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) and properly adjusted vacuum level.

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 seed spacing for seed between 3300 seeds/kg (1500 seeds/lb) and 7040 seeds/kg (3200 seeds/lb).

    A32806

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    Sweet Corn disks have 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.
FIELD CORN

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

Disk Name Part Number Seed/kg Seed/lb Number of Cells Hole Diameter (mm)
Standard Corn A50617 2000 to 4400 900 to 2000 30 3.6
Small Corn A43215 3500 to 6200 1600 to 2800 30 3.6
Sunflower / Popcorn H136478 5100 to 7100 2300 to 3200 30 2.6

 

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.)

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    SWEET CORN (Flat Disk)

    Disk Name Part Number Seed/kg Seed/lb Number of Cells Hole Diameter (mm)
    Large Sweet Corn A52391 <8600 <3900 40 4.5
    Small Sweet Corn A52390 >7700 >3500 40 3.75

     

    POPCORN

    Disk Name Part Number Seed/kg Seed/lb Number of Cells Hole Diameter (mm)
    Sunflower/
    Popcorn    		 H136478 5500 to 9900 2500 to 4500 30 2.6
    Sorghum A43066 >9900 >4500 45 1.5

     

    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.

    CONFECTIONARY SUNFLOWER

    Disk Name Part Number Seed/kg Seed/lb Number of Cells Hole Diameter (mm)
    Large Sweet Corn Flat Type with Double Eliminator A52391 5000 to 7200 2250 to 3250 40 4.5
    Small Sweet Corn Flat Type with Double Eliminator A52390 7200 to 11 600 3250 to 5250 40 3.75

     

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      OIL SUNFLOWER

      Disk Name Part Number Seed Sizes Number of Cells Hole Diameter (mm)
      Sunflower/
      Popcorn      		 H136478 4 (Small)
      3 (Medium)
      2 (Large)      		 30 2.6

       

      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.

      DRILLED COTTON

      Disk Name Part Number Seed/kg Seed/lb Number of Cells Hole Diameter (mm)
      Acid Delinted Cotton A56251 8800 to 13 200 4000 to 6000 64 2.5

       

      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 COTTON

      Disk Name Part Number Seed/kg Seed/lb Number of Cells Hole Diameter (mm)
      4-Cell Hilldrop A65622 8800 to 13 200 4000 to 6000 48 2.5

       

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

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        2-CELL HILLDROP COTTON

        Disk Name Part Number Seed/kg Seed/lb Number of Cells Hole Diameter (mm)
        2-Cell Hilldrop A74961 8800 to 13 200 4000 to 6000 64 2.5

         

        COTTON USING EDIBLE BEAN - Flat Disk A52903 Small

        Cotton
        Seed        		 Seeds/kg Seeds/lb Number of Cells Hole Diameter (mm)
        Small 3520 to 7260 1600 to 3300 50 3.75

         

        Small cotton seed can also be planted using this disk when cotton disks result in doubles (double eliminator is recommended).

        SOYBEANS

        Disk Name Part Number Seed/kg Seed/lb Number of Cells Hole Diameter (mm)
        Soybean A42586 Below 7700 Below 3500 108 4.4
        Cotton A56251 Above 7700 Above 3500 64 2.5

         

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

        LOW-RATE SORGHUM

        Disk Name Part Number Seed/kg Seed/lb Number of Cells Hole Diameter (mm)
        Low-Rate Sorghum A43066 22 000 to 35 300 10 000 to 16 000 45 1.5

         

        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.

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          HIGH-RATE SORGHUM

          Disk Name Part Number Seed/kg Seed/lb Number of Cells Hole Diameter (mm)
          High-Rate Sorghum A52802 22 000 to 35 300 10 000 to 16 000 90 1.5

           

          SORGHUM USING SUGAR BEET DISK

          Disk Name Part Number Seed Size Number of Cells Hole Diameter (mm)
          Small Sugar Beet A51712 2.6-3.2 mm Seed 45 1.5
          Small and Medium Sugar Beet H136445 3.0-4.0 mm Seed 45 1.5

           

          BLANK SEED DISK

          Part No. A52554

          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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