mhagny - 6/28/2012 06:04
Jim - 6/27/2012 23:47
With reference to Hagney's statement below, I will just say you can't get seed to soil contact with a nail/spike/point.
Jim at Dawn
Of course not! That is why we at Exapta insist that in-furrow seed-firming be done with a Keeton + Mojo, or with a seed-lock wheel (not many of those around anymore, due to clogging with mud) running in the bottom of the trench. We do the seed firming precisely at the seed's location, then crumble the soil over the top of the seed for the most rapid and uniform germination and emergence.
Martin Industries and Phil Needham have a similar stance on the need for doing seed firming with a separate mechanism (Keeton or seed-lock wheel) running ahead of the slicing- or spearing-type closing wheels.