•
TRANSPLANTERS
•
THE
VEGETABLE
FARMER •
MARCH 2017
removes the empty plugs and
recovers the following plants.
Afterwards the plants are planted
by the automatic depth controller
and pressure regulator.
Like the company’s existing 1SP,
2SP and 3SP-row transplanters,
the robots can handle small,
large and even twisted plants,
and plant spacing on the SP4 can
be varied between the rows and
in the row. Depending on the
crop, the 4SP can transplant from
50-75cm between the rows, and
the spacing distance within the
row is from 10-60cm. It is also
possible towork with different
tray sizes andmaterials, and the
Belgian company says the
machine can easily transplant
pressed and traditional plugs.
The 4SP is equippedwith a
stand-alone hydraulic system,
which is independent from the
tractor. The electronics are
providedwith CANbus and an
easy-to-use touchscreen. The
large rear platform ensures fast
plant loading and unloading. The
transplanter is available in both
trailed and tractor-linkage
mounted versions. Capable of
transplanting up to 44,000
plants/hour, Agriplant hopes to
have the first machine in the field
soon after this issue appears.
Described at the launch in
2014 as a revolution in
transplanting, the Plant Tape
transplanter plants crops in long
lengths of tape. This tape is
made by sandwiching seed and
small volumes of peat moss and
vermiculite between thin layers of
tissue.
The 2m-wide planter’s main
frame can be fittedwith 4, 6 or
8 planting elements. Each tray
holds 45m of tape and
depending on crop type, up to
900 plants. Tape is automatically
pulled out of each tray, cut, and
planted at the desired spacing.
The job of the operator(s) on the
transplanter is to join the tape
between trays using small plastic
clips. Depending on howmany
lines are being planted, the
company reckons that one to
two people can add the clips,
stack full trays and remove
empty ones while operating at
speeds of up to 15km/hr.
Depending on the crop type, the
machine can cover 3-7ha in an
8-hour day.
Much has happened since the
launch of the system, and US
grower Tanimura & Antle
acquired Plant Tape to expand its
operations into North America,
and last year used the system on
2,000 of its 15,000ha.
Plant Tape has been trialled
successfully in the UK for the
past two years in lettuces,
brassicas and leeks. This year the
work continues, from a
dedicated seeding line in Boston;
previously tape was pre-seeded
in Spain and brought to the UK.
This season, all sowings will be
done at the new facility in
Boston.
33
MarkWinters: 07796 444096
REGERO BLOCK PLANTER
Sales: MarkWinters: 07796 444096
Parts/Services: 01353 666200
STANDEN.CO.UK
HerewardWorks, StationRoad, Ely, CambridgeshireCB7 4BP
Capable of transplanting up to
44,000 plants/hour, Belgian firm
Agriplant hopes to have the first 4SP
in the field soon after this issue
appears.
Plant Tape has established a dedicated seeding line in Boston to produce
tape for British growers.
