 3 to 6 m), or for an even higher acreage output, the Citan large area seed drill in working widths of 8 to 12 m.

3. AMAZONE machines within the 3C-concept

AD-P Pack Top pneumatic seed drill for operation on medium size farms

And the AD-P Super above all for contractors and arable farms from 200 ha to 500 ha

Cirrus sowing combination with front mounted compact disc harrow

Fertilisation and crop protection

For the successful development of the crop through its various vegetation stages the professional planning and carrying out of fertilising and crop protection measures are decisively important. The technology utilised does not only require reliability but above all highest precision in application.

With their complete machinery programme AMAZONE also here meets the different demands from capacity of the farms. For fertilisation mounted centrifugal fertiliser spreaders or trailed large area bulk material spreaders with working widths of 10 to 48 are available. For crop protection AMAZONE offers mounted, trailed and self-propelled crop protection sprayers from 12 to 40 m work-ing widths with tank sizes from 900 to 5,200 litres.

For fertilisation AMAZONE offers centrifugal mounted spreaders and trailed bulk material large area spreaders in working widths from 10 to 48 metres.

The AMAZONE programme includes mounted, trailed and self-propelled crop protection sprayers in working widths from 12 to 40 metres and tank sizes from 900 to 5,200 litres.


22 | 23

4.Cooperation: Theory and practice together for optimum functionality

The success of soil tillage without the plough depends to a large extent on how the technology used corre-sponds to the demands. Producing machinery of poor quality or when the systems do not function perfectly, the advantages of soil tillage without the plough are rightly questioned by the user.

Therefore, quality, safety, reliability and comfort are the criteria that play an important role at AMAZONE with the focus of the design work not only on robust-ness and longevity but also operational quality, opera-tional safety and operational comfort. Today of special

importance is also reducing as far as possible the fuel consumption during the machine operation.

Initially the engineers develop the basic design, incor-porating robustness and operational tools of such a soil tillage implement on the computer. One tool for the solution of such complex design tasks is, for example, fi nite-element computer programmes enabling the engi-neer to simulate the play of forces on the machine in operation and to carry out necessary the improvements on screen.

4. Cooperation: Theory and practice together for optimum functionality

Centaur on the test track in Leipzig

After the design work on the computer the individual parts and tools are initially tested in the laboratory followed by the fi rst pre-series machines and opera-tional tests. In order to check, for example, the strength in stony soil conditions, AMAZONE owns various test tracks, such as the stone torture tracks, where the ma-chines are tested under the most arduous of conditions for their suitability and endurance.

Finally, for the reliable operation, the machines are tested and optimised extensively in practice. For this AMAZONE cooperates with agricultural partner farms all over the world so that the operational reliability of the machines can be tested over thousands of hectares. At this important stage, AMAZONE engineers change role and suitably dressed in overalls and boots they are present on site in order to further accompany “their” machines in fi eld operation.

In this way at AMAZONE a comprehensive but reliable programme of soil tillage and sowing technology has been and still is being developed and we would like to introduce the details of the actual technology and sys-tems which are not easily recognisable, just like that, from outside.

Stubble germination with the Catros compact disc cultivator

For shallow stubble work the top soil layer has to be loosened, crumbled and levelled and subsequently re-consolidated. This way favourable pre-conditions for the germination of volunteer grain and weed seeds are created immediately after harvest.

Therefore, the Catros compact disc cultivator operates with two rows of aggressively angled concave discs and a following roller. It is extremely short, compact and easy to manoeuvre. The discs linked on the frame are provided with elastic rubber spring elements that offer stone protection where, as oppose to other machines, with a rigid implement frame, the concave discs follow the ground contours during the fi rst shallow operational pass so that the undulations are not simply fi lled up but also worked. Therefore, with the Catros system, opera-tional quality means that even in undulating terrain an even shallow fi rst pass is possible.

With the following wedge ring roller the Catros leaves behind re-consolidated grooves providing an optimised soil contact – ensuring a reliable germination of volun-teer grain and weed seeds and as the re-consolidation is carried out in strips open gaps remain, preventing cap-ping – even on non-pressure sensitive soils. Since the Catros offers high acreage outputs and in addition also operates blockage free and with little wear it is more and more used instead of the formerly more popular two row wing share and disc cultivators.

See the sparks fly – KG rotary harrow on the stone torture track

Rubber sprung elements for stone safety on the Catros


24 | 254. Cooperation: Theory and practice together for optimum functionality

Maintenance-free bearings on the Catros discs thanks to combined sealing of felt ring and face seal for the twin-row angular roller bearings

Catros trailed compact disc cultivator, 7.5 m working width

gear oil fi lled

Face seal built into the conical seats

Twin-row angular contact ball bearing race

2 x O-ring

2 x cast rings with slide face

Soil cultivation with the Ceniusor Centaur

Cenius mounted mulch cultivatorAMAZONE designed the Cenius in 3 m working width for the smaller and medium size arable farms or mixed farms. Due to its compact three point linkage the Cenius is ideally suited for smaller fi eld sizes with small head-lands allowing short turning times. The main operation-al range of the Cenius is the intensive mixing, medium deep to deep soil tillage. In addition it can be used for the shallow stubble work and seedbed preparation in spring. For each kind of operation specifi c share types are available.

With its spiral spring tines and inversion shares, arranged in three rows, Cenius initially incorporates straw resi-dues evenly and intensively. The special arrangement of tines provides more clearance ensuring trouble-free material fl ow even in large amounts of straw with the large clearance ensuring high functional safety even where these large amounts of straw prevail. For any top soil deep loosening and to reduce the pulling power requirement narrow shares are available.

Following the tine rows concave discs level the worked area again providing an additional mixing and crumbling effect. The individual rubber spring element bearings of the discs allow individual ground contour adaptation. The following wedge ring roller at the rear of the Cenius providing the re-consolidation of the soil and control-ling the working depth of the implement.

Cenius is the ideal machine as a introduction into con-servation soil tillage. After the initial work of the Cenius a following mulch sowing procedure is possible without any problems.

Centaur cultivator-disc harrow combinationFor the operation on larger size farms AMAZONE has developed the Centaur in working widths of 3.0 to 7.0 metres – as a multi-functional soil tillage machine for arable farming without the plough. Besides shallow stubble working the operational range of the Centaur includes both the reliable, intensive mixing of crop resi-dues and soil at a medium working depth and also top soil deep loosening. Depending on the desired working depth special tools/shares are available for every opera-tional pass and in order to meet the demand “as shal-low as possible, as deep as necessary” the working depth of the Centaur can simply and quickly be hydrau-lically adjusted whilst driving and thus be matched to the prevailing straw and soil conditions with the clear advantage that fuel consumption is reduced. Actually AMAZONE engineers are developing on-line sensors for the automatic recognition of the straw quantities present to achieve the continuous appropriate adapta-tion of the working depth to the prevailing amounts of straw.

Today the Centaur Super, the four-row machine and the Centaur Special, the three row machine are at the heart of the AMAZONE programme. Both types feature the staggered tine arrangement and a big frame height that is of absolute importance for the trouble free straw pas-sage and low fuel consumption. New on the Centaur are the especially developed 3D tines – an integrated over-load protection offering utmost stone safety. Two hori-zontal springs keep the tine at the preset depth – only with a load of more than 500 kg allows the tine to de-fl ect, returning to its operational position automati-cally. The special suspension allows both horizontal and vertical movement, that means the three-dimensional defl ection behaviour, of the tines when encountering obstacles in the soil.

In the rear of the tines Centaur mixes, crumbles and level the soil via a single row (Special) or a twin-row (Super) disc harrow element and re-consolidates the soil in strips with the following wedge ring roller so that only little moisture losses occur. For top soil deep loosening the narrow shares are used so that the pull-ing power requirement is reduced. Simultaneously the wedge ring tyre roller serves as running gear for road transport.

Cenius mulch cultivator intensively mixing and incorporating


26 | 274. Cooperation: Theory and practice together for optimum functionality

Highest stone safety due to the integrated overload safety device

Insufficient straw incorporation with a two row wing share cultivator

Centaur 5001 Special: 3-row tine stagger, single row discs

Even incorporation of straw via a cultivator with three or four rows

Centaur 5001 Super: 4-row tine stagger, twin row discs

Sowing with Cirrus & Citan or rotary cultivator-sowing combinations

Seed drills or sowing combinations have to ensure an accurate seed placement in the straw-soil mixture at the desired depth. In the following, two different system versions are introduced: either rotary cultivator sowing combinations or secondly, solo seed drills.

By combining rotary cultivator, roller and seed drill the operational passes of straw incorporation and seedbed preparation are coupled. The advantages: 1. the initial primary soil tillage can be carried out with less effort. 2. The quality of straw incorporation can be further improved. Where large amounts of straw prevail and in cases where the cereals are sown following cereals the latter always has a positive effect on the yield. AMAZONE offers the option of rotary cultivator-Pack Top sowing combinations or the Avant front tank sow-ing combinations in working widths up to 6m.

From an economical point of view, however, the com-bined use of PTO driven machine, roller and seed drill is only then appropriate and useful when the sowing operation can take place at the optimum time. Since these combinations have a lower output than solo-seed drills one would have to increase the acreage output due to increasing farm size via larger working widths and bigger tractors but this, however, is only possible to a certain extent.

Thus, the system change to a higher output solo seed drill is made in almost every case when the sowing op-eration with one employee is not possible on the total area at the optimum time. Depending on specifi c farm conditions this limit is between 500 ha and 700 ha.

If above this limit a solo seed drill is used the seedbeds have to be thoroughly prepared prior to the actual sow-ing operation. But then the sowing operation can be carried out with maximum acreage output. Special coul-ter systems are required to be able to increase, with a suffi cient seed embedment quality, the acreage output via higher forward speeds. This is why, for example, that AMAZONE has equipped the Cirrus sowing combina-tions with special coulters which hardly react to clods or stones and ensure, even at high operational speeds, an even placement depth. The special pressure equali-sation systems provide the necessary adaptation to undulating soil surfaces.

