NATIONAL SUNFLOWER ASSOCATION OF CANADA SPECIAL BULLETIN Preparing for Planting Achieving the perfect plant stand is hard (to say the least) and to make it even harder, seed type is continuing to shift from found type to long type confections. To reflect the different seed size and density, planter settings need to be modified. Here are some steps to help improve consistency of seed placement, uniformity of plant development, and yields. Clean and adjust your planter. Sunflower seeds have more variation that most other seed types. Use the recommended plates, fingers and air pressures to help avoid skips and doubles. See pages 3-5 for plates and planter settings. The planter will need to be recalibrated every time you switch to planting a different variety. Soil temperature. Planting sunflower seed into cold soils may cause seed to go into dormancy causing delayed germination. Soil temperature needs to be at 50 oF or more at your chosen planting depth (1.5 to 2.5 inches). If planting in the deeper end of this range, consider increasing planting population. Percent emergence will decrease as planting depth is increased, especially for smaller seeds. Sunflowers need to have excellent seed to soil contact. This is important in all crops, but particularly for sunflower. Moisture first needs to get through woody hull and then to the seed. Poor seed to soil contact will result in uneven emergence. Make sure the soil slice is pressed firmly against the seed at planting and the furrow is closed following seed placement. If planting into a no-till field, stop and check incrementally that the planter is knifing into the soil. Planting into a field with wet residue can cause ‘hair-pinning’ - pushing straw into the seed slot instead of slicing through it. It is usually more of a problem with air drills. Solution— may have to wait until residue dries until slicing become easier , sharpen drill discs/blades or adjust down pressure. Plant about 10% above the desired final plant population. Desired plant populations: Oilseeds—20,000-22,000 plants/ac Confection in-shell—17,000-19,000 plants/ac Dehull—18,000—20,000 plants/ac Birdfood—21,000-23,000 plants/ac 1 NATIONAL SUNFLOWER ASSOCATION OF CANADA SPECIAL BULLETIN Calibrate and pay attention to speed. Calibration is crucial to achieving an even plant stand, not only when changing from one variety to another, but also between different seed lots of the same seed size designation due to differences in seed size, shape and weight. Speed is often more of an issue with plate and finger-type planters. Going too fast results in inconsistent seed placement and uneven emergence. As speed increases, vibration increases. Proper air/vacuum pressure and properly calibrated seed meters lessen the impact of increased speeds. Many new style planters have a minimum speed requirement to keep the seed disk at the optimal rpm to ensure proper seed singulation. Match up planter plates with specific hybrids and seed size. Commercial seed companies have plate recommendations for all seed sizes. Pages 3-5 have information on planter plates and settings. Graphite or Talc? Most operator manuals recommend that a lubricant is used. Seed treatments may cause deterioration in seed singling, spacing accuracy, and seed flow into the vacuum seed meter. The options are graphite or talc; they are not interchangeable. Generally talc is used in vacuum and air planters, and graphite in finger pick-up planters. If the manual calls for a seed lubricant, be sure to use it and at the specified rate. Modifications—Precision Planting provides attachments and control systems to modify planters to increase planting accuracy. See website for more information (www.precisionplanting.com) . For further information planting sunflower and troubleshooting problems: Contact your local planter dealership Contact your seed dealer—many seed dealers have seed meter set-up recommendations in place Consult the Confection Planting Guide & Troubleshooting Tips, Jan. 2008 on the National Sunflower Association of U.S.A. John Smith, agricultural engineer at University of Nebraka -Scottsbluff offers solutions for common planting issues. http:/www.sunflowernsa.com/ magazine/details.asp?ID=510&Cat=6 There are many other articles on the National Sunflower Association U.S. website ad dressing planting issues and how to achieve optimal plant spacing. 2 Initial Planter Seed Meter Set-Up Recommendations For Sunflower Seed Notes: 1. Always consult your planter operator manual and your local planter dealer for best settings. The following recommendations are starting points only. Each particular seed lot, planter condition, and field speed may require different adjustments. Differences of shape, size and weight of seed between seed lots of the same seed size designation may require different seed plates or planter adjustments. Test your planter meter and your seed on a good planter test stand before planting to determine best settings at your field speed. 