Consistent Precision

ProPlant1

Mechanical Single Planting Head

Simplifying Sustainability

Control at your fingertips

Consistent, perfect pits

Excellent soil tilth

Electronic management

assistance

Rigid and reliable

Key Points

Technology at work for you FULLY AUTOMATED PLANTING HEAD WITH ELECTRONIC CONTROL

TECHNOLOGY CONSULTING AND

NETWORKING PROVIDES A TO-

TAL END TO END SOLUTION FOR

SILVICULTURE MODERNIZATION.

CARRIER

CONTROL AT YOUR FINGERTIPS

The Novelquip Forestry (NQF) planting head can be custom fitted to a variety of exca-

vators (6-ton class) and the carrier of choice is the LiuGong 906D and Volvo EC55B-

Pro.

The carrier to head weight ratio contributes to a stable machine configuration.

The compact excavator forms the basis for the well-known and proven MPAT

(Multipit All Terrain) single-head pitting machine as well as the ProPlant 1 (PP1) sin-

gle head planting machine.

The joystick / touchscreen control for planting activation ensure easy and ergonomic

use of the machine, enabling the operator to work in an environment supportive of

high productivity and little fatigue.

All measurements and data logging are activated automatically.

CONSISTENT, PERFECT PLANTINGS

Consistent quality is assured by the way in which NQF has placed the three ground

level sensors. The main sensor senses ground level at the planting spot, the second

sensor records the completion of the pit and sensor three determines the reference

for planting depth of the seedling. Jointly these sensors control pit quality, planting

depth and firming up of the seedling. The pit size is 350mm across and 350mm deep

with a centre of 400mm. Due to the electronic control method, every pit is complet-

ed to the same standard.

The quality of planting is consistent for every seedling and executed perfectly to

managements’ requirements regarding every activity of the planting process.

The ProPlant planting machines for industrial and commercial plantation establish-

ment manufactured by Novelquip Forestry (Pty) Ltd will cultivate the spot for

planting, do a pre-emergent spot spray, plant the seedling, add water or gel at the

desired volume, add fertilizer at two spots at the desired quantity, and firm up the

seedling, again to the desired level. The process completely eliminates air pockets,

thus removing a major reason for seedling mortality and also prevents J-roots. Irriga-

tion for the seedling trays are also available on the planting head to keep transplant

shock to an absolute minimum. The mechanical advanced all-soil type planting head

is among the most advanced technology servicing the silviculture sector. The heads

are specifically designed for commercial forestry establishment.

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SAFETY

The functioning of the head with positive

drive at a slow speed eliminates any

danger of picking and throwing slash or

branches.

A Lexan secondary window is available as

an option for the carrier for conditions

with slash.

RIGID AND RELIABLE

The South African forestry industry is

using a vast number of NQF machines

and the design proved to be rigid and

reliable, giving continuous high

productivity. The head is strong and

reliable to cope with any site conditions.

PREPARATION OF THE SOIL

Cultivating tomorrow

Good seedlings require good planting for optimum establishment, viability,

and growth. The soil tilth is excellent and clots are broken down to the re-

quired tilth to minimize the probability of air pockets. Furthermore, the tine

design prevents glazing of side walls.

Two different tine types are available:

Tines with an exchangeable tip are available to till sandy to clay soils.

Tines with hard-faced tungsten chip are available for rocky soils.

PRE-EMERGENT SPRAY (Herbicide / pesticide)

A flat cone spray nozzle will spray a spot of approximately 1m x 1m while the

planting head pivots over from pitting position to planting position. Herbicide

or pesticide spray can be switched off when not required.

SEEDLING EXTRACTION

Seedling trays are directly loaded onto the seedling extractor bed. An

electro-pneumatic actuator gently lifts seedlings sequentially from the seed-

ling tray pockets and places then into the seedling depositor (for planting).

The seedling extractor is unique and is suitable for most forestry seedling

trays like 98’s, 49’s, 45’s and 108’s. NQF will design the extractor to custom-

er requirements. The number of seedlings per charge per head is typically in

the region of 400, but can be as high as 864 depending on type of seedling

tray and synchronization with irrigation and fertilization.

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EASY MAINTENANCE

The NQF planting head was developed by

foresters for foresters working in deep

rural remote areas. Replacing wear-parts

take seconds and maintenance of the

complete head unit is easy and quick

through easy access to all parts of the head

including hydraulics and electronics.

Following the maintenance guidelines will

virtually eliminate standing time and

breakdowns on the head, thus ensuring

consistent availability and high

productivity.

