Indian makers offer seed drills for small grains, seed-cum-fertiliser drills, zero-till drills and planters for row crops. Most are mounted on the tractor's three-point linkage, and a few small models are animal-drawn or hand-pushed.
The right choice depends on your crops, row spacing, seed size and how much residue lies on the field.
The main types
- A seed drill sows small grains such as wheat, barley and oats in close rows. A fluted roller meters the seed, and a ground wheel drives it.
- A seed-cum-fertiliser drill has a second hopper and places fertiliser with or beside the seed in one pass.
- A zero-till drill sows into unploughed soil after harvest. Strong tines open a narrow slot, which saves a tillage pass.
- A row planter places single seeds of maize, cotton, soybean or groundnut at set spacing. It uses an inclined plate or vacuum disc meter.
- A happy seeder or residue-handling drill sows into heavy straw. It is used where stubble burning is being reduced.
Specifications to fix
Fix the number of rows and the row spacing range first. Adjustable spacing helps if you sell into several crops.
Ask what metering system is used and how seed rate is calibrated. The machine should come with a calibration chart for your crops, not just for Indian varieties.
Check the furrow opener type, such as shovel, tine or disc. Tines suit cleared soil, while discs cope better with residue and wet ground.
Check the hopper material and capacity, the drive chain and the depth control. Fertiliser corrodes mild steel quickly, so ask what the fertiliser box is made of and how it is coated.
Matching the drill to your market
Seed sizes, soil and crop varieties differ from Indian conditions. A drill that works well on Punjab wheat may need different rollers or plates for your seed. Read whether agri machinery can be adapted for your soil and crops.
Hitch fit matters too. Confirm the linkage category against your common tractors, as explained in which PTO and three-point linkage standards apply.
Checking a sample
Run a calibration test on the sample before you approve it. Jack up the drive wheel, turn it a set number of times, and weigh the seed from each outlet. The rows should deliver similar amounts, and the total should match the chart.
Check the frame for straightness and weld quality, and the tines or discs for hardness and fit. Look at the chain and sprockets, because cheap chains stretch and change the seed rate over a season.
Ask for a manual with calibration steps in your language. Dealers and farmers will rely on it every season.
Next step
We find drill and planter makers, check calibration and samples, and supervise production and loading. To match a sowing range to your crops, book a free sourcing review.