The new generation of Maestro machines from HORSCH comes with two different metering systems at its disposal. While the AirVac System already had its “baptism by fire” in previous years for the AirSpeed metering units, 2021 was the first full production year, and terraHORSCH looks back on the results of the first season.
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| High output is one of the newcomer’s main strengths: depending on the crop and conditions, the Maestro 16 SX sowed in Ukraine at an average speed of up to 17 km/h. |
Speed, precision, versatility – that’s how HORSCH sums up the main strengths of the new generation of Maestro machines, fitted with two alternative metering systems. The AirVac and AirSpeed systems share many design elements and the same basic metering principle.
The difference lies in how the seed is separated: in AirVac, a vacuum is used, so the seed is drawn tightly against the metering disc’s hole by the pulling force, whereas in AirSpeed, it’s pressed firmly against it by compressed air. In AirVac, once separated from the metering disc, the seed drops into the coulter tube, where it falls gently into the furrow under gravity alone, guided by the seed-placement roller.
In AirSpeed, the seed is picked up by a dense stream of forced air and shot into the bottom of the furrow. Unlike AirVac, where the seed-placement roller can be removed without a significant loss in sowing quality, in this case it’s an integral design element.
Machines fitted with the AirVac system were successfully brought to market last year already. The first series-production Maestro SX models (with AirSpeed metering units) were delivered to customers this past spring. One of the Maestro 16 SX units was delivered to the “Ichnianske” farm in Chernihiv region, in northeastern Ukraine. There, on an area of 12,500 ha, they grow winter wheat, spring barley, sunflower, corn and soybean. In the self-propelled machine segment, they use John Deere and Claas equipment. The farm also has HORSCH machines: two Tiger 4 MT units with targeted fertilizer application, two Maestro 24 SW units, and the new Maestro 16 SX. Among the other trailed machines, it’s worth mentioning a 16-row direct-drilling machine, a wide-cut disc harrow and two ploughs.
In choosing the Maestro SX, the deciding factors were high output combined with reliable seed placement.
The farm’s manager, Mykola Kopyl, highlights the machine’s convenient, fast folding-unfolding system, which meant it didn’t even need to be factored into the calculation of the unit’s working time. He’s also satisfied with how simple the machine is to operate: “Our service engineer explained the full sequence of settings to us only once, when commissioning the machine — after that, we did everything ourselves.” A sensor installed in the coulter tube counts the falling seeds and the time between their movement, making it possible to determine the distance between seed placements in the furrow. The operator sees this information, along with the current rate of skips and doubles, on the monitor in real time.
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| Farm manager Mykola Kopyl is very pleased with the results of the new Maestro 16 SX. He particularly praised how simple the machine is to set up and operate, as well as the precision of its seed metering and placement. |
Electric metering-unit drives allow individual control of seeding for each section, which is the technical basis for electronic functions such as section shut-off, Section Control, Variable Rate, and controlled traffic farming management.
Alongside differentiated seeding, it’s also possible, using electronic application maps, to vary the seeding rate for each metering section. When working with controlled traffic lanes, plant density in neighbouring rows can also be adjusted accordingly.
Mykola Kopyl is also satisfied with how the “hardware” is controlled: “Adjusting seeding depth, packing pressure, and the furrow closers is extremely simple and fast. Every part of the machine’s setup is easy to inspect and access.”
“Changing the metering discs is very convenient,” the farm’s manager continues. “We have something to compare it to, since we’ve long had two machines with the old system running on the farm. We’re very pleased with the precision of seed metering and placement.
Our experienced agronomist even said this is the best plant spacing in rows he’s ever seen in his life. Even when the seed quality isn’t the best. For comparison: the Maestro SW’s metering units had trouble with small, flat sunflower seed. The AirSpeed metering unit handled it without any issues.
The AutoForce automatic coulter-pressure system, which we use as a matter of principle, is a reliable aid for the agronomist – placement-depth precision across all our fields is always perfect.”
But there’s also room for a wish or two: “The hoppers for seed, fertilizer and microgranules could be bigger,” the farm manager believes. “During corn sowing, for example, one full load of seed and fertilizer was enough for 30 ha, and micronutrients for only 20 ha. Given our relatively high application rates, we’d like larger section capacities.”
However, the most important factor in assessing a machine’s performance on large farms is output. And it’s truly impressive! In Ukraine, there are many examples of a 16-row Maestro SX delivering practically the same output as a 24-row Maestro SW: 200-220 ha per day! Working speed averaged 16-17 km/h (corn) and 14-15 km/h (sunflower).
At farms within the “Kernel” holding, Maestro 24 SX units worked at 17-18 km/h, allowing 400-450 ha to be sown per shift!
These figures are very pleasing to Thomas Murr, responsible for this product group (Planting) within HORSCH Sales Support: “They fully match the figures we officially state. We officially cap the maximum working speed at 15 km/h, but from practice we know 18 km/h is no rarity. But it needs to be understood: the higher the travel speed, the greater the influence of relevant factors on sowing quality. 15 km/h is more of an optimal limit than a maximum one.” This applies especially to the seedbed. It needs to be level, evenly firmed, and have a fine, crumbly soil structure. This allows for less disturbance to row uniformity. The machine has to run smoothly, so that metering and seed-placement quality stay optimal even at such high speed. At farms within the “Kernel” holding, on chernozem soils in various regions of Ukraine, Maestro 24 SX units worked at an average speed of 17-18 km/h, with daily output of 400-450 ha! Even to us, that seems like something out of science fiction!
But this kind of “fast driving” needs the right “horses” to match. “400 hp for a 24-row Maestro is exactly what’s needed,” Thomas Murr notes. “In certain conditions, 500 hp with powerful hydraulics wouldn’t go to waste either. What’s more, tractors like that are usually already available at large farms, and in spring they’re not fully utilized, since their main application is tillage after harvest. We need a strong oil flow for our high-output pneumatics, because at high working speed, AirSpeed needs far more air than classic vacuum systems. In addition, all our machines apply starter fertilizer at seeding – which is, in effect, a double load on the tractor’s hydraulics. Maestro machines have the most powerful pneumatics in their class. As a rule, our pneumatic system is driven directly from the tractor’s hydraulics. But as an option, we also offer standalone hydraulics driven from the tractor’s PTO. In any case, our machines can be paired without issue with all modern tractors.”
High working speed has to be matched by the machine’s structural elements. “Just look at how solidly the parallelogram linkages, frame structures and the seeding sections themselves are built. Everywhere you look, we see large-diameter components at the rotating joints, powerful bearings, and massive parts for lifting and folding the machine. With proper care and regular maintenance, the Maestro SV/SX will reward you with reliability and high output. But it’s also important to understand: when speed doubles, wear on all soil-contacting components quadruples. However, on large sowing areas, that doesn’t deter customers, since the top priority is getting fieldwork done fast enough to make efficient use of favourable weather windows and stay within agronomic deadlines,” the HORSCH specialist explains.
“Already in the very first year Maestro SX units appeared in customers’ fields, we were able to gain a lot of operating experience across different conditions,” Thomas Murr continues. “We ran a lot of tests and demonstrations of the machines. But there were also customers who were already convinced of AirSpeed’s effectiveness beforehand. The system’s novelty didn’t scare them off. Most Maestro SX units were sold in Eastern Europe. But their market potential is much broader. We proceed from the assumption that Maestro SX units will be needed in all the world’s key farming regions. It’s interesting to see that, with our broad product offering, we’re clearly meeting the needs of different markets well, as confirmed by our steadily growing sales figures.”
Source: terra HORSCH 22 | 2021
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