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The Einbock machine can also be used for pasture rejuvenation.
Grass harrows with seed boxes have been around for some years and have largely been seen as an easy, low cost option for sowing small seeds into cultivated ground.
Einbock, from Pram, northwest Austria, dates back to 1934 and has led the development of this type of machine.
As well as sowing into cultivated ground, Einbock machines can be used for pasture rejuvenation. Whether in spring to stimulate growth, or in autumn to extend the growing season by some weeks, such a machine can unlock a pasture’s full potential.
Available as a standalone weeder, called Grassmanager, or more commonly supplied with a pneumatic seed box and called Pneumaticstar, the Einbock machines are available in standard or professional variants.
With working widths to 12m, there should be a model to suit all operations. For the New Zealand market the importer has settled
on 6m units in two versions. The Pneumaticstar model has 8mm diameter tines and a 300L seed hopper; the PRO model has a more aggressive 10mm tine and 500L seed capacity.
The company claims to fit 25% more tines than any of its competitors, and the facility for independent adjustment of the tine angle and the downward pressure exerted on the machine’s sections.
By adjusting these two areas the sward can be given a gentle rejuvenation, or a more aggressive ‘de-thatch’ to remove moss, dead grass and creeping weeds trying to stage a takeover.
Part of the process is getting the tines to vibrate effectively, hence the need for a good forward speed, but care is taken to ensure that the tines are attached to the carrier by a separate tang, which enables vibration without risking a ‘lock up’ should the tine coil spring become fully closed.
Used in conjunction with the seed box, pastures can be over-sown and improved during rejuvenation.
Points worth considering are the 6m working width that ensures high outputs, and the relatively light weight that means units can be run behind smaller tractors for safety on difficult terrain.
Also worth a closer look is the distributor plate area of the machine that has an adjustable top plate that makes the unit particularly useful in exposed and windy locations.
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