System of function: Rotary cultivator-combination, wedge ring roller, RoTeC coulter unit, if necessary with additional following press roller and exact following harrow.

Wedge ring roller

RoTeC+ roll disc coulters

Press roller

Exact following harrow

Roll fi rst … then sow … … seed covering.press roller if required …


28 | 29

The combination of many talents – KG-KW-ADAMAZONE till and drill combinations have proven them-selves by the thousands both in mulch sowing at rea-sonable cost, with or without previous loosening, and in conventional sowing after the plough. The rotary cul-tivator with its “on grip” tines loosens even hard, fi rm soils, maintaining the pre-set working depth and simul-taneously mixing in the straw. Thanks to the large clear-ances between the tines ensures a trouble free fl ow of the straw-soil mixture above the rotor carriers and the following levelling bar levels ridges and furrows. The wedge ring roller carries the rotary cultivator and the seed drill and re-consolidates the soil in strips, so that one third of the soil is re-consolidated whereas two thirds of the surface remains loose.

The RoTeC coulters on the seed drill run smoothly to ensure an absolutely accurate sowing depth in the pre-rolled grooves. The exact following harrow covers the seed with loose soil resulting in optimised germination conditions – fi rm underneath and loose on the top. Even in dry conditions the capillary water can reach the seedling via the re-consolidated grooves. Heavy rainfall, on the other hand can drain away through the un-consolidated soil into which the plant roots grow. As the re-consolidation is carried out “only” in strips the plant will always fi nd the soil conditions suitable for the actual weather conditions. The teamwork of all factors results in a quick and even crop emergence.


System of function for an active sowing combination: Straw incorporation, seedbed preparation and sowing in one operational pass

AMAZONE till and drill combination can be utilised both for mulch sowing and also conventional sowing following the plough.

Exact following harrow

RoTeC coulters

Wedge ring roller

Levelling bar

Rotary cultivator

In very dry conditions the capillary water reaches the seedling.

Heavy rainfall seeps away into the non-rolled, loose areas.

Gaseous exchange via the loose soil – allowing the roots to breathe.

The Cirrus sowing combinationThe Cirrus Super sowing combination in 3 to 6 m working widths is designed for even higher acreage outputs. It operates with disc cultivator elements ahead of the new PacTeC coulters (RoteC coulters on the Cirrus Special). Initially the double row compact disc harrow loosens and crumbles the seed bed once more. The discs with sprung rubber suspension individually follow the ground con-tours and can give way to stones. The infi nitely variable setting of the cultivating depth is possible also whilst on the move from the tractor cab.

The packer tyres (2 tyres/m working width and with a diameter of 800 mm and vulcanised wedge rings) form one tyre roller, carrying the seed drill and re-consolidat-ing and levelling the seedbed in front of the coulters. In detail they fulfi l the following three functions:

1. The wedge rings provide the re-consolidation of the soil in strips for the four disc coulter/tyre following at a 12.5 cm row spacing. The special linkage of the coulters in combination with the large diameter discs and rele-vant coulter pressures ensure an absolutely smooth run, even at high operating speeds. On both versions the overload safety ensures that the stones can negotiate stones. On the Cirrus Super the packer coulters are linked via the hydraulic equalisation system enabling them to adapt to ridges and furrows. Even on uneven ground with coarse clods the soil is evenly re-consoli-dated and irrespective of soil type, soil condition and forward speed these coulters always maintain the pre-set sowing depth. The principle: roll fi rst – then sow results in an optimised seed embedment. For sowing operations in dry sites the Cirrus can be equipped as option with a following roller harrow bar.

2. For the transport to and from the fi eld four of the wheels are pushed down. This allows the machine to safely leave the fi eld even in toughest conditions. These four wheels are equipped with brakes so that it is permissible for the machine to be transported on the road at up to 40 km/h. When turning on the headland the Cirrus can be trans-ported on only four or at choice also on all the wedge ring tyres.

3. During operation the weight of the machine rests on the tractor and the packer tyres. As the seed tank is arranged near to the tractor additional pressure is transferred on to the drive wheels improving the tractor traction. At the same time different fi ll levels in the seed tank have no infl uence on the coulter units.

An additional feature of the Cirrus is the slender seed tank. It allows the unobstructed view to the cultivation element. The swivel draw bar allows the towing tractor to turn up to 90 degrees without touching the tank making the Cirrus both on the headland and in transport position ideally manoeuvrable. Calibration and residue emptying are no problem, the large tank opening allows for a quick fi lling.

The hydraulic pressure equalisation system links the packer tyres – resulting in an improved soil contour adaptation and optimised placement quality.

For even higher acreage outputs: the Cirrus sowing combination


30 | 31

Citan large area seed drillLarge area seed drills in working widths of 8, 9 or 12 metres can be utilised for especially high acreage out-puts. The pneumatic metering system ensures an abso-lutely accurate application of seed from 2 to 400 kg/ha. As also on the Citan the seed tank is located near to the tractor, with pressure then transferred to the drive wheels improving the tractor traction. The wide hopper opening allows for a quick fi lling, for example via big bags. The Citan features a compact design and can be folded to a transport width of only 3 m within a few seconds.

The RoTeC+ coulters are ideally suited for very large acreage outputs and the most arduous operational con-ditions. The 4.5 mm thick 400 mm diam. boron steel discs suffer very little wear and via a depth limiter and cleaning disc, which can be adjusted without tools, the sowing depth can be absolutely accurately set.

The AMATRON+ on-board computer: One for allIn combination with the AMATRON+ on-board compu-ter the different functions of the sowing operation are further simplifi ed. Thus, a simple calibration routine, for example, and a sowing rate change are possible via the on-board computer. The very comprehensive elec-tro-hydraulic control enables AMATRON+ also to actu-ate all functions, such as sowing depth or soil tillage intensity from the tractor cab. And needless to say, the on-board computer also controls and monitors the crea-tion of tramlines. Thanks to the integrated serial inter-face AMATRON+ in combination with a GPS terminal can also be used for part area site-specifi c sowing opera-tions. In addition AMATRON+ can be used as a machine overlapping on-board computer, for use also in combi-nation with fertiliser spreaders and crop protection sprayers.

Providing especially high acreage outputs – the Citan in 12 m working width


The AMATRON+ on-board computer ensure complete control over the different functions

5. Trials results: Constantly high yields at clear cost advantages

For optimum success with the soil tillage operation AMAZONE offers comprehensive advice concerning the use of the different systems based on many years of tri-als results with soil tillage and sowing which AMAZONE carries out on different sites in co-operation with scien-tifi c establishments.

The choice of the trials site represents the different farming possibilities and structures, considering at the same time the different climatic conditions and crop ro-tations and on the following pages we hope to inform you of the most important results.


32 | 33

In co-operation with the German Agricultural Society (DLG) AMAZONE has investigated the different soil tillage and sowing operational chains, for the fi rst time also regarding fuel consumption and working time requirement. These results clearly show that the use of AMAZONE machinery for conservation soil till-age systems not only results in the same yields but also in clear cost advantages.

AMAZONE, acting as an international supplier of agri-cultural technology, continuously looks to add addi-tional sites in all the important export countries and there are already trials sites in England, France, Russia and Denmark.

AMAZONE trials sites in Germany


< 100 ha

< 200 ha

< 500 ha

< 1,000 ha

> 1,000 ha

Farm sizestructures

Fehmarn 30 ha

Huntlosen/Oldenburg 20 ha

Kitzen (Leipzig) 770 ha

Hasbergen (Osnabrück) 10 ha

Wehnen (Oldenburg) 15 ha

Westerkappeln (Osnabrück) 25 ha

AMAZONE co-operates with numerous farms not only in Germany but also all over Europe.

Additional sites are located, for example, in France, Great Britain, Russia and Denmark.

Hude 15 ha

AMAZONE trials on the Leipzig, Saxony site (yield results)

The Leipzig, in Saxony site is representative of arable farming on large acreages. A continental climate pre-vails – little rainfall and early summer drought are rep-resentative and here, water and climate are the yield limiting factors.

The trial site is situated on the farm of Agrarprodukte Kitzen e.G. near Leipzig. Out of a farm size of just over 3,000 hectares approximately 770 ha of trials are cul-tivated in co-operation with AMAZONE. On a total of 75 ha exact trials have been carried out now over the last 8 seasons since 2000 and evaluated by the FAL Braunschweig (under Dr. Voßhenrich). With regard to crop protection and fertilisation all areas are treated identically.

Site data

Soil typeClayey sand, para-brown soils,humus share 3.1 %

ClimateAnnual rainfall: 530 mm Average temperature: 8.6 °C

Trial results in an overview:

On the site characterised by a continental climate, as an average of the years and crops, the mulch sowing plots result in equal or higher yields than with the plough plots.

Working depths between 12 cm and 18 cm, which are matched to prevailing straw and soil conditions, con-serve the water reservoir in the top soil.

Comment to the trials results in Leipzigby Dr. Sven Dutzi, AMAZONEN-Werke

The comparison between conventional and conserva-tion soil tillage (at comparative working depths, plot A to plot B) shows that the plot yields are about identical. With an increasing reduction in the working intensity within the conservation system, however, the yield lev-el initially clearly increases (see plot C, 12 cm working depth), then it heavily drops (see plot D, 8 cm working depth). Within the conservation system the plot with the minimum intensity also results in the lowest yield. Parallels also show with regard to working intensity when sowing. The sowing technology with the mini-mum intensity (plot A to D with variation 3) results in the minimum yields over the trials period.

Layout of the 40 ha trials area on the farm Agrarprodukte Kitzen e.G. near Leipzig

Plot A is cultivated conventionally with the plough, the plots B, C and D are cultivated with conservation mulch sowing.

