Field cultivation combined with fertilizer placement
A standard fertilizer applicator with coulters and shank assemblies with knives for placement of fertilizer below the soil surface is equipped with cultivator shank assemblies for tillage between the fertilizer shanks. Each cultivator shank is mounted by a plate having notches therein for adjusting the vertical height of the assembly. The plate is attached to a support bracket placed around a square beam or tool bar. When used for spring application, leveling of uneven soil is accomplished and weeds are eliminated with the same pass made to apply the fertilizer.
1. A ground working implement adapted to be towed longitudinally by a traction unit for the subterranean deposition of an agricultural material below the soil surface of a farm field, comprising:
a plurality of transversely spaced apart row units coupled to a forward toolbar of the ground working implement, each of the plurality of transversely spaced apart row units including a downwardly extending portion for forming a groove in the soil and a material dispensing portion adapted to extend downwardly into a recently formed groove for depositing agricultural material therein, wherein each row unit of the plurality of transversely spaced apart row units comprises a fertilizer applicator including a coulter for forming the groove in the soil and a fertilizer shank assembly having a knife for placement of fertilizer below the soil surface; and
a plurality of transversely spaced apart cultivator units coupled to a rear toolbar, the plurality of transversely spaced apart cultivator units longitudinally rearward of the plurality of transversely spaced apart row units, each of the plurality of transversely spaced apart cultivator units located transversely intermediate a corresponding pair of adjacent transversely spaced apart row units for cultivating soil intermediate the formed grooves; and
a generally U-shaped support bracket for surrounding three sides of the rear toolbar, and a mounting plate fixed to each cultivator unit, the generally U-shaped support bracket and the mounting plate adapted to be joined to couple each cultivator unit of the plurality of transversely spaced apart cultivator units to the rear toolbar,
wherein each support bracket includes a free end that terminates in a flange positioned to extend away from the rear toolbar and to present a generally flat surface coplanar with a side of the rear toolbar for receiving the mounting plate,
wherein the mounting plate and support bracket flanges include a plurality of apertures for receiving threaded fasteners to join the mounting plate to the support bracket, and
wherein each of the plurality of apertures are vertically elongated to provide a range of vertical adjustment to each cultivator unit of the plurality of transversely spaced apart cultivator units.
2. The ground working implement of claim 1 , wherein each cultivator unit of the plurality of transversely spaced apart cultivator units comprises a cultivator shank assembly to provide tillage between each fertilizer shank assembly of each row unit of the plurality of transversely spaced apart row units.
3. The ground working implement of claim 1 , wherein the rear toolbar has a generally rectangular cross-sectional configuration.
4. An agricultural implement which is so structured as to be suitable for inserting granular materials into the ground, the agricultural implement comprising:
a plurality of laterally spaced apart row units coupled to a forward toolbar of the agricultural implement, each row unit including:
a blade to create a slit-opening in the ground;
a drawing mechanism for drawing the blade through the ground in a forward direction, wherein the blade is effective, when drawn through the ground, to create an opening in the ground;
a conduit for conducting the granular materials to the blade, a discharge mouth of the conduit being located in the ground at a depth below the ground surface, and located in relation to the blade so as to deposit the granular materials in a row directly behind the blade and in the slit-opening created by the blade as the blade is drawn through the ground;
a plurality of cultivator assemblies coupled to a rear toolbar, the rear toolbar positioned behind the plurality of laterally spaced apart row units, each cultivator assembly of the plurality of cultivator assemblies positioned intermediate an adjacent pair of row units for tilling the soil between the rows of deposited granular materials; and
a generally U-shaped support bracket for surrounding three sides of the rear toolbar, and a mounting plate fixed to each cultivator assembly, the generally U-shaped support bracket and the mounting plate adapted to be joined to couple each cultivator assembly of the plurality of cultivator assemblies to the rear toolbar,
wherein each support bracket includes a free end that terminates in a flange positioned to extend away from the rear toolbar and to present a generally flat surface coplanar with a side of the rear toolbar for receiving the mounting plate,
wherein the mounting plate and support bracket flanges include a plurality of apertures for receiving threaded fasteners to join the mounting plate to the support bracket, and
wherein each of the plurality of apertures are vertically elongated to provide a range of vertical adjustment to each cultivator assembly of the plurality of cultivator assemblies.
5. The agricultural implement of claim 4 , wherein the forward toolbar extends transversely.
6. The agricultural implement of claim 5 , wherein the rear toolbar extends transversely, and has a generally hollow rectangular cross-sectional configuration.
7. The agricultural implement of claim 4 , wherein the granular material comprises a fertilizer.