Seed Disk Recommendations

IMPORTANT: Consult your local John Deere dealer for the most complete and up to date listing of available seed disks.

The following seed disk recommendations show a seed size range where optimum performance can be expected with each seed disk. Select a disk which best handles the seed to be planted or best represents the majority of seed sizes to be planted.

If several seed sizes are to be planted and their seed size falls within overlapping areas of two seed disks, it is recommended that BOTH seed disks be ordered to optimize performance to individual seed shape.

The easiest way to determine the proper disk is to place a sample of the seed into the cells of the seed disk. If two seeds easily fit in the cell, a smaller disk should be used. If one seed does not fit properly in the cell, a larger disk should be used. If two disks work well for a particular seed size, always use the smaller disk. It's much easier to increase vacuum to compensate for skips (and rough fields) than to lower vacuum to eliminate doubles as sometimes this can result in doubles and skips.

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Use the following guidelines to select a seed disk and seed size that will optimize vacuum meter performance.

For seed sizes outside the ranges listed, seed disks for other crops can be used. As with any seed disk change, population and spacing should always be checked in the field.

Most corn seed can be planted near 100 percent of desired population when using small corn or standard corn seed disks (WHICH HAVE SEED CELLS) listed on preceding page and adjusting vacuum level appropriately.

Difficult seeds to plant include varieties with mixed sizes, mixed shapes, combinations of sizes and shapes, long and slender seeds, seeds with a sharp point (germ) and others.

In hillside conditions, changing direction of planting can affect performance. Planting with the left side of the machine on the downhill can result in skips due to the seeds being pulled away from the seed disk and a smaller seed puddle next to the seed disk. With the right side of the machine downhill, overpopulation can result due to the seed being pushed against the seed disk and a larger seed puddle next to the seed disk. To maximize vacuum meter performance on hillsides, follow these three steps.

  • Use the smallest seed disk possible. By using a smaller seed disk there is less opportunity for doubles.

    Use round seed. By using round seed instead of flats, there is a better chance for seed to stay in the cell and reduced chances for doubles.

  • Use a flat disk with double eliminator. In some cases, round seed may not be available for the preferred seed variety or hillsides may be steep enough to require a flat type seed disk. The flat disk HAS NO SEED CELLS and requires use of a double eliminator and knockout wheel. The double eliminator is used to knock off excess seed while knockout wheel is used to keep vacuum holes free of debris.

    Large Sweet Corn disk and Small Sweet Corn disk are two flat-seed disks which can be used for improved meter performance for seed between 3300 seeds/kg (1500 seeds/lb) and 7040 seeds/kg (3200 seeds/lb).

    A32806

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    Large Sweet Corn disk has 40 holes per revolution. Use knockout wheel AA37348 for Large and Small Sweet Corn disks.

    Set seed transmission according to population rate charts for Sweet Corn when using the Sweet Corn disk. Overpopulating will result if cell type corn charts are used as those disks have 30 cells.

CORN

FIELD CORN:

Several seed disks can be used for planting field corn. Begin with the following seed disks:

Disk Name Part Number Seed/lb
Standard Corn A50617 900-2000
Small Corn A43215 1600-2800
Sunflower/Popcorn H136478 2300-3200

 

Each disk has some overlap to allow one disk to be used for various seed sizes. Where overlap exists, begin with the smaller seed disk. It's much easier to increase vacuum to compensate for skips (and rough fields) than to lower vacuum to eliminate doubles.

On difficult to plant field corn, flat disks with a double eliminator are available for improved performance. Begin with a Large Sweet Corn disk (Part No. A52391) and set the double eliminator to cover 50 percent of the cell and use the vacuum chart in Operating Vacuum Meter section. Vacuum and double eliminator settings can be verified with a field check or at your John Deere dealer on a test stand. For smaller seed sizes (>3500 seeds/lb) a Small Sweet Corn disk (Part No. A52390) is available. A 50 cell Edible Bean disk is also available for higher populations. (Both Sweet Corn disks are 40 cell disks.)

SWEET CORN:

Disk Name Part Number Seed/lb
Large Sweet Corn A52391 <3900
Small Sweet Corn A52390 >3500

 

POPCORN:

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    Disk Name Part Number Seed/lb
    Sunflower/Popcorn H136478 2500-4500
    Sorghum A43066 >4500

     

    On difficult to plant seeds use of the Small Sweet Corn disk (Part No. A52390) may improve performance.

    In some cases a Small Corn (Part No. A43215) or Sunflower (Part No. H136478) cell type disk may provide satisfactory performance depending upon seed size and shape.

    SUNFLOWER

    CONFECTIONARY:

    Disk Name Part Number Seed/lb
    Large Sweet Corn Flat Type with Double Eliminator A52391 2250-3250
    Small Sweet Corn Flat Type with Double Eliminator A52390 3250-5250

     

    OIL SUNFLOWER:

    Disk Name Part Number Seed Sizes
    Sunflower/Popcorn H136478 4 (Small)
    3 (Medium)
    2 (Large)

     

    For oil sunflower seed sizes 1 (Extra Large) and 5 (Extra Small) see the recommendations above for confectionary sunflowers. Part No. H136478 is recommended for oil sunflower seed sizes 4 (small), 3 (medium) and 2 (large). This disk is NOT recommended for oil sunflower seed sizes 1 (extra large) and 5 (extra small) or confectionary sunflower seeds.

    COTTON

    ACID DELINTED COTTON:

    Disk Name Part Number Seed/lb
    Acid Delinted Cotton A56251 4000-6000

     

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      For small seeds that result in doubles on the Acid-Delinted Cotton disk, using a Small Edible Bean Disk (Part No. A52903) with Double Eliminator is recommended.

      4-CELL HILLDROP:

      Disk Name Part Number Seed/lb
      4-Cell Hilldrop A65622 4000-6000

       

      For small seeds that result in dropping more than four seeds, use of the 2-Cell Hilldrop Cotton disk is recommended.

      2-CELL HILLDROP:

      Disk Name Part Number Seed/lb
      2-Cell Hilldrop A74961 4000-6000

       

      SOYBEANS

      Disk Name Part Number Seed/lb
      Soybean A42586 All

       

      For smaller seed sizes that result in doubles, a Cotton Seed disk (Part No. A56251) can provide improved performance.

      SORGHUM

      LOW-RATE SORGHUM:

      Disk Name Part Number Seed/lb
      Low-Rate Sorghum A43066 10,000-16,000

       

      For smaller seed sizes that result in doubles, a Medium Sugar Beet disk (Part No. H136445) or a Small Sugar Beet disk (Part No. A51712) can provide improved performance.

      HIGH-RATE SORGHUM:

      Disk Name Part Number Seed/lb
      High-Rate Sorghum A52802 10,000-16,000

       

      BLANK SEED DISK

      Part No. A52554

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        The blank seed disk allows custom drilling of specific hole sizes for specialty crops. See your John Deere dealer for details.

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