The sowing complex (modular or separate-aggregate multifunctional seeder) carries out combined soil cultivation in one pass: pre-sowing activities, sowing (with the addition of fertilizers), leveling and compacting, significantly saving production resources and fuels and lubricants. The model range is very diverse, but, as a rule, the complex is made in the form of aggregated sections to adjust the working width (can reach 18 meters, but powerful (from 250 hp) tractors will be required). The drive of the main working parts is carried out from the power take-off shaft and the hydraulic system of the traction device. Optimal operating parameters are set by numerous adjustments.
Agricultural technologies of the 21st century
World experience shows that for long-term successful farming, it is not the maximum yield that is important, but the preservation of soil fertility for many years. Optimal and rational use of resources is the key to the country’s food security.
The 30-year-old agricultural technologies used in Russia are outdated and require a revision of the principles of soil cultivation. Field work is the most energy-intensive operation in crop production, so the introduction of energy-saving technologies is a pressing issue.
In this regard, the Kuzbass sowing complex is an excellent alternative to the traditional method of soil cultivation, in which the land must first be plowed, then sown, and harrowed. The new unit allows you to combine these operations in one pass.
Features of operation
The PC implements a pneumatic system unique to the Russian Federation and an automated multifunctional bunker. Both bunker compartments have seeding mechanisms independent from each other, so that fertilizers and seeds can be poured into each compartment at the same time. The dimensions of the dispenser allow even sowing of any cereals and legumes.
The seed material is supplied through the seed tube system under pressure generated by a powerful fan, which is driven by its own diesel engine. The seeds are literally blown into the ground to an automatically adjusted depth. The compacting system then lightly compacts the arable land, ensuring optimal seed-to-soil contact. To accurately follow the terrain, press wheels mounted in pairs on balancers are mounted.
Characteristics
The Kuzbass PC is available in four modifications: PC-6.1, PC-8.5, PC-9.7 and PC-12.2 with varying degrees of aggregability. The numbers in the name show the width of the cultivator's coverage of the cultivated area and its productivity. At the same time, the transport width for all models is the same - 5.6 m. This is enough to easily transport the Kuzbass seeding complex on public roads.
The technical characteristics of the units are presented in the table below.
| PC-12.2 | PC-9.7 | PC-8.5 | PC-6.1 | |
| Aggregability | 8-10 | 8-10 | 5-7 | 3-4 |
| Row spacing | 30.5 cm | |||
| Number of openers | 40 pcs. | 32 pcs. | 28 pcs. | 20 pcs. |
| Fertilizer hopper volume | 2150 l | |||
| seed hopper | 4350 l | |||
| grain and fertilizer bunker | 6500 l | |||
| Tractor power | 350-400 l. With. | 350-400 l. With. | 350 l. With. | 180-200 l. With. |
| Working speed | 8-13 km/h | |||
Modifications
"Kuzbass" is produced in three modifications. Let's look at the key features of each model range.
- "Kuzbass - A". The first model of wide-cut equipment produced in Russia. Here, anchor coulters are used, followed by compacting elements. The intended use of the complex is to carry out sowing work using “zero” technology.
- "Kuzbass - B". In this model, the hopper is installed directly on the frame of the unit. A simplified design and the elimination of additional towing elements made it possible to reduce the specific pressure of the equipment on the ground. It is worth noting that the machine has compact dimensions, making it suitable for working in small areas. Tractors from the second power class can be used as a tractor.
- "Kuzbass-T" sowing complex. The equipment operates using minimal or “zero” tillage technology. The complex consists of combined blocks of working elements, which include soil pre-treatment discs, a three-row harrow type harrow, and lancet-shaped steel coulters.
This model is often compared with the foreign John Deere 730 complex. But unlike its Western counterpart, the domestic unit costs several times less, while the productivity of the sowing complexes is identical.
