Piket seeders can be fitted with any of three types of press wheels, each suited to its own application and conditions. The disc seeder unit press wheel for small grain and fine seed performs two functions: it accurately controls the seed depth of the unit and also acts as a press wheel to ensure good seed-to-soil contact.
To plant small grain and fine seed accurately the seed depth needs to be uniform and to achieve good germination, there should be sufficient seed-to-soil contact. Setting should not always be the same, since planting conditions change. Soil moisture, hardness and type of soil all influence the settings.
100 MM PIKET PRESS WHEEL
The Piket 100 mm press wheel was designed for bigger planter units to allow for better seed-to-soil application especially in sandy and softer soils. It is meant for tightening the soil around the seed for better germination results.
75 MM STANDARD PIKET PRESS WHEEL
The flat-base 75 mm Piket press wheel is meant for harder and rocky soils, where there is no soft soil and into which the wheels can sink away.
PIKET PRESS WHEEL
Then you get the rounder-shaped press wheel that was designed with a narrow contact area to focus down force in harder soil types. As the wheel presses into the soil, the contact area increases to allow for better flotation, resulting in an even seed depth and good seed-to-soil contact. These wheels only get fitted to the Piket disc and hydraulic drills for the purpose of sowing in harsh planting conditions.
PIKET STEEL PRESS WHEEL
The Piket steel press wheel was designed specifically for the Piket seeders for planting in very wet or moist areas or soil. Instead of compacting the soil and leaving a hard crust around the seed, this press wheel creates natural furrows and cracks in the soil after it dries out allowing the seed to break through the top layer of the soil more easily for better germination results.
Next time you fit your seeder with new wheels do know that each wheel shape has its own use and purpose.
Don’t just fit a wheel, but fit a Piket press wheel for better seed germination results.