1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3

A B C D

conservationconventional

36 m 108 m


34 | 35

With the trials the change from conventional to conser-vation cultivation initially resulted in lower fi eld emer-gences. Main reasons were the higher straw coverage on the soil surface and the toxins freed through the rot-ting straw. However, between the different intensities of conservation cultivation (plot B to D) the fi eld emer-gences only differed to a minimum. In most cases the initial lower fi eld emergence could be compensated for later on by the crops – compensation by means of til-lering or the formation of side shoots. With decreasing operational intensity, however, this became more diffi -cult as it can be seen at the transfer from 12 cm working depth to 8 m working depth..

In addition, measurements of working time and fuel consumption which had been carried out in the course of the trials in Leipzig showed the large saving poten-tials which result from the use of conservation systems, the detailed description of which can be found on pages 40 and 41.


Table 5: Trials plots on soil tillage, seedbed preparation (Leipzig site)

Block APlots A1,A2,A3

Plough deep

Block BPlots B1, B2, B3

Mulch sowing 18 cm

Block CPlots C1, C2, C3

Mulch sowing 12 cm

Block DPlots D1, D2, D3

Mulch sowing 8 cm

Stubble working Catros 7 cm deep

Primary soil tillage Plough 22 cm deep Mulch sowing 18 cm deep Mulch sowing 12 cm deep Mulch sowing 8 cm deep

Seedbed preparation and sowing

Plots 1 Active sowing combination: Rotary cultivator combination (KG-combi) with RoTeC coulters, 5 to 7 cm deep

Plots 2 Passive sowing combination: Cirrus, Cirrus discs 5 to 7 cm deep

Plots 3 Citan solo seed drill, without pre-working cultivation element

Table 6: Yield results (dt/ha) in comparison (Leipzig site)

Block APlough deep

Block BMulch sowing 18 cm

Block CMulch sowing 12 cm

Block DMulch sowing 8 cm

Year CropPlot A1

KG-combiPlot A2Cirrus

Plot A3Citan

Plot B1KG-combi

Plot B2Cirrus

Plot B3Citan

Plot C1KG-combi

Plot C2Cirrus

Plot C3Citan

Plot D1KG-combi

Plot D2Cirrus

Plot D3Citan

2002 Barley 79 77 82 84 85 82 86 89 86 81 87 –

2004 Wheat 105 104 99 98 103 104 101 95 97 100 99 92

2005 Barley 95 94 98 90 97 96 91 97 93 97 95 84

2006 Rape 52 49 – 52 52 – 59 58 – 56 58 –

Average 83 81 – 81 84 – 84 85 – 83 84 –

Trials results in an overview:

Conservation soil tillage allows the long term successful practice on light soils.

Mulch sowing exceeds the yield level of the plough plots.

Cereal mulch sowing resulted in the highest yields.

The comparatively wide crop rotation is of decisive importance for a success of the conservation plots.

Deep loosening with spring cultivations is an advan-tage.

Time saved by renouncing the plough (breaking of work peaks) is important for higher outputs in intensive farming regions.

AMAZONE trials on the Huntlosen, Lower Saxony site

The location Huntlosen in Lower Saxony is representa-tive for arable farming in progressive regions on light soils with small fi elds. The trial site is on the farm Heiko Boning/Huntlosen. The approx. 100 ha sized farm runs milk production and pig fattening. Slurry is applied to the fi elds and the straw is completely removed. Besides the plough and mulching plots also a direct sowing plot was investigated in Huntlosen.

Site data

Soil Humus sand with soil ratings of 24 points

Climate Annual rainfall: 750 mm

Crop rotation

199419951996199719981999

S-RapeBarleyPotatoesTriticaleRyeMaize

2000200120022003200420052006

BarleyRyeMaizeBarleyWinter bird rapeBarleyBarley

Pict. 3: Site Huntlosen: Average grain yields 2004–2006

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

dt/ha

Plot 1 Plot 2 Plot 3 Plot 4 Plot 5 Plot 6

78.0 78.3 78.6 72.9 75.8 72.9


36 | 37

Comment to the trials results in Huntlosenby Dipl.-Ing. Jan Juister

Soil cultivation without a plough is possible on light, sandy soils. In the average of the year no decisive yield differences could be noted between mulch sowing and sowing following the plough. However, with mulch sow-ing the highest variable gross margin was achieved. With the average over several years it was approx. 80 Euro higher when mulch sowing than with the system usually on the farm. Due to crop rotation disease problems did not occur and a n extreme change in weed proliferation could not be noted.

Saving working time plays an important role especially on intensively worked farms as is, also, reduced fuel consumption of great importance. The additional advan-

tages, such as better traffi c carrying ability of the soils, little erosion and higher effi ciency also had an effect in Huntlosen. It turned out that on good soils with relevant clay and humus content a deeper loosening can easier be renounced than on critical sites such as, for example, sandy soils with little humus content or with poor drain-age.

It was possible on the very humus rich sandy site at Huntlosen over several years to renounce deep loosen-ing, however, here the danger of a gradual humus decrease exists. Therefore, in the long term also this soil should be annually loosened at changing depths of 10 to 25 cm. However, one can renounce the inversion of the soil. For maize a quick soil warming in the spring is important, so that here also a deep loosening in spring makes sense.


Table 7: Trial variations at soil tillage, seedbed preparation and sowing, Huntlosen site

Plot 1Plough sowing

Plot 2Mulch sowing

Plot 3Mulch sowing with top soil

deep loosening

Plot 4Direct sowing

Plot 5Reduced mulch

sowing

Plot 6Normal on farm with the plough

Stubble workingCatros

5 cm deepCatros

5 cm deepCatros

5 cm deep–

Catros5 cm deep

Catros5 cm deep

Primary soil tillagePlough

26 cm deepRotary cultivator

12 cm deepDeep loosener

26 cm deep– –

Plough26 cm deep


KG-combi with RoTeC-coulter



Primera DMC Primera DMCKE-combi with suffolk coulter

Table 8: Variable gross margins, working time requirement and fuel consumption, Huntlosen site average values (Yield multiplied with the producers’ prices of the individual years, plus premium)

Plot 1Plough sowing

Plot 2Mulch sowing

Plot 3Mulch sowing with top soil

deep loosening

Plot 4Direct sowing

Plot 5Reduced mulch

sowing

Plot 6Normal on farm with the plough

Variable gross margins Euro/ha

871 931 919 902 912 850

Working time requirement manpower h/ha*

2.5 1.5 1.7 0.7 1.0 2.5

Fuel consumption l/ha* 45 29 32 10 14 42

* values for complete cultivation: soil tillage and sowing

AMAZONE trials on the Petersdorf site (Fehmarn, Schleswig-Holstein)

The site Fehmarn in Schleswig-Holstein is representa-tive of the intensive arable farming in high yield regions and on areas with medium sized fi elds. The trial site is situated on the farm of Klaus Olderog in Petersdorf on the Isle of Fehmarn. Since 2000 different mulch sowing variations with different intensities and working depths and a direct sowing variation are investigated here and analysed by the Federal Institution of Research for Agri-culture (FAL) Braunschweig. A plough variation is not included. So, the test question here is: Is lasting mulch sowing even with large amounts of straw in cereal crop rotations possible?

Fehmarn is one of the most productive arable farming regions in Germany. Good soils, maritime climate with-out extreme variations in temperature, suffi cient mois-ture supply and long summer days result in often extraor-dinarily high yields which are accompanied by very large amounts of straw. Usually the straw remains in the fi eld, so that straw problems can be well examined here. Since 1990 all cultivation has been done without the plough on this trial farm.

Site data

Soil Sandy clay 2.1 % humus share

ClimateAnnual rainfall: 540 mm Average temperature: 8.3 °C

Crop rotation Winter wheat, winter wheat, winter rape


With wheat following wheat the yield increased with a more intensive cultivation and the deeper the soil is worked. Large amounts of straw, which could be more than 10 t/ha, remaining in the fi eld, required good incorporation.

Rape does not require so deep a soil tillage. The yield can decrease with increasing soil tillage intensity. Pre-condition is, however, that the soil does not have any soil compaction or patches of poor soil cultivation. This is the case on Fehmarn due to soil structure pro-tecting cultivations and a good lime supply.

The success of mulch sowing decisively depends on the straw management. During harvest it has to be ensured that the straw is chopped into short pieces and that it is evenly distributed. Chop lengths of about 10 cm have proven to be suffi cient.


