AVR launches trailed Ceres 450 combined potato planter

Culti Control Option

The Culti Control is a useful option. It ensures that the GE-Force C always maintains a constant cultivation depth, enabling the user to avoid double passes. The potato planting depth is always set independently.

Straight or round-sided ridges

To obtain a good ridge, it is vital to not only select the correct ridging hood, but also to set it correctly. The 4x75 version is therefore equipped with a narrow top ridging hood with round sides or a wide top hood (wear plates with special coating made from Boron 27) with straight sides. The 4x90 version is equipped with a wide top ridging hood (also made from Boron 27 wear plates) and straight sides.

The ridging hood is operated as standard by means of an automatic pressure control. The accumulator in the hydraulic circuit ensures that the hood is always kept under constant pressure. The user can also opt for the well-known PDC system (Proportionally Distance Controlled). This system uses two ultrasound sensors to measure the amount of soil in the hood. Based upon this input, the pressure on the hood is adjusted in order to maintain even ridging.

The tipping hopper on a potato planter without a ridging hood can be lowered to such an extent that a trailer full of seed potatoes can be unloaded straight into the hopper of the potato planting machine. This only requires dismantling the wooden beam.

Soil and crop protection

Protecting the soil during the potato planting process? The anti-erosion option moves up and down to create small terraced levels between the earthed up ridges. This terracing prevents the soil from being washed away during heavy rainfall.

The potato planting machine can also be fitted with a fertilizer, a powder, grain and/or spraying system to protect the crops.

Control Panel

The control panel of the Ceres 450 is designed in the same way as all the other AVR machines. The user can use the 7” touch screen to programme the macro functions, e.g. to ensure that the row can be started and finished in the same way, with just one push of the button. The associated joystick is ergonomically designed.

If the tractor can be equipped with a GPS system, it will be able to control two aspects: on the one hand, switching the potato planting channel feeders, their vibrators and jets on and off, and on the other hand, the spray path system.

In Practice

The AVR Ceres 450 will be exhibited for the very first time on the AVR stand at the Potato Europe exhibition in Emmeloord. Exhibition dates: 13 & 14 September 2017.