Dana,

That is quite a picture. If you have dug seedlings I bet you have most of the roots growing along the slot also.

The slot will not open up behind two per row properly operated Curvetines because there is no slot.

This spring there was a lot of advantage to running two over one per row. One is a big help most years. IF you already have a planter with rubber tires you can add one Curvetine per row at reasonable cost. If I were ordering a new planter I would delete the standard rubber tires from the order and specify two Curvetines per row based on performance this spring.

You may use a seed firmer and/or drag chain if you wish. Neither is required with the Curvetine. Here is a photo of one Curvetine plus one std JD rubber tire in some VERY wet northern Iowa soils last week.

Gunner and others have posted their own Curvetine photos in earlier posts here and on the Machinery Talk page.  The Curvetine gives you good seed to soil contact. The broad, curved teeth chip in the sidewall and give you seed to soil contact. You uncover most seeds, not flip them out when digging for seed.

The loose soil above may dry out but the seeds usually emerge quickly because they are firmly in contact with the soil and moisture down below with very few air pockets directly around the seed. Slot opening as pictured above is about eliminated. Any crust which forms from say a heavy rain after planting fractures easily between the dimples left by the broad teeth when run properly. jmho.

Jim at Dawn

(Dawn Curvetine One per side N IA 05 07 DSC01055.JPG)

Dawn Curvetine One per side N IA 05 07 DSC01055.JPG (90KB - 183 downloads)