38 | 395. Trials results: Constantly high yields at clear cost advantages

Table 9: Trial plots on soil tillage, seedbed preparation and sowing, Petersdorf site

Plots 1a, 1b Mulch sowing shallow

Plots 2a, 2b Mulch sowing medium deep

Plots 3a, 3b Mulch sowing with top soil deep

loosening

Stubble workingCatros

5 cm deepCatros

5 cm deepCatros

5 cm deep

Primary soil tillage –Centaur

10–12 cm deep

Centaur10–12 cm deep20–22 cm deep


Plot a Active sowing combination: Rotary cultivator combination (KG-combi) with RoTeC coulter, 5–7 cm deepPlots b Passive sowing combination: Cirrus, Cirrus discs 5–7 cm deep

Table 10: Wheat yields (dt/ha) in comparison: Active (KG-Combi with RoTeC coulters) and passive till and drill combination (Cirrus), Petersdorf site

Plots 1a, 1b Mulch sowing shallow

Plots 2a, 2b Mulch sowing medium deep

Plots 3a, 3b Mulch sowing with top soil deep loosening

YearPlot 1a

KG-combi with RoTeCPlot 1bCirrus

Plot 2aKG-combi with RoTeC

Plot 2bCirrus


Plot 3bCirrus

2000 132 128 141 132 156 1432001 97 92 93 106 98 932002 103 100 106 106 108 1062003 84 95 92 92 95 922004 121 120 128 134 133 1302005 107 109 113 113 115 1122006 83 78 99 97 107 101Average 104 102 110 111 116 111

Table 11: Rape yields (dt/ha) in comparison: Active (KG-Combi with RoTeC coulter) and passive till and drill combination (Cirrus), Petersdorf site

Plot 1a, 1b Mulch sowing shallow

Plot 2a, 2b Mulch sowing medium deep

Plot 3a, 3b Mulch sowing with top soil deep loosening

YearPlot 1a

KG-combi with RoTeCPlot 1bCirrus


Plot 2bCirrus


Plot 3bCirrus

2000 51 47 50 49 43 432001 52 52 52 52 52 522002 42 46 46 48 41 412003 43 45 44 47 47 472004 51 56 50 56 50 502005 48 50 48 50 49 492006 49 48 50 49 50 50Average 48 49 49 50 48 47

Comment on the trials results in Petersdorfby lecturer Dr. Hans-Heinrich Voßhenrich, Federal Research institution for Agriculture (FAL)

The trial results from Petersdorf show that in the long term one can maintain a high yield level through mulch sowing. The experiences from the trials show, amongst other things, that it is possible to sow after roughly a 10 cm deep intensive mixing and loosening if the soil quality means that a deeper loosening is not required. The following procedure has proven itself:

1. After shallow stubble work with high re-consolida-tion optimises the volunteer grain emergence.

2. Mixing and loosening, depth set, depending on site and straw incorporation.

3. Chemical weed control directly prior to sowing.4. Sowing either active or passive, depending on farm

size and site conditions.

In addition various other infl uencing factors have to be considered. For instance, the rotation “rape after wheat” allows scope for the intensity of soil tillage. It should be ensured that the quality of seed placement is not limit-ed by straw infl uence. Though rape, due to its strong compensation behaviour, will survive, for safety reasons an intensive straw incorporation at a suffi ciently deep loosening is recommendable.

The rotation “wheat after wheat” presents itself similar to “rape after wheat”, as also here straw in the seedbed may act as a limiting factor. For guaranteed fi eld emer-gence and yield the plot with a working depth of approx. 10 cm has proven itself as being reliable. A deeper opera-tion did not result in any yield increase on this high yield site.

Usually the passive mulch sowing (Cirrus) requires one or two intensively mixing soil tillage operational passes beforehand. When active mulch sowing (rotary cultiva-tor-combination) on the other hand, is better able to compensate for the adverse effect of the straw by more extensive soil tillage.

Results regarding fuel consumption and working time (Leipzig)

With continuously increasing fuel prices potential pos-sible savings are of special interest in arable farming. Therefore, in 2005 on the trials site at BBG Leipzig AMAZONE carried out comprehensive measurements in co-operation with the German Agricultural Society (DLG). The trials and division of the trials areas at BBG Leipzig have already been described on pages 34 and 35.

The investigations show that the different systems offer considerable saving potentials. When stubble working initially no signifi cant differences are shown regarding the fuel consumption. The consumption data only shows a minimum deviation within the range of 3.6 to 3.9 l/ha. However, the fi gures show that in stubble work with the Catros compact disc cultivator, compared with an opera-tion with standard cultivators, saving potentials of 4 to 5 l diesel/ha are possible.

Clear differences in fuel consumption, however, show these measurements in primary soil tillage. So, with conventional cultivation using the plough consumption values of 17 to 17.7 l/ha and 21.5 to 22.2 l/ha (with an additional packer on the plough) were registered.

In conservation systems, on the other hand, the meas-urements result in clearly lower consumption values which are between 10.2 l/ha and 4.3 l/ha (depending on implement type and intensity). This results in differenc-es of up to 17 l/ha compared with operation with the plough. Realistic and in practical operation the saving potentials amount to approx. 7 l/ha. This is shown in the direct comparison between the plots A (with plough) and B (without plough), because on these plots the op-erational intensities were about the same. If one adds the packer operation on the plough one even gets fi gures of approx. 11 l/ha.

In general the consumption values of the active sowing combination and the trailed Cirrus PacTeC seed drill with integrated compact disc harrow are low. The differ-ences between these two systems are only 0.5 to 1 l/ha in favour of the PacTeC seed drill. Extremely low con-sumption values result from the use of the solo seed drill because here no seedbed preparation takes place. In general, there is only little scope by the selection of sowing technology, regarding the reduction in fuel con-sumption. The question for the correct mechanisation of the sowing operation is rather more determined by the local side factors.


40 | 41

Summarising the total fuel consumption of the systems shows that operation with the plough requires approx. 7 l diesel/ha more than operation without the plough. The fuel consumption of the individual total systems is decisively infl uenced by the kind of primary soil tillage. So, the key for success is the choice and intensity of the primary soil tillage.

Apart from the more favourable fuel consumption also the working time for the total systems are reduced in favour of cultivation without the plough. For a mulch sowing system it is halved, with even savings of up to 60% being realistic.


With a conservation system without the plough the working time requirement can be halved.

With soil tillage and sowing up to 50% fuel is saved.


Pict. 4: Fuel consumption and working time required of the systems(Results of the DLG test institute [Groß-Umstadt] and FAL [Braunschweig])

Plot APlough without packer

26 cm

Plot APlough with packer

26 cm

Plot BConservation with Centaur

18 cm

Plot CConservation with Centaur

12 cm

Plot DConservation with Catros

8 cm

Stubble working with Compact disc cultivator 6 cm

Re-consolidation/packing Conventional Plough/primary soil tillage Conservation soil tillage

Sowing 1 active sowing combination2 passive large area seed drill3 solo seed drill

23–27 litres/ha 28–32 litres/ha 17–21 litres/ha 14–18 litres/ha 10–14 litres/ha

Fuel

cons

umpt

ion

litre

s/ha 35

30

25

20

15

10

5

0

Wor

king

tim

e req

uire

men

t min

utes

/ha 90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

6. AMAZONE –Methodical system technology

Soil tillage, sowing, fertilisation and crop protection – with AMAZONE technology the different individual operational steps result in optimally matched total systems. Valid for both conventional or conservation soil tillage: “Saving from the system! ”

The decisive criteria when combining system chains are the prevailing features: area and fi eld sizes, farm size and structure. Here AMAZONE meets the different demands with a wide range of working widths and capacities. In addition a vast number of machines allow the multi-

functional use for several operational passes, so that also smaller size farms are able to make good use of the tech-nology.

Even more the mechanisation will differ regarding soil conditions and climatic regions. Moist soils require a more intensive cultivation than changeable or dry soils. It is also obvious that the system procedures looked at in the continental humid climate in Middle Europe is completely different from that, for example, in the arid climatic zones of Eastern Europe. Because with decreas-ing availability of water and decreasing yield level also the demand on the soil tillage intensity is reduced.

In this way, for example, a system chain consisting of a Cenius cultivator and an active PTO driven KG-AD rotary cultivator-sowing combination is typical for the smaller farm sizes and high cultivation intensity in continental climatic conditions. Catros, Centaur and Cirrus, on the other hand, represent a combination which is ideally suited for the medium operational intensity for larger farm structures in dry climatic conditions. Or the Primera DMC direct sowing machine: It is the ideal solution there, where low demands on intensity and lack of water dominate the farm situation.

Pict. 5: Operational intensity depending on Climate and soil

Operational intensity . . . decreasing

moist changeable dry

Climate

moist changeable dry

Soil

weak structure stable structure

With regard to Dr. H. H. Voßhenrich and others


42 | 43

On the following pages are presented the best opti-mised systems that the AMAZONE programme offers depending on farm size. Here one can fi nd the optimum combination, not only for current farm requirements, but for a future orientated operation.

6. az – Methodical system technology

Intelligent crop production

Soil tillage Sowing Fertilisation Crop protection

Application orientated concepts

Individual system solutions for the farm

Expert knowledge of the farm manager

3C technology for areas up to 100 ha

Both for stubble working and also for primary soil tillage a three-row mulch cultivator is the ideal machine. This universal implement provides share systems which can be matched to the different working depths and this offers also a high saving potential in both wearing and fuel costs.

For sowing technology the use of an active sowing com-bination consisting of rotary harrow or rotary cultivator with mounted or pack top seed drill makes economical sense. By choosing mulch sowing capable disc coulters the door for all other possible cultivation systems is kept open.

Fuel consumption:The increasing working depths results in a fuel increase and the deeper soil tillage also results in a higher fuel consumption for the sowing operation. The reason being that the more intensive soil loosening results in higher slippage.

In general, however, a diesel consumption of 21.5 or 23 l/ha is still at a very low level. There are only slight differences between system 1 and 2 so that the opti-mum working depth for soil tillage clearly depends on the amount of straw to be incorporated.

Base data

Procedure evaluation with the aid of energy consumption data

Measurements by the German Agricultural Society (DLG) on AMAZONE trials plots at BBG Leipzig from 22nd–27th August, 2005

Field: Molkereischlag, fi eld size 43.3 ha, soil rating 60 points

Pict. 6: Fuel consumption of the machines in the system

Litres diesel/ha0 5 10 15 20 25

Mulch cultivator 8 cm Mulch cultivator 13 cmRotary cultivator-seed

drill combination

6.81 7.10 6.63

Mulch cultivator 8 cm Mulch cultivator 17 cm

6.79 9.30 6.86

Stubble working Conservation soil tillage Sowing

Rotary cultivator-seed drill combination


44 | 45

Rules for success System technology

Stubble working

• Exploitation of the residual moisture • Interruption of capillarity • Soil tillage as shallow as possible but covering full area • Suffi cient re-consolidation• Creation of optimum germination conditions for volunteer

grain and weed seeds

Soil tillage

• Even incorporation of straw and stubble residues• Thinning out soil-straw mixture• Improvement of straw rotting• Mechanical initial emergence control • Suffi cient re-consolidation

Sowing

• Maintaining even seed placement depth• Exact distribution between/within the rows• Restoration of water drainage• Suffi cient seed coverage with fi ne soil

Fertilisation

• Gentle handling of fertiliser • Accurate lateral and longitudinal distribution of the fertiliser• Re-check of application rate and spread pattern• Fighting external infl uences via an insensitive spread pattern • Professional border and side spreading

Crop protection (and fertilisation)

• Using the correct nozzles for optimum distribution• Precise selection of application rate• Waiting for the advantageous application time• Consideration of distance from the border• Avoiding application errors by minimised boom movements

Mounted crop protection sprayer

Centrifugal fertiliser spreader

Gravity seed drill with WS (suffolk) or roll disc coulters

Wing share or mulch cultivator Rotary harrow or cultivator

Wing share or mulch cultivator

Harvest

Harvest


3C technology for area sizes from 100 ha to 300 ha

Stubble working is preferably carried out with a com-pact disc-harrow. With its high acreage output and the directly related variable costs (fuel consumption) the disc cultivators set new milestones.

