Bourgault 8800 with knives on 8 inch spacing

[caseman]

I used 2 inch spoons on my airseeder last year and now I am
thinking of switching to a hoe opener or knives.

The soil flows better around the hoe opener so I think that
will be better than the spoons that seem to throw more soil.
Anyone have any comments on the hoe openers offered by Bourgault?

The knife sounds like a good idea but I wonder how much
actual N I can put with the seed single shooting dry fertilizer?
For canola and flax I will deep band ,some done last fall and the rest
in the spring. It is the barley and durum that I would like to do in one pass
with about 50-60 lbs. actual N.

With the spoons I could probably get away with 50-60 lbs of N.
but what would a safe amount be with ample moisture conditions
using knives on the 8800.

Waiting for your answer Shamus.

Thanks in advance for all replies.

[nw9flynn]

You are a braver farmer than me. I think you should look at the product "Agrotain". It is from philom bios and you treat you fertilizer and it allows you to increase you seed placed N.

[countryguy]

Caseman,have you ever thought about sidebanding your fertilizer?If you're thinking about knives already,why not get some sidebanding knives so you can sleep a little easier at night?

[caseman]

My 32 foot 8800 is set up for single shoot right know with a 225 bu. tank.

What would be the approx. cost to set it up as a double shoot system?
What double shoot knife would I use?

Midrow banders would be the answer but that would be a big expense
since the 8800 has to be modified to add mrb's.

I think I will have to band some nitrogen ahead of seeding with the knives
for my flax and canola. I will use spoons to seed my cereals so I can have a wider spread for nitrogen, about 125 lbs of 34-17.

[r.reid]

What about dribling liquid N beside the seed row. Only costs about $30/shank for the distrubution kit. It's effective both in the field and on the wallet. We're switching our air-drill over to this as soon as the snow melts.

[countryguy]

Caseman,you could probably buy a dual shoot kit for a 3225 for a song.Check out harvest technologies for the sidebanders.

R Reid,are you going with a pressurized liquid kit? If so you can build your own for next to nothing.

[grrrr]

I have used an 8800 for years. Started out with 2" spoons. Then went to hoe openers. Didn't notice much difference in soil disturbance. Just bought a set of used 1" knives with cabide tips. All the while I have applied N in a separate pass in October and will continue to do so because I can't possibly haul all that product in spring during seeding by myself. I also like a little soil disturbance in fall in heavy straw to help the soil warm up in spring. For me, two pass seeding is here to stay.