PRACTICAL TEST: Potato growers planting four rows in a single pass should take a long, hard look at this trailed machine. This is one of the results from our test of Kverneland’s UN 3200 potato planter. Plus points include good planting accuracy and high output, but the machine’s 3.60m transport width and poor ground clearance need to be considered
Atrailed potato planter has two advantages over mounted machines. First, because it has a chassis, it is far easier to add on ancillaries, such as a fertiliser hopper or chemical applicator. Secondly, it does not need a tractor with a powerful three-point linkage to lift the machine. A modestly specified four-wheel drive tractor of about 50kW to 60kw (68hp to 83hp) is a good match to the UN 3200.
The machine can be hitchedup via a choice of floating drawbar, pick-up hitch or Continental hitch, and needs only one single-acting and one double acting spool valve. These supply oilto the hydraulic rams that tip the seed hopper, raise the planting units and lift the bout markers.
The planting units are of a double cup, belt type, with 74mm diameter cups fitted as standard and 66mm cups offered as an option. Both cup sizes can be ‘downsized’ with inserts to allow the UN 3200 to work with a wide variety of seed sizes. In operation, we found the seed potato spacings achieved were regular, with the adjustable cup belt agitator ensuring few doubles were recorded during the whole test. The 66mm cup proved up to the job regardless of
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