In the highly technical environment of professional nurseries, sowing is one of the most critical stages of the production process, especially when working with high-value seeds and increasingly strict uniformity requirements.
That is why Semilleros Los Crespos has spent more than a decade operating with Conic System precision sowing technology, integrated within Smart Sowing solutions, in a long term commitment to reliability and continuous adaptation to customer needs.
"We bought the Conic System seeder around eighteen or twenty years ago, and it has been improved over time," explains Santiago Olivares, noting that the evolution of the equipment has always been linked to changes in demand for trays and crop formats.
One of the system's most relevant features is its ability to adapt. The nursery works with a wide range of trays, from small cell formats such as 217 or 296 cavities to larger formats such as 54 cells, requiring constant adjustments to the sowing process.
"Depending on demand, we use one head or another," he says, referring to a plate exchange system that allows the machine to be configured for each format.
© Smart Sowing
"The process begins with the feeding of blond peat, mixed with 20% perlite, which is loaded into a big bag and passes into a mixer responsible for filling the trays. Afterwards, a press makes the dibble hole that defines the exact point where the seed will be deposited."
"From there, the sowing system works through a suction mechanism on a plate with mechanical singulation, ensuring an optimal result in individual seed selection, picking up and depositing the seed into each cell. After this step, the trays move along a line where vermiculite is applied to cover the seed, helping hydration before entering the germination chamber."
Although the process may look simple from an operational standpoint, precision depends on multiple factors, with the robustness of the seeder among the most decisive. "This is especially critical in crops such as tomato or aubergine, where seed size and cost do not allow mistakes. Maximum precision is needed, and we have achieved that with Conic System," he adds.
The ease of cleaning plates, suction units and seeder ducts is another essential condition for maintaining process quality and avoiding failures that could compromise crop uniformity. "After more than two decades of use, the machine is still operating and meets our day to day requirements. It is very robust and, above all, gives us great reliability in the most important process at Los Crespos, which is sowing."
The experience of Semilleros Los Crespos shows how sowing technology goes beyond a mechanical component, forming part of an integrated system where precision, maintenance and the ability to adapt to changing customer demand determine the final result. "Conic System has given us that confidence for more than 20 years, and for all the years still ahead thanks to its durability."
For more information:
Smart Sowing
Avda. Olof Palme 10, 08440 Viladecans
Barcelona(SPAIN)
T. +34 936 096 837
[email protected]
https://www.smartsowing.com
Semilleros Los Crespos
Carretera Habana, Bajo, 04770 La Curva, Almeria
M. 674 13 45 23
https://semilleroloscrespos.com
