The LEMKEN Solitair DT seed drill combination is a next-generation trailed seeding unit, engineered as a “lightweight” machine with a large working width of 4 to 9 metres. The DT index is crucial here: it denotes the version with an integrated short disc harrow and central tyre packer, combining seedbed preparation, consolidation and seeding in a single pass.

Solitair DT concept: lighter, yet more productive

LEMKEN set a clear goal: to build a seeding combination that is lighter than previous generations, without compromising productivity or precision. As a result, the Solitair DT offers working widths of 4, 6 or 9 m, a total hopper capacity of 3,400 to 5,100 litres (depending on the version) and a transport speed of up to 40 km/h.

The key idea of this machine is to complete the maximum number of operations in a single pass: level the field, create a high-quality seedbed, consolidate the soil and place the seed (and, if required, fertiliser) accurately at the target depth.

In simplified form, the design of the Solitair DT can be divided into three logical “zones”:

• Front zone – tractor load distribution, levelling the surface, working in the wheel tracks.
• Tillage and consolidation zone – integrated Heliodor disc harrow and large tyre packer.
• Seeding zone – hopper with metering system, distributors and OptiDisc coulter bar with depth-control press wheels.

Working elements: from front tools to the tyre packer

At the front of the Solitair DT you can fit track eradicators (track loosening discs) or a front tyre packer or levelling board. These elements work directly in the tractor wheel tracks, removing compaction, breaking up clods and levelling the surface before the Heliodor comes into play. Their working depth is adjusted independently of the main disc harrow, so the operator can fine-tune the machine to the specific conditions in each field.

Next comes the integrated short disc harrow Heliodor, with two rows of semi-spherical notched discs of about 465 mm diameter, each mounted on an individual spring-tine carrier. This design provides intensive mixing of soil and crop residues, while keeping draft requirement relatively low. For conditions where the soil should be disturbed as little as possible to preserve moisture, LEMKEN offers an alternative configuration with wavy discs that generate less soil movement.

Behind the discs, the soil passes under a central tyre packer with a diameter of around 900 mm. It consolidates the worked layer evenly and creates a stable reference surface for the coulters. The staggered arrangement of the tyres improves self-cleaning and reduces draft. On some versions, a tine (levelling) harrow can be installed between the packer and the coulters to further level the surface and redistribute crop residues.

Optionally, a trapezoidal packer can be installed in front of the coulters. It pre-consolidates the soil in the seed rows and at the same time acts as a reference surface to control the seeding depth of the coulter bar. The pressure on this packer is adjusted hydraulically from the terminal, allowing the machine to adapt to different soil types and moisture conditions.

Hopper and metering: large volume, flexible scenarios

The heart of the machine is the seed hopper. For the Solitair DT, both single-chamber and twin-chamber versions are available:

• 4 m: 3,400 l (single chamber) or 4,100 l (split 40/60);
• 6 m: 4,400 l (single chamber) or 5,100 l (split 40/60);
• 9 m: 4,400 l (single chamber) or 5,100 l (split 40/60).

A large filling opening, roll-up tarpaulin or sealed lid, and the possibility to fill from big bags or with a front loader bucket make filling fast and safe.

On the metering side, the Solitair DT is equipped with separate metering units for each distributor. This is important not only for accuracy but also for implementing section control: the machine can shut off seed flow across the working width, reducing overlaps and saving seed. The metering wheels can be removed without tools, significantly simplifying changeover between crops or seeding rates.

The metering rate is linked to a forward speed signal – via a radar sensor on the drawbar or the tractor’s speed signal – so the application rate remains stable even when the working speed changes.

Single Shot and Double Shot: how Solitair DT works with fertiliser

In the twin-hopper configuration, the Soltair DT can simultaneously handle seed and mineral fertiliser, as well as multiple seed types. The factory offers two main application concepts:

Single Shot – up to three components (seed, fertiliser, cover crop seed) are mixed in the air stream and placed into the same furrow via the OptiDisc coulters. This approach is suitable for starter fertilisation and mixed sowing when there is no need to separate fertiliser rows.