For the medium deep to deep soil tillage the mulch cul-tivator is the ideal solution. In preference a three-row implement to provide a very good loosening and mixing performance.

Depending on the farm structure with a cultivation area of 100 to 300 ha the use of two machines, the compact disc cultivator and the mulch cultivator can make eco-nomical sense. But please also bear in mind the possibility of a machine co-operation with neighbouring farmers. Sowing operation is most effi ciently carried out with an active combination consisting of rotary harrow or rotary cultivator with gravity or pneumatic seed drill.

Fuel consumption:The differences in consumption between the variations shown in the diagram depend on the different working depths. A more intensive soil loosening results in a higher slippage. And here also it is valid that the amount of straw to be incorporated is the most important criterion for choosing the working depth.

0 5 10 15 20 25

Compact disc cultivator –

6 cmMulch cultivator 13 cm

Mulch cultivator 17 cmCompact disc cultivator –

6 cm

3.66 7.99 6.63

3.71 10.29 6.86

Base data

System evaluation with the aid of energy consumption data




Litres diesel/ha





46 | 47

System technology

Compact disc cultivator

Mulch cultivator

Rotary cultivator-sowing combination – gravity or pneumatic


Mounted crop protection sprayer


Rules for success

Stubble working



Soil tillage


Sowing


Fertilisation




Harvest

Harvest

3C technology for areas from 300 ha to 500 ha

For these farm sizes the effi cient specialist implements such as the compact disc harrow for the shallow stubble work and tine cultivator-disc harrow combination for soil cultivation are the ideal machines.

For sowing operation there are two alternatives: Either an active sowing combination with large tank volume and high effi ciency disc coulters for higher forward speeds and acreage outputs. Or you make use a seed drill with passive pre-working operational tools. Here, please bear in mind that this solution requires higher demands on straw management, shallow stubble working and soil tillage.

Fuel consumption: Also here the working depth of the soil tillage is of deci-sive infl uence on the level of fuel consumption in the total system. Alternative solutions to the sowing opera-tion show that, by utilising a seed drill with a passive pre-sowing cultivation, fuel savings of 10 to 15% are possible. For the following sowing operation the more intensive soil loosening results in a higher slippage and thus somewhat higher consumption values.

0 5 10 15 20 25


6 cmMulch cultivator 13 cm PacTeC coulter seed drill




6 cmMulch cultivator 13 cm Rotary cultivator-seed

drill combination


6 cmMulch cultivator 17 cm Rotary cultivator-seed

drill combination

3.73 7.99 5.78

3.81 10,30 6.05

3.66 7.99 6.63

3.71 10.29 6.86

Base data





Litres diesel/ha



48 | 49

System technology


Cultivator-disc harrow combination


High capacity sowing combination or large area seed drill

Trailed crop protection sprayer


Rules for success

Stubble working



Soil tillage


Sowing


Fertilisation




Harvest

Harvest

3C technology for areas under cultivation of more than 500 haArable farms with more than 500 hectares ideally operate in an individual machine chain. A solo machine carries out the soil tillage, for sowing passive systems are used. The advantages of this system combination are huge acreage outputs, low fuel consumption and high opera-tional quality. For sowing rape the precision seeding technology is an alternative, provided this technology is available anyway, for sowing sugar beet or maize.

The less the intensity at sowing the higher are the de-mands on, above all, the straw incorporation during the preceding operational passes. Therefore universal ma-chines are not recommended but the specifi c machines such as the compact disc cultivator for stubble working and a tine cultivator-disc harrow combination for soil tillage.

Fuel consumption: The decisive infl uence on the amount of fuel consump-tion is here again the working depth of soil tillage. When using a precision single seeder for sowing rape the fuel consumption of the total system can even be reduced under the limit of 15 l/ha.

0 5 10 15 20 25


6 cmMulch cultivator 13 cm Precision seeder







Precision seeder

3.63 7.99 2.59

3.74 10.23 2.73

3.73 7.99 5.78

3.81 10.30 6.05

Base data

System evaluation with the aid of energy consumption




Litres diesel/ha



50 | 516. az – Methodical system technology

System technology


Cultivator-disc harrow combination


High capacity sowing combination or large area seed drill

Trailed crop protection sprayer

Rules for success

Stubble working



Soil tillage


Sowing


Fertilisation




Harvest

Harvest

3C technology for contractors

For many years contractors and machine co-operatives have been the competent service providers within the range of sowing technology. A great deal of the maize or beet cultivation is already carried out by them.

At the moment additional operational opportunities open up because some farmers – above all those in in-tensive regions – switch over also for stubble working and soil tillage to the use of a contractor’s machine due to the increased costs. Because also they want to utilise optimum technology, in order to better meet the in-creased demands on straw management and the quality of the individual operational passes. Also when sowing barley there is a trend to have this carried out by the contractor.

It is recommended to use for the different operational passes specialist machines. This enables the full use to be made of the potential with regard to operational quality, area output, but, of course, also to save fuel. With the sowing technology for cereals you can choose, depending on area required and customer structure between the active PTO driven combinations in working widths up to 6 m or a passive sowing system.

0 5 10 15 20 25













PacTeC coulter seed drill

PacTeC coulter seed drill


3.63 7.99 2.59

10.23 2.733.74

3.73 7.99 5.78

3.81 10.30 6.05

3.66 7.99 6.63

3.71 10.29 6.86

Base data





Litres diesel/ha





System technology

Large area bulk material spreader trailed or mounted

Trailed crop protection sprayer or self-propelled machine


Tine cultivator-disc harrow combination or mulch cultivator

High effi ciency sowing combination or seed drill or precision seeder

Rules for success

Stubble working



Soil tillage


Sowing


Fertilisation




Harvest

Harvest

3C technologyfor different climatic zones

Seen European and world wide one has to make a dis-tinction between the different climatic zones. Because, depending on amount of rainfall, temperature pattern and availability of water completely different demands are made on soil tillage and sowing technology whereby there are, of course, no clear dividing lines between the individual climatic zones. Whether continental, Medi-terranean or continental arid climates – the AMAZONE programme offers for all conditions the optimum system solutions.

The table describes the climatic conditions and shows that with increasing temperatures and decreasing rain-falls also the depth and intensity for soil tillage and sow-ing decrease. Thus a moderate climate, like in Western Europe, requires a relatively high intensity of soil tillage in order to achieve high yields. Here the compact disc cultivator, the cultivator and active or passive sowing combinations are used. In Mediterranean climatic conditions, such as in Africa and Southern Europe, rainfall and yield level are inferior, the temperatures higher. Here the soil should not be worked that deep in order to safeguard the water resources. Usually when sowing, active sowing technol-ogy is rarely utilised but rather mulch sowing or direct sowing methods.

The continental arid climate is accompanied by an even higher dryness, mostly cold winters and short summers. The consequence: Almost only spring crops are culti-vated. Determined by history here very large farm struc-tures prevail. Therefore cultivation is carried out not only with a substantially reduced intensity but also with larger working widths and highest acreage outputs.

At the same time there is an additional difference between the zones west and east from the Ural, the mountain range which is regarded as the geographic border between Europe and Asia. West of the Ural, for example, in Russia, Belarus and in Ukraine the yield level is 3 to 4 t/ha so that the reduced mulch sowing makes sense. Here Catros and possibly the Centaur are used, as is the seed drill Citan or Cirrus. On the other side of the Ural rainfall and yield expectations are even smaller. If anything at all only very slight soil tillage takes place, with mostly the Primera DMC direct sowing machine being used on its own.

Primera DMC in 9 m working width for direct sowing, mulch sowing and conventional sowing



Table 12: Climate zones and demand on technology

Moderate climate Mediterranean climateContinental arid climate

West of the Ural East of the Ural

Local region Middle Europe Africa, Southern Europe Russia and Belarus, Ukraine Asia

Rainfall/year 500–1,000 mm 300–700 mm 400–500 mm 300–450 mm

Climate characteristicsSuffi cient rainfall,

medium temperatures

little rainfall, higher temperatures,

weakly developed winters

increasing drought, mostly cold winters,

short and hot summers

increasing drought, mostly cold winters,

short and hot summers

Crop rotationshigh proportion of winter

sowing close crop rotationswinter sowing

and spring sowinglarge proportion of spring sowing

exclusively spring sowing

Yield level grain 5–12 t/ha 3–7 t/ha 3–4 t/ha 1–2 t/ha

Soil tillagerelatively large working

depth, high intensityreduced working depth,

less intensity

large working widths, high acreage outputs,

little intensity, reduced mulch sowing

large working widths, high acreage outputs,

direct sowing

Technology utilised

Short disc harrow, cultivator,

active and passive sowing technology

Mulch sowing or direct sowing, with sowing

technology on possibly larger row spacing and

other coulter types

Catros, possibly Centaur, sowing technology

Citan or Cirrus

Catros and Citan, Primera DMC

Pict. 11: Climatic zones in an overview

cultivation areas withcontinental climaterainfall < 500 mm

cultivation areas with maritime climaterainfall > 500 mm

56 | 57

7. Practitioners report about their experiences with AMAZONE machinery

In our practice reports we introduce to you different arable farms which utilise AMAZONE machines for soil cultivation. The reports show the variety of conditions and the corresponding handling of the systems in prac-tice: whether with or without the plough – AMAZONE machines are always used and operate competently not only due to their high acreage outputs.

