The purpose of the Bourgault Agronomy Handbook is to focus on the factors involved with the important task of placing the seed in the ground in such a way as to ensure the greatest chances of germination and emergence in the given conditions. It also discusses the importance of fertilizer placement to create the optimum environment for the plant by consistently and accurately placing the seed and each required nutrient in a location that promotes even germination, uniform stand and optimum yield potential.
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Research has shown that nitrate will reach the seed row from the mid row band in as little as 2 days.

Mid row banding provides the optimum location for plants to access the beneficial nitrate form of nitrogen.

The Bourgault Seeding System with Mid Row Banders® is superior to other one-pass seeding systems in how it positions the nitrogen fertilizer to the seed.

Producers must gain a good understanding of the benefits and dangers of seed & fertilizer placement to avoid an environment that is toxic to the crop.

One of today’s topics found in many agricultural publications is the promotion of wider row spacings for direct seeding systems. It is important when weighing the option of investing in a wider row spacing system to weigh the benefits against the risks in the wide range of seeding environments you may experience over the years.

The benefits to the bottom line justify the need to strive for even emergence. The Bourgault Seeding System provides more precise seed placement with narrow profile knives in the seed row and MRBs for fertilizer.

When researching one-pass seeding systems, is the advertised seed-to-fertilizer separation the actual separation achieved?

Bourgault seeding system places seed and fertilizer without disrupting the seedbed or uprooting last season's stubble. Standing stubble protects seedlings during initial emergence, and helps bind the soil to prevent erosion.

When side-banding was first introduced, nitrogen placed one inch below and to the side of the seed was accepted as the ideal location for adequate fertilizer separation from the seed. Issues including inadequate field finish, seed - fertilizer mix, inconsistent seed depths, caused producers to question the validity of this practice.

Salt Effect occurs when the concentrated fertilizer is located too close to the seed or seedling, causing desiccation. Placing the nitrogen fertilizer at a safe distance from the seed row will protect the seed from the desiccation effect.

In the early 90's, Bourgault like most other agricultural equipment manufacturers experimented with side-banding openers. It was at this time Bourgault designers realized that this seeding practice put farmers in jeopardy.

Golden Rule of One-Pass Seeding : Never compromise seedbed quality in the pursuit of one-pass seeding.

The field finish of various side-bander seeding systems is compared to the Bourgault Seeding System for furrow depth, as well as overall field residue management.

This year will be the third of Bourgault’s multi-year/multi-location study aimed to confirm existing studies and to improve our knowledge of fertilizer placement relative to the seed in a one-pass seeding environment.

Stress is like an iceberg. We can see one-eighth of it above, but what about what’s below? Although small grains are adapted to a wide range of climates and soils, they are sensitive to various agronomic and environmental conditions, including temperature, rainfall, humidity, sunlight, fertility, herbicide carryover, insects, and diseases.