New from Amazone is the XTender-T, a flexible-application, trailed distribution hopper running on a single axle. The XTender-T has been developed for farms looking to simultaneously apply fertiliser and/or seed in combination with the soil tillage operation via a cultivator or compact disc harrow. So, the XTender-T, for instance, can be utilised for the application of a compensation fertiliser to counteract Nitrogen removal by the straw rotting process or for sowing catch crops with or without the addition of a starter fertiliser. Combining these passes with the soil tillage operation means a noticeable enhancement in efficiency.

The XTender is designed for operation behind tractors of up to 600 HP and, thanks to its own running gear, the hopper can be used also behind tractors with only limited lift capacity or no rear linkage at all. The XTender-T is connected to the following cultivator via a standardised either Cat. 3 or 4N lower link cross shaft. Via this linkage system, the XTender-T can also be used in conjunction with implements from other manufacturers. Just the supply pipes to the relevant implement must be made available or matched. As the maximum support load of the linkage is 4,000 kg, the combined operation with bigger machinery on the rear of the XTender-T is also no problem. The hopper of the XTender-T, which, in its basic design, is available as a single compartment hopper has a capacity of 4,200 l. As option, it is also available with a 50/50 division so that fertiliser and seed, or two different kinds of fertiliser, can be conveyed separately to each other without any problem.

Two easily-accessible, electrically-driven metering units, designed for application rates of 2 to 400 kg/ha, are positioned to the rear of the hopper. The XTender-T is actuated and controlled via ISOBUS so that the machine can be operated via an ISOBUS terminal from Amazone or any other ISOBUS terminal. Amazone, in addition, offers as a special option for the XTender-T, the TwinTerminal 3.0 which is well known from the seed drills as technology that makes calibration and residue emptying as easy as possible for the driver. Thanks to the ISOBUS control, part-area site specific fertiliser application is also possible with the XTender-T.

In addition to the new XTender-T, Amazone has, since last year, already offered the XTender as a linkage-mounted hopper for the tractor three-point hydraulics. With either of these hoppers it means that any soil tillage operation can be also optimally combined with the application of seed and fertiliser.

At these demo days quite a few farmers in North American rub their eyes in surprise when they first meet Kathrin Schmidt from Germany. Because currently the 26 year old employee of Amazone Product Marketing is on tour behind the wheel of a Xerion 5000 in the land of boundless opportunities. And linked to the rear of her tractor: an Amazone Catros+ 12003-2TS.

Kathrin Schmidt has taken on the mantle of demonstrating to US American and Canadian farmers the benefits of the 12 m wide compact disc harrow in practice in the field. This campaign is called "Catros-Performance Tour 2017" and includes both participation in large exhibitions and also carrying out many smaller, individual on-farm demonstrations. Skilful and with engagement, this young woman shows that the Catros is also the right machine in the vast fields of North America for shallow and intensively mixing stubble work. "After the demonstrations there is always a good acceptance. The farmers are astonished at the excellent performance of the Catros“, the qualified agronomist gladly reports on the success of her tour after the first three weeks.

However, again and again, exciting moments and obstacles have to be surmounted. So, for their onward transport, the tractor and the Catros are loaded onto two separate trucks. If one intends, however, to travel with such a wide load from one state to the next, one needs a special licence in the USA. Some times it takes ages to get such a licence and this upsets the overall timetable of the performance tour. But even these special challenges Kathrin Schmidt has mastered with great skill.

With the new XTender, AMAZONE introduces a flexible tank system for use with its passive soil tillage range. The rear tank offers the possibility to simul-taneously apply fertiliser and/or seed in combination with the soil tillage im-plement. In this way, for instance, the application of a base fertiliser, a com-pensatory fertiliser for straw breakdown or a starter fertiliser alongside catch crops. Just catch crop sowing is also possible.

At the heart of the XTender is a 4,200 litre pressurised tank, split into two equal sized compartments. This way the XTender can be utilised for simultaneously applying both fertiliser and seed or two different types of fertiliser. By producing the tank via a deep-drawn process, which results in no corners, edges or weld seams, it provides a constant and even flow of the fertiliser and the seed. The hopper frame is designed for tractors up to 600 hp and is char-acterised by its favourable centre of gravity when mounted to the tractor.

Comfortable operation

The XTender's metering system is based on two electrically-driven metering units for variable application rates from 2 to 400 kg/ha and which can be ad-justed from the tractor cab. Depending on seed and fertiliser applications, dif-ferent metering cassettes are available. As special option, and as an aid to calibration, Amazone also offers the TwinTerminal 3.0 which is brought over from the seed drill range.

For operation in the field, either an AMAZONE ISOBUS terminal or the ISOBUS terminal of the tractor can be utilised. Thanks to its control via ISOBUS, also part area, site specific fertiliser applications are possible.

Fertiliser supply tines and new C-Mix 40 share

To combine the XTender with the Cenius TX cultivator from Amazone, the manufacturer offers special fertiliser supply tines which can be combined with the C-Mix 80 share, the C-Mix 100 or the new C-Mix 40 share. With the aid of an adjustable delivery plate down at the tine, the placement depth of the fertil-iser behind the share can be adjusted to 3 levels: either 100% under-root, 50% under root and 50 % on the surface or 100% near to the surface.

Amazone has developed the new C-Mix 40 share especially for soil loosening at a working depth of up to 30 cm. Compared with the C-Mix 80 share, it is characterised by its reduced pulling power requirement. At the tip, the share is equipped with a hard metal insert which reduces the longitudinal wear. In this way no readjustment of the working depth is required over the entire operational life of the share.

As standard the Catros/Catros+ 3001 and 3501 compact disc harrows are equipped with a slide mechanism to adjust the offset of the disc rows. This slide is utilised, on the one hand, to adjust the optimum offset between the first and the second disc row and, on the other hand with these non-folding models, it is also used to change between the transport and work positions. The benefit here is that on the Catros/Catros+ 3001 and 3501 there is no side disc that needs to be folded in by hand. This actuation of the slide is normally carried out with the aid of the ground resistance where the machine has to be lowered onto the ground and moved to and fro for a short distance.

To further simplify this adjustment, AMAZONE now also offers a hydraulic actuation of the slide; allowing the driver to set the offset of the discs very easily via a tractor hydraulic valve and thus to change very simply between transport and work positions. Amazone offers the hydraulic actuation system as a factory fitted special option for all new Catros/Catros+ 3001 and 3501 compact disc harrows. For elder machines a retrofit kit is available from the year of construction 2010.