7. Practitioners report about their experiences with az machinery

Catros and Cenius on a mixed farm

“For us, soil tillage without the plough makes sense, above all because of the increased effi ciency, the protec-tion against erosion and cost saving”, this is the opinion of Dirk Westrup in D-49143 Bissendorf. At Westrup-Koch GbR Dirk Westrup is responsible for arable farming in the general organisation. The farm cultivates almost 700 ha. Experiences with soil tillage without the plough are available over about six years.

“Our soils vary very much”, Dirk Westrup says, “therefore they are cultivated differently. Partly we own sandy soils, sandy clays or silt soils.” At the moment, the Westrup-Koch GbR cultivates about 140 hectares in total without the plough. Above all on sandy and in addition high groundwater soils the plough is only rarely not used. “Sandy soils quickly tend to compaction. As we cultivate here often maize and Triticale in the crop rotation which are both susceptible to fusarium, we mostly plough.”

On other areas the Westrup-Koch GbR cultivates the silt containing fi elds which are situated to a large extent in hilly terrain and which are cultivated without the plough for now several years: “Due to the fact that we do not plough these fi elds, we managed to clearly reduce the erosion problem”, Dirk Westrup confi rms.

An additional criterion for decision is, what kind of crop is cultivated. “Rape is partly cultivated without the plough, however, for example, with barley after wheat the plough is still used. With barley after wheat there is normally volunteer wheat in the grain which then might increase the moisture percentage when harvesting. It is then easier to sow wheat after wheat. This functions best when the wheat straw has been harvested. Here also an increased risk of fusarium exists but with a tar-geted variety choice this can be reduced or by spraying during blossom time it can be prevented.” As an addi-tional particularity of the farm Dirk Westrup mentions “that we cultivate wheat on 130 to 140 hectares wheat, barley and Triticale as multiplication seed, there with-out using the plough it is more diffi cult to keep the crops clean.”

Due to the larger amounts of straw and the increased risk of fusarium after grain maize or CCM the plough is also used. On the other hand after forage maize culti-vations are carried out without the plough. Here the stubbles are initially worked with a fl ail-type mulching machine to improve rotting and to minimise the fusar-ium risk and then incorporated using the disc harrow or the cultivator before the new sowing operation is carried out.

Westrup-Koch GbR

Site D-49143 Bissendorf, Lower Saxony

Farm size 690 ha

Animal production350 dairy cows, approx. 350 calves and cattle, 10 breeding bulls

Employees 6 workers, 2 trainees

Annual rainfall 750 to 800 mm, well distributed

Altitude75 to 150 m above sea level, somewhat hilly terrain

Average yield level90 to 95 dt/ha wheat, 80 dt/ha barley, 40 to 50 dt/ha rape

Division of the area under cultivation 2007

Grassland approx. 140 ha Maize approx. 130 ha Set a side approx. 40 ha Wheat approx. 160 ha Rape approx. 90 ha Barley approx. 80 ha Triticale approx. 22 ha


58 | 59

“It is also of importance to have slugs and mice under control at cultivation without the plough – in the past we had to pay dearly in this respect”, Dirk Westrup refers to a possible problem.

Absolutely irrespective of whether the fi elds are culti-vated with or without the plough, the Westrup-Koch GbR uses a compact disc harrow, the 5 m Catros, and as the cultivator the 3 m Cenius. Stubble working after rape is only carried out in very dry weather relatively quickly in order to ensure a safe soil contact for the seed. How ever, in case of suffi cient rainfall, they wait for about two weeks. During this time a great deal of the volunteer grains emerge which then with the fi rst operational pass can be incorporated into the surface.

Stubble breaking after grain harvest, however, the Westrup-Koch GbR carries out as quickly as possibly after the straw has been harvested. This requires observing the straw distribution previously done by the combine harvester. “In general it is good, but there are occasionally problems when the straw is still damp and is diffi cult to chop into short pieces.” Initially slurry or chicken manure is incorporated. As it is intended to plough the second operational pass is often always carried out with the Catros because the effi ciency is

higher than with the cultivator and because the mixing effect is very good. “Usually we carry out two opera-tional passes in order to get a maximum of volunteer grain to emerge as we are also an intensive farm” says Dirk Westrup. For cultivations without the plough the second soil tillage is usually done with the Cenius culti-vator for a deeper working depth. However, the Cenius is also used before ploughing when the soil may need to be loosened once more, for example in the tracks.

Dirk Westrup judges the operational quality of AMAZONE machinery as positive. “The Catros achieves a good mix-ing-in of plant residues at 6 to 8 cm depth. However, an even, shallow soil tillage at 3 to 4 cm is also possible. The Cenius also operates to our entire satisfaction. We have equipped it with wing shares so we are able to incorporate the straw evenly into the medium soil layers.” In front of the 5 m working width Catros trac-tors of 170 HP or 220 HP are used, in front of the Cenius machines with 120 or 160 HP. Westrup-Koch GbR carries out sowing operation mainly with a 3 m combination consisting of rotary cultivator and Pack Top seed drill with roll disc coulters following a 160 HP tractor.

Besides the technology Dirk Westrup also highly esti-mates the more far reaching AMAZONE competence


Dirk Westrup from Westrup-Koch GbR in Bissendorf

AMAZONE technology in Hungary

B.M. Tiszamenti Kft.

Location Lácacséke, Hungary

Béla Kiss, employee and manager for agricultural technology:

On approx. 1,700 ha approx. 600 ha winter wheat, 600 ha maize, 250 ha rape, 250 ha sunfl ower are cul-tivated. With an annual rainfall of 500 mm the soil qualities vary from sandy to heavy. Since 2005 for soil tillage and sowing the Catros, Centaur, KG-AD seed drill and ED precision airplanter from AMAZONE have been used. They only plough in the spring for sowing maize and sunfl owers. Sowing winter wheat and rape in autumn is carried out without the plough to save costs and time. After a short settling-in period with the new AMAZONE machines the employees said: “Good and effective technology, which is also easy to operate.”

for soil tillage systems. “It is good that AMAZONE is working on a continual development programme and that they support the farmers in the realisation of those systems. Also in the technology for crop protec-tion and fertilisation they are far ahead. From the developments of the previous years one can see that this is an innovative company.“

In hillside locations the danger or erosion could considerably be reduced.

The task of the Cenius cultivator is the deeper tillage of soils.


60 | 61

With Catros and Cirrus on most heavy soils

“In 1997 we totally changed over to soil tillage with-out the plough when the machinery ring purchased a mulch sowing sugar beet drill”, Stefan Ruckelshaußen remembers, who cultivates in Groß-Gerau 190 ha arable land. Before that they still ploughed for sugar beet, spring barley and maize. “Sowing shortly after plough-ing is virtually impossible because the soil is really too heavy. When we ploughed earlier there were huge clods, for a four leg plough we needed 180 HP. So we only could plough for spring sowing. However, that had to be done already in autumn so that the frost could break the soil into small pieces over winter.” Sowing in the autumn, on the other hand, had already been done without the plough for a much longer peri-od, initially with a combination of rotary harrow and seed drill.

The soil quality reaches from mixed fi eld to heavy fi eld, from soil rating of 40 to 80 points. In the Upper Rhine rift valley – former alluvial land – here there are partly very heavy areas with an increased clay content of up to 65%, however also some areas with clayey sand. The mostly heavy soil is the most important reason why Ruckelshaußen relies on conservation soil tillage. In addition there is the uneven distribution of rainfalls, which are in an average of ten years between 500 and 530 mm/year. After a pre-summer drought, approxi-mately from June, the most of the rain falls in the autumn. “In autumn it is too wet, sometimes nothing works, then the soil is very sticky, when one loosens it once and it rains again into it, then everything is too late.”

Rickelshaußen cultivates 65 ha of his fi elds organically as a separate farm. Here today he manages with the aid of a special wing share cultivator and a very wide crop rotation to work without using the plough. On the remaining 125 ha, which are not organically cultivated, the crop rotation is substantially closer and exists at the moment of herbs (parsley), sugar beet, rape and wheat. Via the exchange of fi elds with the partners in his machine cooperative and other farmers cereals and root crops are cultivated in all fi elds in an annual rota-tion. “That goes superbly with soil tillage without plough, after grain we cultivate either sugar beet or rape or herbs”, Ruckelshaußen reports. In the long-term average yields for sugar beet are between 530 and 550 dt, 75 dt for wheat, 55 dt for spring barley and approx. 40 dt for rape.

In order to carry out soil tillage and sowing as cost saving as possible, Ruckelshaußen relies on the advan-tages of a machine co-operative. In this way, thanks to the mutual use together with three other farms on 1,100 ha in total the 6 m Catros compact disc cultivator, a 4.6 m wing share cultivator and the 6 m working width Cirrus seed drill can be used to full capacity. For the towing tractor a Fendt 924 with 240 HP from the machine co-operation is available.

Only few operational passes prior to sowingSpecial attention is turned to the straw distribution from the previous crop harvest. When it is intended to cultivate herbs, as a matter of principle straw is har-vested from the previous crop, with all other previous crops it is usually left. The combine harvester drivers generally pay attention to an even straw distribution. One measure, for example is, that they ensure a con-stant sharpness of the knives.

For several years Stefan Ruckelshaußen has cultivated his fields with Catros and Cirrus.