Advantages
Agricultural machinery and equipment are the most important factor in economic efficiency. PC "Kuzbass":
- reduces the need for tractors by 4-6 times;
- reduces labor requirements by 5 times;
- reduces fuel consumption by 50%;
- increases productivity by 3 times;
- increases productivity by 4-6 c/ha.
The complex allows you to halve the costs of crop production. With the help of one PK-8.5 unit, 1,500 hectares of land can be cultivated per season.
Technical specifications
The use of Kuzbass-class seeding complexes allows reducing the time for sowing by approximately 7-10 days. At the same time, there is no need to use additional machines and equipment, which represents an economic benefit in terms of fuel consumption.
Precise execution of all operations, uniform application of grain and fertilizers reduces the cost of growing grain crops by approximately 50%.
It is worth noting that the yield of each hectare increases by 5-7 centners compared to the traditional sowing cycle.
All elements and components are made of wear-resistant materials. For example: the service life of a cultivator's tines is about 1,000 hectares, with timely maintenance.
Economic benefit
Russian farmers are faced with ever-increasing costs of agricultural production when using multi-operational traditional cultivation technologies. At the same time, the cost of grown products is low, sometimes not covering expenses (both for small farmers and large farms). It is obvious that costs need to be reduced. Greater success can be achieved by replacing energy-consuming equipment with more economical ones and optimizing field work.
Traditional technology involves autumn plowing, pre-sowing tillage, sowing itself and rolling. To do this, you need four sets of equipment (tractor + unit) with a total cost of 20-30 million rubles. On the contrary, the Kuzbass sowing complex is universal, and it will require only one aggregated tractor with an engine power of about 180-400 hp. With. The cost of the kit is 10-15 million rubles, depending on the modification.
In addition to the cost benefit, sowing time is reduced significantly. In addition, the microbiological parameters of the soil are improved due to the gentle effect of the seeding complex. This allows you to preserve the fertile layer for many decades and use less growth stimulants. However, when purchasing equipment, it is necessary to take into account the individual soil and climatic conditions of the region.
In one pass across the field, Kuzbass performs the entire range of spring field work: pre-sowing cultivation, harrowing, sowing, fertilizing, rolling, soil leveling, seed dressing. This combination makes it possible to reduce the number of passes of units across the field, as well as to eliminate the time gap between the operations of pre-sowing soil preparation and sowing, characteristic of traditional cultivation technology, thereby minimizing moisture loss and ensuring the implementation of the above operations in optimal agrotechnical terms.
SEEDING IMPLEMENT AND WORKING BODIES
The Kuzbass sowing complex is equipped with cultivator-type openers - a double-sided pointed paw. The working bodies on powerful C-shaped spring-loaded stands are located on the frame of the seeding implement in three rows with a row spacing of 30.5 cm
The pointed tines of the coulters ensure stable cutting of weeds, cutting up plant residues, crumbling and mixing the soil, as well as sowing with simultaneous application of fertilizers. Sowing is done with a tape approximately 15-18 cm wide. Belt sowing allows you to increase the feeding area of plants by 3-4 times in comparison with line sowing, creating optimal conditions for their further growth and development. Better distribution of seeds over the sowing area makes it possible to reduce the seeding rate by 15-20% and achieve an increase in yield by 25-30%.
By effectively destroying weeds and loosening the surface layer of soil, Kuzbass contributes to the maximum preservation of stubble and plant residues (up to 95%) on the field surface, which helps reduce the impact of wind and water erosion on the soil. The coulters are followed by three-row spring harrows, which level the surface of the sown field, break up soil clods and create a uniform layer over the seeds embedded in the soil, providing equal conditions for their germination.
PULLING SYSTEM
The Kuzbass PC compacting system levels the field surface and prevents the evaporation of moisture from the lower layers of loose soil, provides capillary rise of moisture to the seed bed and improves seed-soil contact, compacts the seed bed, ensuring uniform placement of seeds, especially small-seeded crops (flax, grasses) , prevents soil subsidence after germination. The Kuzbass sowing complex is optionally equipped with two types of compacting systems - based on pneumatic wheels and metal spiral train rollers.