2. Most planer operator manuals recommend either graphite or talc be mixed with the seed to provide improved seed flow and/or lubrication to the planter meter components. This is especially important for planting sunflower. See your operator manual or planter dealer for the recommended material and rate. Planter Model Component or Adjustment Seed plate: Meter brush: Vacuum (in. H2O): John Deere MaxEmerge Vacuum Seed Meter Baffle position: Knockout wheel or wiper: Size #4 Oil Seed Size Size #3 Size #2 Confection Seed (long, narrow, XL) (~7500 seeds/lb) (~6500 seeds/lb) (~5500 seeds/lb) (~3000 seeds/lb) H136478 A52390 A52390 A52391 Long Long Long Long 3 6 5 12 Down Up Up Up Wiper Knockout AA37348 Knockout Knockout AA37348 AA37348 Block half of hole Block half of hole Block half of hole Double eliminator None, or moved (AA61046): up Precision Planting eSet in John Deere MaxEmerge Vacuum Seed Meter Kinze EdgeVac Vacuum Seed Meter Seedtube: Standard Standard Standard A56786 (wide) Seed plate: 7200031 7200031 7200032 720003 Vacuum (in. H2O): 7-8 7 - 12 12 - 13 12 Singulator part no.: 720230 720230 720230 720273 Extractor: 720117 720117 720117 720117 Up (with hose) Up (with hose) Up Up Seedtube: Standard Standard Standard A56786 (wide) Seed disc: GD18098 GD18098 GD18098 GD18098 Vacuum (in. H2O): 20 20 20 20 Singulator setting: 5 5 5 5 Cleanout brush with ball ejector: GA12154 GA12154 GA12154 GA12154 Seedtube: EdgeVac EdgeVac EdgeVac EdgeVac Deflector position (“paperclip”): Note: The Kinze ASD bulk seed system works well with #2,3 & 4 oil seeds but at present is not recommended for confection seed. Recommended 8-15 inches H2O ASD pressure. 3 Oil Seed Size Planter Component or Model Adjustment #3 #2 (~7500 seeds/lb) (~6500 seeds/lb) (~5500 seeds/lb) (long, narrow, XL) (~3000 seeds/lb) A52390 A52390 A52390 A52391 Singulator setting: 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 Vacuum (in. H2O): 5 8 12 12 Knockout wheel: AA37348 AA37348 AA37348 AA37348 Seedtube: Standard Standard Standard A56786 (wide) Seed plate: John Deere Pro-Series Vacuum Seed Meter Note: For the long, narrow confection only 1.) If bridging occurs just above the CCS tank manifold, try adjusting the CCS tank pressure from 10 inches of water to as low as 6 inches of water. 2.) If plugging occurs in the mini-hopper elbow, try reducing the CCS tank pressure. If that does not help, see your local Deere dealer for information non how to modify the mini-hopper elbow. 3.) Low seed populations or low field speeds may cause the hydraulic drive to operate at rotation speeds to low to maintain accurate seed spacing. See your local Deere dealer for information on how to correctly convert your 40 cell seed plate to 20 cells. 4.) If seed bridging occurs within the seed meter, try the 50 hole edible bean plate A52904 which will have more agitation but you will need to change transmission settings, double eliminator (AA69016), and knockout wheel (AA3844). Seed plate: CaseIH ASM 1200 Series Vacuum Seed Meter 2423 2423 (or 2440) 2440 2440 (or 2455) Singulator setting: 3 3 (2) 2 2 Vacuum (in. H2O): 25 25 (18) 20 25 (18) Baffle position: 2 2 2 2 852437, or 700730352 852437, or 700730352 852435 852435, 852434, or 852436 1-1¼ 1-1¼ 1 - 1½ 1 -2 ⅓ ⅓ ⅓ Remove gate 700730684 700730684 Standard or 700730684 Standard or 700730684 Seed plate: Air pressure (in. H2O): White 5000, 6000, & 8000 Series Positive Air Seed Meter Seed gate position: Tickler brush: Note: Confection Seed #4 Seed plate selection, tickler brush, and air pressure are very sensitive to sunflower seed shape. Test your meter and your seed on a planter test stand before planting. 4 Planter Model John Deere Corn Finger Pickup Seed Meter Finger Pickup Seed Meters Kinze Finger Pickup Seed Meter Confection Seed (~7500 seeds/lb) (~6500 seeds/lb) (~5500 seeds/lb) (long, narrow, XL) (~3000 seeds/lb) Small or large finger: Small Small (or large) Large Large Backing plate: Standard Standard Standard Large hole Seedtube: Standard Standard Standard A26184 (wide) Note: #4 Sunflower finger set 343067 PopMax Backing Sunflower 342111 Plate: with insert “C” Brush: Note: #2 This finger pickup mechanism may not provide good sunflower seed singulation or accurate seed spacing, especially with confection seed. Performance is very dependent on field speed and individual seed size and shape. Precision Finger Set: Precision Planting ‘PrecisionMeter’ Options in John Deere or Kinze Oil Seed Size #3 Component or Adjustment Sunflower finger set 343067 Standard finger set 343029 Sunflower 342111 with insert “C” Standard 342103 with insert “A” Brushless block blank 343091 Adjustable brush (Included in 343103) Adjust as needed Brushless block blank 343091 This finger pickup is not a recommended way to plant sunflower seeds and will often not provide good sunflower seed singulation or accurate seed spacing. Small or large finger: Small (GR1897) Small (GR1897) Small (GR1897) Backing plate: Large hole (GR0664) Large hole (GR0664) Large hole (GR0664) Lift CAM: GB0111 or GB0410 GB0111 or GB0410 Seedtube: Note: Not recommended for XL confection seed Standard Standard Not recommended for confection seed GB0111 or GB0410 Standard The Kinze ASD bulk seed system works well with #2,3 & 4 oil seeds byt at present is not recommended for confection seed. Recommend 8-15 inches H2O ASD pressure. The source for these recommendations for initial setup for seed meters for planting sunflowers is a combination of planter operator manuals, sunflower industry recommendations, direct contact with the planter manufactures, and planter testing at the University of Nebraska Recommendations compiled by: John A. Smith University of Nebraska June 9, 2011 5
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