For beet after grain, Ruckelshaußen initially carries out with the Catros a stubble work to a depth of 5 to 8 cm. When the fi eld is then getting green again, mostly the Catros is used once more to mix in emerging grain and straw. In the end, prior to winter Roundup is sprayed to remedy root weeds. Then no other cultivation is carried out until sowing.

For rape after wheat, barley after spring barley Ruckels-haußen initially carries out a fi rst shallow operational pass with the Catros, for the second time he works a bit deeper, then he sows directly with the Cirrus. The sowing operation is done mostly in combination with a pre-seeding herbicide which can be incorporated with the pre-working discs of the Cirrus.

If parsley follows grain, it is worked one or two times with the Catros, in addition mostly the cultivator is used once more. “For parsley we have to incorporate the straw somewhat more intensive to avoid later straw

residues in the product”, says Ruckelshaußen with re-gard to the special demands of parsley.

For wheat after beet (harvested with a six row self- propelled machine), if it is not too wet, sowing is car-ried out directly with the Cirrus. Here the pre-working discs of the Cirrus, however, are set to a depth of 8 to 10 cm in order to loosen the surface a bit more. After rape and after parsley only Roundup is sprayed, then sowing with Cirrus follows.

Minimising operational time and costsThe decisive measures for Ruckelshaußen are the opera-tional passes with the Catros and the use of Glyphosate containing agents. The cultivator is used only there, where the straw has to be incorporated a bit deeper, such as, for example for rape or in case of uneven ground. From time to time also prior to beet on a bit lighter soils. When sowing grain, rape and parsley with the Cirrus the pre-running discs level the soil and at

Stubble working with the 6 m Catros: At 18 km/h round about 12.5 ha in just under two hours.


62 | 63

the same time provide some loose soil which is then fi rmed again by the packer rollers.

What has changed since the plough is not used any more? “One spends clearly less time in the fi eld. Earlier one had to sit for hours and days on the tractor, but today everything is just quick. What time one saves can be used for other work”, declared Ruckelshaußen. “The work is quickly done and in case the weather is bad, we also work in shifts.” In this way Ruckelshaußen – when we visited him – had just needed hardly 2 hours for 12.5 hectares of stubble working with the Catros at 18 km/h. Also with the Cirrus, depending on fi eld sizes, 4 to 8 ha/hour can be managed.

In addition there is the saving of fuel: For the fi rst stubble pass with the Catros Ruckelshaußen only needs 5 l/ha and for the second pass 7 litres/ha (with the cultivator 9 to 10 litres/ha) and for sowing also 7 l/ha, for soil tillage and sowing this results in a total of round about 19 l/ha. Yield reductions, on the other hand, Ruckelshaußen did not notice.

Additional observations: “At the beginning of the change over we thought we would have to supply the stubbles with more nitrogen. Meanwhile we do not do this any longer because the soils are so active that there are many earthworms. Also for base fertilisation noth-ing has changed but the traffi c carrying ability of the soils has improved. ”

Regarding the time for sowing Ruckelshaußen says: “One has to approach the optimum time with care, under no circumstances should one sow too early. One has to wait until the top soil layer fl ows a little bit. Waiting is not all that bad because the enormous effi -ciency is at our disposal.”


“Centaur mixes and deep loosens…”

Agrarprodukte Kitzen eG

Site D-04460 Kitzen

Hans-Uwe Heilmann, Chairman of the board

In Kitzen the farm runs about 3,000 hectares. Since a bit more than 6 years a Centaur from AMAZONE has been used here. Uwe Heilmann: “Why did the plough once revolutionise agriculture? It inverts and it mixes but it does not do anything else. At that time when the plough was introduced, no crop protective agents were available and hardly any fertilisers, so once it brought the more nutrient containing soil layers to the top and provided a deep loosening at the working level. How-ever, today the Centaur does this better: Because it does not invert the soil but loosens it at the relevant required depth and mixes in the straw. We have got masses of straw which have to be processed. One should not bury the straw but mix it into the soil and then let the soil life do the work.”

“The effects are really put into action!”

The Agrargenossenschaft Kirchheilingen e.G. cultivates a great deal of their approximately 3,500 hectares arable areas without the plough, however, a smaller part not. Carsten Steger, member of the management of the co-operative and at the same time responsible in the area of fi eld establishment, reports about the reasons and experiences.

When in 1994 the change over to conservation soil till-age began, the reason was mainly the economic con-straints for constant rationalisation. The decreasing numbers of employees did not enable all areas to be ploughed in the usual way in operational peaks in sum-mer. In addition there was the problem of little rainfall with unfavourable distribution: “When we plough in summer and then want to sow rape the water has dis-appeared. So this was a complex problem which we wanted to solve with a plough less operation”, Carsten Steger reports.

Today, approx. 65% of the crop rotations of the Agrar-genossenschaft Kirchheilingen e.G. no plough is used – that is valid for all crops which follow on peas or rape. Also for rape (after winter barley, wheat or spring bar-ley) normally one does not plough. The same applies to winter grain, except for maize. For spring seeds (spring barley, forage maize, beet) one normally also ploughs.

For all acreages, where over many years no plough had been used, according to Carsten Steger the following can be noticed: The yield differences between good and bad fi elds are not as big as in former times because the soil structure is better. The soils obviously carry traffi c better, as after rain the water seeps away quicker. In an extremely dry year, as in 2003, the highest wheat yields were still harvested. “So it is true”, according to Carsten Steger, “the effects of conservation soil tillage are really put into action provided one has not done something wrong previously.” He also confi rms the eco-nomic advantages: “Whilst the yields hold steady – though initial diffi culties due to mismanagement of straw, to slugs, mice and awn less brome grass – we did not only reduce manpower but also diesel consumption in huge dimensions!” In this way, for example, as a com-parison between the years 1999 and 2003 the diesel consumption was reduced from 345,000 litres/year to 245,000 litres/year – this is 100,000 litres/year less.

Agrargenossenschaft Kirchheilingen e.G.

Site D-99947 Kirchheilingen, Thuringia

Farm sizeTotal usable area 3,640 ha, 3,500 ha of arable land

Animal production 450 milk cows, 900 sows, 400 sheep

EmployeesBig direct marketing with several subsidiaries 115 employees in total

Annual rainfallAn average of 510 mm, badly distributed, summer droughts

Altitude 230 m above sea level, slightly hilly terrain

SoilLÖ 2 (from loams to disintegration soils) Ø fi eld number: 63, Ø grass land number: 34

Division of cultivated areas 2007

Winter wheat approx. 950 ha Peas approx. 244 ha Lucerne/Grass approx. 172 ha Spring wheat approx. 112 ha Spring barley approx. 393 ha Rape approx. 687 ha Sugar beet approx. 68 ha Feed maize approx. 207 ha Grain maize approx. 140 ha Winter barley approx. 270 ha Triticale approx. 39 ha Durum wheat approx. 108 ha Set a side areas ca. 70 ha(participation in the Thuringian Kulap-Programme A8, B and C)


64 | 65

The Centaur as the core machineToday a Centaur which is pulled by a 420 HP tracked vehicle is the most important machine for cultivation without the plough in Kirchheilingen. This machine works approx. 3,000 ha per year. For four years the farm has used a Cirrus as the “main seed drill” with help from an older Primera DMC direct seed drill.

Already at combine harvesting the Hirchheilingen peo-ple keep an eye on an even straw distribution. “Straw management is very important, one has to achieve a distribution of chaff and volunteer grains over the entire area”, Carsten Steiger says. The magic formula of how to proceed after harvest does not exist, so that soil tillage totally varies. Carsten Steger explains that with the aid of individual examples: When, mostly on the worse fi elds, winter barley follows wheat initially the Centaur is used as quickly after harvest as possible. However, a disc harrow is only used in exceptional cases, in cases where much lodged grain has prevailed. “This, however, is comparatively seldom because when spread-ing fertiliser we operate with the N-sensor”, Carsten Steger explains

“We try to keep the fi rst measure as shallow as possible, then the second somewhat deeper. Possibly also with different shares. For us, here the fl exibility of the Centaur is the decisive advantage – enabling us, depending on the demands, to work shallower or deeper, to use wider or narrower shares.” Whether the operational quality and working depth are correct and whether the straw has been suffi ciently incorporated, is judged after a look in the fi eld. “It always depends on the actual conditions: Is it wet or is it dry, was there lodged grain or not, it is all very complex. One really has to make one’s own expe-riences and also one has to fall fl at on one’s face and then to be able to make it alright in the end.”

Another example: After rape, winter wheat is sown. Here, after harvest initially no soil tillage is carried out, but a straw harrow is used. This measure is supposed to distribute the straw a little and to promote the emergence of the rape grains fallen out. After three to four weeks the fi elds are treated with a total herbi-cide and in this way the basic food is taken away from mice and slugs and their breeding is reduced, at the same time the water supply is conserved. In order to


Carsten Steger, member of the board and manager of farming at the Agrargenossenschaft Kirchheilingen e.G.

destroy the paths of the mice the rape fi elds are mulched and cultivated once all around. As the rape fi elds are normally the poorest soils there are often still tracks which are then, prior to the new sowing, remedied via an approx. 10 cm deep operation with the Centaur.

There are different reasons that in Kirchheilingen one goes on ploughing in some fi elds. So, for example, the manure from the animal production has to be spread, in most cases before beet and maize. The approx. 500 hec-tares for spreading are next to the livestock sheds. For logistic reasons it is suggested to initially harvest the straw and spread the manure later. “However the ma-nure is mostly spread in unfavourable weather, so that often deep tracks are left behind and so one has to plough afterwards. As our better soils are situated nor-mally around the livestock sheds these areas simulta-neously offer a high yield level, so that it easily pays to work here with the plough”, Carsten Steger reports.

The plough is also used following grain maize: At fi rst it is mulched, then ploughed and then the wheat is sown. By mulching the stalks are smashed, at the same time it acts as a control measure against the corn borer and prevents blockage with the following soil tillage and the Kirchheilingen staff use the Centaur after mulching, Carsten Steger excludes: “Because of fusarium – here we want to have the straw far away from the surface. We tried it with the Centaur before and it works, how-ever, in an unfavourable year problems might arise and the don values then become too high making the grain unsuitable for use as foodstuff or feed.”

