1. There are two types of furrow openers - rotating and fixed. Common rotating furrow openers include full runners, stub runners, and hoe-type openers. 2. Common disc-type furrow openers include single and double disc openers. Single disc openers have one concave disc while double disc openers have two angled flat discs. 3. Effective covering devices ensure moist soil contacts the seeds, firmly presses the soil around the seeds to the proper depth, and leaves the soil above loose to prevent crusting and promote emergence. Common covering devices include drag chains, press wheels, and pneumatic wheels.

1. FMP 302 TILLAGE AND SOWING EQUIPMENT (2+1)
Lecture no: 27 Furrow openers & Covering devices
SANGEETHA.S (2015015060)
SATHISH.K (2015015061)

2. FURROW OPENERS

3. Two types of furrow openers
1. Rotating furrow openers
2. Fixed furrow openers
FULL RUNNER:
• It is a simple device that works well at medium depths in mellow soil free of trash and weeds.
• It suitable for the average conditions encountered by corn and cotton planters. Horizontal plate-type
depth gages may be attached to the runner for the soft soils.
STUB RUNNER :
 It is sometimes used on corn planters in rough or trashy ground.
HOE TYPE OPENER:
 When equipped with spring trips, are suitable for stony and root infested soils.

4. DISC TYPE:
(a) Single disc type and
(b) Double disc type
Single disc type: It is furrow opener consisting of one concave disc. Disc type furrow openers are found
suitable where plant debris or trash mulches are used.
Double disc type: In double disc type furrow opener there are two flat discs, set at an angle to each other.
It is suitable for trashy lands. Seed drills attached with tractors having high speeds, usually use this type of
furrow opener.
 Another type of furrow opener developed for planting sugar beets has a narrow flange, perhaps
32mm high, centered on the flat rim of a wheel.
 The wheel presses a V-shaped groove in the soil, thus providing firmer soil in the seed zone than is
obtained with disc or runner.

5.  Among the many types of covering devices employed on seeders are drag chains, drag bars, scraper
blades, steel press wheels, rubber-covered or zero pressure pneumatic press wheels, disc hillers,
and various combinations of these units.
COVERING DEVICES
 As indicated, covering device should place moist soil in contact with the seeds, press the soil firmly
around the seeds, cover them to the proper depth, and yet leave the soil directly above the row loose
enough to minimize crusting and promote easy emergence
 Open center, concave, steel press wheels are common for corn and other large-seed crops. Zero
pressure pneumatic wheels are used extensively for vegetables and some other crops. Their
continual flexing tends to make them self-cleaning.