When using reduced mulch sowing or direct sowing methods, it is important in both cases that the fertiliser is placed in the ground below the crop residues in order to prevent losses due to gas emission, especially in times when fertiliser costs are rising. This concept is also incorporated in the new Condor direct seed drill. Scientific trials in Regina, Canada and Samara, Russia show that with this method it is possible to apply 30 kg/ha of pure N when sowing wheat and approximately 25 kg/ha when sowing rape. In the very dry and continental conditions in Canada and the Eurasian Steppe, where the potential yield is relatively low, this quantity is often completely sufficient for the usual spring cropping.
Thanks to the technical features of the Condor as described, it is ideal when used for direct sowing of large-area topologies. The coulter is only 12 mm wide and thus only moves the soil as little as is absolutely necessary for optimum seed placement under the straw. This not only prevents ground water loss but also lowers the tractive power requirement and diesel consumption. In extensive tests under operational conditions, 220 hp was sufficient tractor power for the Condor 12001. On average, the spectacular figure of only 2.7 litres of diesel per hectare was required with the Condor 15001. Also under operational conditions, the Condor 15001 was able to achieve a daily work rate in 13 hours of 150 hectares at a working speed of 8 to 10 km/h.
This new direct seed drill gives farmers who are turning their attention to pure direct sowing every opportunity to implement this method to its full potential.

The new “ConTeC” coulter features optimum soil penetration and precise, coulter following thanks to the trailing packer wheel. As well as the correct depth control, this provides reconsolidation, which is so important in dry regions in order to achieve optimum contact between seed and soil. The sowing depth can be set accurately on the coulters to between 0 and 10 cm. The flexible connection between the frame elements and the coulters is achieved by using the tried-and-tested sprung rubber elements. This allows compensation for ground undulations of up to 65 cm while the placement depth remains the same.
The ConTeC coulter achieves this perfect ground adaptation through its simple yet ingenious construction without the need for the usual hydraulic cylinder on every coulter. That reduces the incidence of failure and, of course, not least, the price.
The distance of 25 cm between the coulters in a threestagger layout and the frame height of 80 cm ensure work continues without chance of blockage, even if there are large quantities of straw or if the straw is particularly unevenly distributed.
The coulter pressure can be adapted to the conditions hydraulically by turning the frame element. In extreme conditions, a pressure of up to 120 kg can be set per coulter.

The coulter tips are equipped with a hard-metal face made from a tungsten carbide/cobalt alloy, which ensures an extremely long service life of the working parts even under the most arduous of conditions.
The coulter arm is made from special spring steel. Because of this, the coulter can avoid obstacles by moving to the side and it almost inevitably travels between the rows of stubble from the previous crop.

A new pressurised tank will also be unveiled with the Condor series. With a capacity of 8000 l in 2 sections (2/3 seed + 1/3 fertiliser), filling times are kept to a minimum. The familiar Vario gearbox allows application rates of 2 to 400 kg of seed and is therefore suitable for all practical applications.
The fertiliser is inserted into the sowing slit with the seed. In this way, it is possible to apply an appropriate initial dosage (when sowing winter corn) or full optimum fertilisation (when cultivating spring crops in continental conditions) directly into the ground without losses.

All the components required for calibration are very easily accessible on the left-hand side of the machine.
A sluice gate underneath the seed metering system makes it possible to use the machine for only sowing partial widths. 

The AMALOG+ on-board computer controls the tramline sequence. The laying of tramlines is controlled via a sensor and reprogramming to other tramline rhythms is quick and very simple. Tramline rhythm, area sown and fill level are also displayed.

• 15 m working width and 3 m transport width 
• No problem to back up with 15 m working width