Double Shot – fertiliser (or a second seed type) is applied by a separate row of double-disc coulters in front of the tyre packer at its own depth. The pressure on each fertiliser coulter can reach 150 kg, ensuring consistent placement depth even in hard and dry soil.

If in a particular crop below-seed fertiliser placement is not required, the fertiliser coulter bar is simply lifted; the coulters do not wear unnecessarily, but are ready for use as soon as the technology requires it again.

OptiDisc seeding section: precision at working speed

One of the key units on the Solitair DT is the OptiDisc seeding section. It is built on a parallelogram linkage: each double-disc coulter is followed by its own depth-control press wheel, which also firms the seed in the furrow. Seeding depth and coulter pressure can be adjusted independently, enabling the machine to work effectively with very different crops and soil moisture scenarios.

LEMKEN offers two versions in terms of coulter pressure:

• OptiDisc M – up to approx. 45 kg;
• OptiDisc H – up to approx. 70 kg with hydraulic downforce.

Row spacing can be 12.5 or 16.7 cm, and accordingly the number of coulters changes: for 4 m working width – 32 or 24, for 6 m – 48 or 36, for 9 m – 72 or 54. Together with the twin distributor heads above the coulter bar, this ensures uniform transverse distribution of seed even at higher working speeds.

Electronics and control: iQ drill, ISOBUS and mobile app

The Soltair DT is a fully ISOBUS-compatible machine. Control is implemented via the iQ drill concept, which can be displayed either on a dedicated LEMKEN terminal (such as the CCI-1200) or on the tractor’s ISOBUS terminal. On the screen the machine is shown “from the side” with intuitive pictograms: the operator sees which product from which hopper compartment is being fed through which distributor to the coulters.

The MultiBoom system allows variable-rate application based on prescription maps: seed and fertiliser can each follow their own map, while section control functions separately for each material flow. For calibration, monitoring hopper contents and diagnostics, it is convenient to use the iQblue Go mobile app, which connects to the machine wirelessly and brings part of the terminal functionality to a smartphone or tablet.

Technical specifications of the LEMKEN Solitair DT

Key parameters of the seeding combination (according to the official LEMKEN Ukrainian brochure):

* Actual weight depends on machine specification and options.

Practical benefits for the farmer

1. High output in tight time windows. A working width of up to 9 m, large hopper capacity and the ability to operate at high working speeds allow the Solitair DT to complete seeding on time, even within very narrow weather windows.
2. Full operation package in a single pass. Heliodor, central tyre packer, trapezoidal packer and OptiDisc all work together in one combination, reducing the number of passes across the field, fuel consumption and soil compaction.
3. Flexibility in farming systems and crop rotations. Single Shot and Double Shot configurations enable simultaneous application of seed and fertiliser or multiple seed types, which is particularly relevant for cover crops and intensive rotations.
4. High seeding accuracy. Parallelogram-mounted OptiDisc double-disc coulters with adjustable pressure, individual depth-control press wheels and an advanced metering system deliver consistent seeding depth and uniform distribution, even in variable soil conditions.
5. Comfort and digital control. ISOBUS operation, iQ drill, section control, variable-rate application using maps and the iQblue Go mobile app all make set-up, monitoring and diagnostics intuitive, reducing operator workload and stress.

Spare parts for LEMKEN drills – at BAS.UA

To keep the LEMKEN Solitair DT running reliably year after year, it is essential to renew wear parts on time and monitor the condition of all working elements: Heliodor discs, OptiDisc coulters, packers, bearings, springs, hoses and more.

BAS-Agro LLC manufactures and supplies spare parts for a wide range of seed drills and has extensive experience with imported seeding equipment. The current range of drill components can be found in the catalogue:

Spare parts for seeders on BAS.UA: https://bas.ua/shop/spare-parts-for-seeders-000000003-1

This means owners of the LEMKEN Solitair DT can combine the German precision of their seeding technology with fast local support and reliable spare-parts supply from the Ukrainian company BAS-Agro.