Cutting and sowing in one go
With the Cut ‘n’ Sow process, Amazone presents machine combinations for ultra-shallow soil tillage and direct sowing for the most demanding of conditions, especially for tall and tough organic material. These are combinations of the TopCut cutting roller and the Cayena, Condor or Primera DMC tine coulter seed drills, as well as the Cirrus trailed […]
With the Cut ‘n’ Sow process, Amazone presents machine combinations for ultra-shallow soil tillage and direct sowing for the most demanding of conditions, especially for tall and tough organic material. These are combinations of the TopCut cutting roller and the Cayena, Condor or Primera DMC tine coulter seed drills, as well as the Cirrus trailed cultivator drill with Minimum TillDisc .
Direct sowing is becoming increasingly important, not only in classic dry regions, but also in high-yield locations with intensive crop rotations. In combination with cover cropping, this method promises considerable advantages: protection of the soil structure, erosion control and an active contribution to humus conservation and humus formation. However, with the growing increase in direct sowing, new challenges are also emerging that require differentiated solutions.
A central problem of direct sowing – especially with intensive catch crops or previous cereal crops – is the large amount of organic residues that often remain on the soil surface in the form of straw mats or dead plant residues. These layers can make seed placement more difficult, impair field emergence and also provide an ideal microclimate for soil-borne pathogens, such as fungal pathogens like Fusarium. The lack of contact with the fine soil also hinders rotting, so that organic material is retained for too long and can lead to a much more difficult start for the new crops.
Accelerating decomposition
This is where Cut ‘n’ Sow comes in: by cutting up and simultaneously mixing the crop residues with the fine soil produced in the surface, rotting is promoted and decomposition of the material is significantly accelerated. While the soil life works on the organic remains of the previous crop, the new crop can emerge under ideal conditions. By the time the next crop is harvested, the residues have almost completely broken down – diseases are prevented and the natural cycle begins anew. This combination of residue management and precise seed placement makes Cut ‘n’ Sow an effective problem-solver in the modern no-till system.
Effective pest control
With its aggressive mode of operation, the cutting roller combination also makes a significant contribution to field hygiene. Slug populations are reduced effectively – a clear advantage when direct sowing oil seed rape, for example. Driving over the crop stubble once or several times provides reliable protection against slugs and snails and ensures consistent rape crops. The corn borer beetle is also controlled by the knife rollers and optional cutting rollers. The stubble is shredded down to its roots so that water can penetrate and protection against frost is no longer guaranteed. This means that direct sowing can be carried out with a seed drill after the maize harvest without the need for inversion soil tillage.
Rough and coarsely
With a 6 m wide TopCut at 20 km/h and a Primera DMC 6000-2 with a working width of 6 m at 14 km/h, up to 100 ha can be covered in 8 hours with the TopCut, and around 70 ha with the Primera DMC. This low-input strategy secures and improves profitability, particularly on marginal sites, and at the same time enables climate-adapted yet flexible arable farming. Flexible, since the system can be supplemented with classic soil tillage if required. If, for example, winter wheat is sown late in the year in a moist location after grain maize, more intensive soil tillage has the advantage of mixing in the straw volumes, breaking up compaction and aerating the soil at the same time.
Due to the deep penetration, however, the seedbed is usually rough and coarsely structured. Here, too, the TopCut prepares a fine soil seedbed in just one cost-effective pass. The knife rollers cut the clods and crumble the surface soil effectively. If the seedbed is to be reconsolidated, a wedge ring roller with matrix tyre profile*, with 600 mm diameter tyres, can be mounted on the TopCut 12000-2T instead of the rear harrow.
