Five cultivator drills – Section control: Nearly as accurate as grandpa

When we were doing the comparison test, we took the opportunity to see how effective they were at section control for straight and oblique headlands. Five of the makes took part in this extra part of the test and here are the results

Doubles not only mean wasted seed, but the planted crop also has to compete for light and nutrients, while gaps translate to a loss in yield and increased weed pressure in the non-drilled space. This explains why accurate section control on a straight and angled headland is so important. It is something we almost expect from precision planters and the technology is now starting to filter across to cultivator drills for cereals and pulses.