But summarising Carsten Steger says: “Without these pressures, of course, we would like to renounce the plough here also.“ Looking back at the beginning of changeover, Carsten Steger remembers: “Initially, one has to learn the hard way because one underestimates certain effects – problems with slugs, mice and awn-less brome grass, also mineralisation in the soil takes another course. One has to be prepared to newly learn again and again and to make compromises. If much straw prevails, I still have to work deep enough, not generally shallow because then I get the problems. Also where the Co-operative cultivates processing grain one works without the plough: Here the wide crop rotation, which we practise thanks to the participation in the Thuringian A-8 programme, helps us to ensure purity of variety.”

Carsten Steger is most satisfi ed with the technology from AMAZONE. All machines function very well – and besides the Centaur and Cirrus there are also, addition-ally, an AMAZONE Primera DMC direct sowing machine, ED precision airplanters and fertiliser spreaders used in Kirchheilingen. The staff from Kirchheilingen use the 6 m wide Primera DMC direct seed drill mostly on smaller fi elds.

However, exact work rates regarding the use of AMAZONE machinery Carsten Steger does not want to mention: “Areas and conditions are just too different. To work a 100 ha fi eld on the level with the Centaur means other conditions than a 20 ha fi eld where I have to drive up and down hill. In any case, the 7.5 m Centaur works between 12 and 15 km/h, the hourly rate can be calcu-lated and in normal operation we thus manage between 50 and 70 ha per day, with the 8 m Cirrus also between 50 and 70 ha.”

Regarding AMAZONE and conservation soil tillage Carsten Steger thinks: “We have already been co-oper-ating closely with AMAZONE for a very long time and we very pleased that AMAZONE endeavours to obtain new, actual background knowledge regarding plough-less soil tillage and that they pass on their experiences to their customers.”

“Straw management is very important to us; one has to achieve complete distribution of chaff and volunteer grain over the whole area in the field.”


66 | 67

AMAZONE technology in Russia

Agrofi rma Kulon

Site Tatarstan

Rafi k Miftachov, General manager

The estate runs 35,000 hectares and a dairy farm. A strongly continental climate prevails (hard winters, drought periods in summer); the annual rainfall is about 220 to max. 370 mm. Heavy clay/black earth soils predominate. The arable farming is carried out in the proportion of 40% conventional and 60% without the plough. For 4 years AMAZONE technology has been used in the form of disc cultivators, seed drills, fertiliser spreaders and crop protection sprayers.

All machines have proven themselves superbly, with the sowing technology especially praiseworthy. “Exemplary in precision and handling, reliability and sowing speed, the Citan seed drill is a real sowing miracle. With an AMAZONE seed drill plant emergence appears after just four days.” Also the tractor drivers regard AMAZONE technology as operator-friendly and uncomplicated.


Both for stubble work and also for deeper soil tillage the staff at Kirchheilingen use a Centaur.

8. Results: The conservation soil tillage goes on having its way

The practice reports show how differently soil tillage and sowing is handled on the farm. Some rely completely on conservation systems, others only partly. Irrespective of this and of farm structure, soils and crop rotations all practitioners successfully utilise AMAZONE machinery.

On the basis of the 3C crop establishment concept with AMAZONE machinery the optimum technology is also at your disposal for the operational passes from stubble working, primary soil tillage and sowing, both for in con-servation and conventional soil tillage systems. With a wide range of working widths and capacities AMAZONE meets all the different demands. In addition a vast number of machines can be utilised for several different operational passes, so that also smaller sized farms are able to make optimised use of the technology.

Experiences in practice also show that the future will go on to develop more and more in the direction of conser-vation soil tillage systems. Because conservation soil till-age offers, besides the ecological benefi t as, for example, the better soil structure or less susceptibility to erosion, decisive economic advantages! So numerous fi eld trials, which have been carried out with AMAZONE machinery on different sites in different climatic conditions and crop rotations prove that within conservation soil tillage systems not only equal or higher yields than with the conventional soil tillage can be obtained but also sub-stantial cost savings.

With the headline “5% more yield, 50% less fuel and 60% less working time” AMAZONE summarises the re-sults of these fi eld trials. In this way – as the top of the 3C-concept – the possible advantages of a complete changeover from conventional to conservation soil till-age systems become clearer.

Especially with regard to the savings of 60% working time and 50% fuel consumption one cannot avoid think-ing about the possibilities existing for their own farm. For farms which cultivate the fi elds conventionally still it is in any case worthwhile to start the changeover in small steps and to experiment. For farms which only cul-tivate some of their fi elds under a conservation regime it is worth further extending this area.

Here the success to a large extent also depends on how the technology utilised meets the specifi c demands. Therefore, AMAZONE has not only optimised their ma-chinery regarding robustness, but operational quality, operational safety, user comfort and fuel saving machine operation are factors of similar importance. Only on this basis can the systems be realised successfully in prac-tice.

Moreover, AMAZONE intends to offer the customers additional support with comprehensive advice and prac-tical recommendations around the effective utilisation of their machinery and systems. Amongst other things,


68 | 69

AMAZONE makes available various informational mate-rial as to soil tillage systems and machinery which you can order in accordance with the following pages. What you should, for example, specifi cally consider when changing over to conservation soil tillage you will gain experience from the brochure “The Architecture of mod-ern plant production”.

8. Results: The conservation soil tillage goes on having its way

Stubble working with the Catros compact disc cultivator

Re-consolidation/packingConservation soil tillage with CentaurSowing

Conventional plough/primary soil tillage

Yields according to results, 5-year average (2002–2006)Conventional (plough/sowing combination) = 100 % basing on the fi eld trials at Leipzig in cooperation with FAL, Braunschweig

Plough with packer Centaur cultivator-disc harrow combination

approx. 46 min/ha

approx. 15 l/ha

Cirrus

Centaur

Catros

Cirrus

Centaur

CatrosSoil tillage:

Saving potential

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Pict. 12: Fuel consumption and working time requirement of the system Results from the DLG test institute (Groß-Umstadt) and FAL (Braunschweig)

To reconcile theory and practice is the central task of this publication about the AMAZONE 3C arable farming concept. My job as a freelance agricultural journalist was the editorial support. So, a huge amount of infor-mation around the 3C arable farming concept had to be summarised and solution concepts had to be described.

Without the active support from many sides and the preparatory work from many places this would not have been possible. A thank you also to the practitioners and scientists who carried out, analysed and processed the numerous AMAZONE fi eld trials, and in the same way thank you to the AMAZONE team who developed the concepts for the optimum machine operation.

I also thank the farmers about whose practical experi-ences we were allowed to report in this documentation. During the visits on farm it was confi rmed that the ques-tion for the most profi table arable farming systems can by no means be answered in general. On the contrary, the statements of the practitioners show that user-ori-entated arable farming concepts on the basis of actual experience are subject to far reaching development.

In this way, AMAZONE will also further extend their solu-tions and systems around the 3C arable farming concept. And here, as in the past, they rely on the co-operation with practice. Therefore, you, dear readers, are welcome to let us have your feedback. For suggestions, answers to questions as to the 3C arable farming concept the AMAZONE experts are at your disposal with pleasure. Please write to AMAZONE, for example, by e-Mail to [email protected] or just give us a call: +49 (0)5405 501-0.

Yours Franz-Peter Schollen, Coesfeld

Epilogue of the editor


70 | 71

Leipzig with test tracks and test areas

Hude near Oldenburg

Leeden near OsnabrückHasbergen-Gaste near Osnabrück with test tracks

Hude near Oldenburg

Forbach/France

GAG Eurotechnik Samara in Russia

Production sites of the AMAZONE group


Information material

The following leafl ets about our products and the booklet “Architecture of modern crop production” can be downloaded via the Info-portal on the AMAZONE website or ordered directly from AMAZONE:By mail: [email protected] by Fax:+49 (0)5405 501-147

Leafl ets (free of charge) Order No.

KE rotary harrow MI 791

KG Special/KG Super rotary cultivator MI 1484

Catros compact disc cultivator MI 1558

Pegasus cultivator, 2-row MI 082

Cenius cultivator, 3-row MI 1092

Centaur mulch cultivator, 4-row MI 1515

D9 and AD3 gravity seed drill MI 163

AD-P Special pneumatic seed drill MI 1765

AD-P Super pneumatic seed drill MI 1818

Avant front tank seed drill MI 1117

Cirrus large area seed drill MI 1479

Citan large area seed drill MI 1370

Primera large area seed drill MI 444

ED precision airplanter MI 150

ZA-M/ZA-M profi S/ZA-M ultra MI 1694

ZG-B large area bulk material spreaders MI 1090

UF mounted sprayer MI 1378

UG Nova trailed sprayer MI 1202

UX trailed sprayer MI 854

Architecture of moderncrop production (token fee 5,–)

MI 1678

Within the framework of our ACTIVE programmes we offer events around “Intelligent Crop Production” in our ACTIVE centres at Hasbergen-Gaste, Hude and Leipzig. We also organise thematic meetings in the lo-cality of the AMAZONE trials areas in different regions in Germany.

AMAZONE-ACTIVE – please refer to www.amazone.de Column Active

For the AMAZONE Info-Portal please go to www.amazone.de

AMAZONEN-Werke H. Dreyer GmbH & Co. KG • P. O. Box 51 • D-49202 Hasebergen-Gaste/GermanyPhone +49 (0)5405 501-0 • Fax +49 (0)5405 501-193 • E-Mail: [email protected] • www.amazone.de

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AMAZONEN-Werke H. Dreyer GmbH & Co. KG • www.amazone.de


MI1677 (GB) 2008

3C –

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3c concept leaflet

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