Pneumatic wheels ensure precise compaction of the seed strip behind each coulter. The row spacing remains unrolled. This provides more favorable conditions for the development of seedlings compared to conventional row sowing.
Metal spiral train rollers for the Kuzbass seeding complex are offered in a mounted or trailed version, as an independent implement (spiral roller SK).
A metal spiral trail roller allows for continuous compaction, optimal crumbling and leveling of the surface, as well as more efficient combing of weeds.
DOUBLE-CIRCUIT SEEDING SYSTEM
As an additional option that expands the technological capabilities of the seeding complex and increases its versatility, a dual-circuit seeding system can be installed on Kuzbass, which ensures separate application of seeds and fertilizers to different soil horizons during sowing.
To carry out separate application, "Kuzbass" is equipped with a dual-circuit pneumatic system and a special coulter based on a pointed paw, which, in addition to the main share, has an additional knife for applying and embedding fertilizers. This allows the use of high rates of mineral fertilizers during sowing, as a result of which the plants are provided with nutrients for the initial growing season.
Combining the main application of fertilizers and subsequent root fertilizing in the starting dose of fertilizers also makes it possible to reduce the number of passes of equipment across the field, reducing the costs of operations and the level of anthropogenic load on the soil.
SMALL-SIZED SEEDING COMPLEX "KUZBASS"-B
The main difference between the Kuzbass-B seeding complex and the existing line of Kuzbass family machines is that the bunker with a total capacity of 4.2 m3 is located on the frame of the seeding implement.
The original layout solution of Kuzbass-B allows you to achieve a number of advantages over complexes that include trailed or semi-mounted pneumatic bunkers:
- The absence of its own running system for the seed hopper makes it possible to simplify the design of the complex and reduce its metal consumption. In addition, the passage of the wheels of the seed hopper over the processed and sown background is eliminated, and soil compaction is reduced.
- Transferring part of the weight of the seed hopper to the tractor's towing device makes it possible to reduce energy costs for rolling the complex, resulting in a reduction in the specific fuel consumption of the tractor and an increase in productivity.
- Reducing the slipping of tractor wheels causes a decrease in the negative impact on the soil structure, reducing the risk of the occurrence and development of erosion processes in the fertile soil layer.
- Reducing the overall length of the unit increases its maneuverability, and therefore leads to increased productivity.
Low energy consumption and rational distribution of the weight of the complex on the chassis of the tractor-tractor make it possible to aggregate the Kuzbass-B with tractors with a power of 150-180 hp. Thus, Kuzbass-B is an ideal solution for small farms.
Mobility and compactness are the main advantages of the Kuzbass-B complex, combined with high productivity and high-quality execution of the technological process, ensuring its high economic efficiency.
SEEDING COMPLEX "KUZBASS-A"
SEEDING COMPLEX "KUZBASS-T"
(hybrid of two technologies, developed in 2012)
The sowing complex is equipped with combined working bodies. The cutting coulter is a pointed paw and a sowing disc coulter. Four modifications with working widths from 6.1 to 9.7 m. Gold medal of the exhibition “Golden Autumn 2012”.
Sowing complex "Kuzbass": reviews
At the moment, there are two similar complexes: Kuzbass and Agromaster. Kemerovo-made units have proven themselves well in the fields of Russia; the second one stands out for its lower cost. According to farmers, Kuzbass is more economical and easier to maintain thanks to its diesel engine.
Some complexes from both manufacturers have problems with seeding control when operating at too low or too high (not standard) speeds. Also, at increased speed and high humidity of seeds (and fertilizers), under-sowing may occur: the material does not have time to be poured into the dispenser. This is a consequence of improper use of the PC and is not a disadvantage of the unit.
According to farmers, in general, the Kuzbass sowing complex is not inferior in sowing quality to imported models from John Deere, Morris and others. This system can serve as an example of new effective agricultural technologies in the Russian Federation.
