Soil conditioning and seed bed preparing apparatus

Abstract

Soil conditioning apparatus is disclosed which has a front coulter assembly, preferably with a fluted coulter, for preparing a narrow path wider than the following subsoiler shank by cutting trash and breaking and slitting the topsoil. Following the front coulter assembly is the subsoiler assembly for further breaking the surface soil and breaking and shattering the 'hard pan' created by years of conventional tillage. Following the subsoiler assembly is the slot filler assembly for filling the slot or crevice left by the subsoiler as it moves through the ground, a sufficient amount to prevent cave-ins or settling which would carry seeds too deep to properly germinate. Behind the slot filler wheel assembly means is the seed bed implement assembly for preparing the seed bed by pulverizing the soil and by removing trash which may have remained in the seed bed region after the above mentioned prior operations. The seed bed preparation implement assemblies are provided in opposed pairs, each of which is substantially universally adjustable independently of the other. The combined coulter and spider units of these assemblies are laterally, axially and angularly (about both horizontal and vertical axis) adjustable to provide the most effective seed bed preparation under any given condition. All of these elements are combined with and carried by a single mobile framework.