ADDITION OF WATER OR HYDRA GEL

PLANTING

Sustainable green silviculture

During the planting process, the required volume of water or gel can be add-

ed from a variable displacement hydra cylinder. The initial irrigation and

subsequent re-irrigation can extend planting windows.

The planting head will measure the actual ground level and use it as point of

reference assuring that planting is consistently at the desired depth. After

release of the seedling, the depositor will retract, open completely and

push back to frim up the seedling to prevent any air pockets as well as pre-

vent all ’J’-roots. The result is a perfect planting as specified by manage-

ment.

The planting head will pivot back to the pitting position, ready to do the

next perfect planting.

This modern planting ensures immediate growth due to the mitigation of

transplant shock and promotes a more even, healthy stand.

ELECTRONIC MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE

The electronic control system records shift data and can send shift data to

designated e-mail addresses. This information will keep management updat-

ed on the progress made on a daily basis. The customer is responsible for a

simcard and legal requirements to enable data transfer through cellular

phone networks.

FERTILIZER

Granular fertilizer is accurately measured (up to 200g) and gravity fed to

two spots, one either side of the seedling. During the planting process, the

fertilizer is pushed into the soil.

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Modernizing Mechanization

1. Seedling extractor

6. Water / gel feed

4. Fertilizer dispensers

7. Ground level bracket and sensor

8. Seedling depositor

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS NOVELQUIP

3. XYZ Conveyor system

2. Extractor tongs

5. Fertilizer feeder and divider

9. Herbiside spray nozzle

10. NQF Pitting head

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Consistent Precision

PROPLANT IS THE SYSTEM FOR

PRECISION AND AN ENABLER OF

REPETITIVE OPERATIONS… PP1 will measure the ground level three

times for every planting – the first measure-

ment activates the planting head electronics,

ground level two controls the quality and

completion of the cultivated spot, and

ground level three measures the planting

depth of the planted seedling and the firm-

ing up process to prevent ‘J’-roots and to

eliminate air-pockets at the roots to signifi-

cantly improve survival and vitality.

During the planting process the required (electronically controlled) quantity of fertilizer is

deposited at two spots approximately 150mm on each side of the seedling. The pre-set and

electronically controlled water or hydrogel is also deposited on planting.

If the PP1 is fitted with the custom NQF GPS, your stocking per hectare is fully controlled and

recorded - every seedling at actual position.

This allows for easier re-irrigation and other silviculture activities during follow-up opera-

tions.

The planting results of this modern piece of equipment with seamless adjustment on every

aspect of planting, culminates in repetitive precision—precisely executed—with execution

control as per the determination of management.

ProPlant is Green Precision!

PROPLANT...SOFT ON THE ENVIRONMENT The tracked machine of 6 tons has low ground pressure and little soil disturbance. The PP1

is designed to plant two rows at a time, further reducing overall soil densification and its

negative effects on tree yield.

Spot cultivation is superior to line cultivation as root growth is promoted in all lateral direc-

tions. The tine design prevents glazing and there are no restrictions for excellent root

growth, downward and lateral. The tines and centre auger ensures a good soil tilth and

breaking up of even hard and rocky soils.

Spot cultivation consumes less energy than line or continuous cultivation as up to 82% less

soil are disturbed and only the soil required (18% of the continuous line) is cultivated. Ero-

sion is also vastly reduced due to spot cultivation. Spot planting with PP1 is a distinctly

green operation in comparison with any

other current method of mechanized

planting.

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The research and development by Novelquip For-

estry is directed to practical solutions in a modern

world, subject to the very harsh conditions of

plantation forestry and agriculture.

The safety and health of people, the sustainability

of the natural environment, the economic bottom

line of customer and sound scientific silviculture

and agriculture principles forms part of our

integrated approach to R&D. Coupled with this is

management control. Any operation can only be

measured according to information available, and

that is why our equipment is designed to provide

feedback to management from a quality and

quantity of activity perspective.

Novelquip exists by the principle that

improvement must be continuous.

NOVELQUIP FORESTRY (PTY) LTD

Blazecor Unit 7, Settler Street, Pacaltsdorp Industria, George, 6529, South Africa

+27 (0)44 050 0035 (T) www.nqfsa.com.

Dr. Jaap Steenkamp jaap@nqfsa.com

Stephanus Viljoen

gm@nqfsa.com

Helgaard Steenkamp helgaard@nqfsa.com

Carbon Footprint Care

R&D