Double-Shoot, Single Pass Implement

Abstract

An opener for depositing fertilizer and seed in a single pass, double-shoot manner includes a rotating disc that cuts a furrow in a planting surface, a fertilizer tube that drops fertilizer into the furrow, and a trailing seed tube assembly, having a cutting edge, that cuts a vertically and horizontally offset trench in the furrow to form a seed bed in the planting surface onto which seed is deposited. The seed trench provides a seed bed that is offset from the bottom of the furrow to provide horizontal and vertical stratification of the seed and fertilizer.

1 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A double-shoot, single pass implement for separately depositing fertilizer and seed with horizontal and vertical stratification into a furrow comprising:
 a toolbar configured to be coupled to a towing vehicle which is designed to pull the frame along a planting, surface along a generally longitudinal line of travel; and   a plurality of openers connected to the toolbar, wherein each opener includes:
 a disc mount; 
 a rotatable disc mounted to the disc mount and configured to cut at an angle into the planting surface to form the furrow; 
 a fertilizer tube having an outlet for depositing fertilizer into the furrow and mounted to the disc mount generally adjacent the rotatable disc; and 
 a seed boot having a knife configured to cut a seed trench into the furrow and a seed tube having an outlet for depositing seed into the seed trench. 
   
     
     
         16 . The implement of  claim 15  wherein the seed tube outlet is offset laterally and vertically from the fertilizer tube outlet. 
     
     
         17 . The implement of  claim 16  wherein the knife has a forward cutting edge that is angled upward relative to the seed tube and configured to lift soil as the cutting edge cuts through the planting surface. 
     
     
         18 . The implement of  claim 15  wherein the knife has a wear resistant insert. 
     
     
         19 . The implement of  claim 15  wherein the seed boot is mountable to the disc mount at one of plurality mounting positions, with each mounting position corresponding to a described depth at which the seed trench is cut into the furrow.