New Corn Planting System: Controlling Seed Orientation for More Uniform Emergence

Modern precision agriculture is increasingly focused not only on seeding rate and spacing, but also on how a corn kernel is positioned in the furrow. In January 2026, Precision Planting (PTx) introduced ArrowTube, a new seed-delivery system designed to improve corn emergence uniformity by stabilizing seed orientation during planting.

Why Seed Orientation Matters

Kernel orientation affects how quickly and how evenly plants emerge, which directly influences early-season competitiveness and the crop’s ability to reach its yield potential. According to PTx, corn germination follows a consistent pattern: the coleoptile develops from the embryo side in the direction opposite the kernel “tip”, while the primary root develops in the direction the tip is pointing.

If a kernel is placed tip down and embryo out (with the embryo facing outward toward the row middle), the plant typically needs less time and energy to “correct” its path underground. With random orientation (tip sideways, embryo down, etc.), the sprout must compensate, which can contribute to delayed and less uniform emergence.

PTx also highlights an above-ground effect: when the kernel is oriented correctly, early plant structure can develop in a way that reduces shading of neighboring plants, supporting improved early light interception.

What Was Introduced: ArrowTube as “Managed-Orientation” Seed Delivery

ArrowTube was presented at the PTx Winter Conference in Tremont, Illinois (USA) as a new seed-delivery approach that complements existing control of singulation, spacing, and seed placement. The core concept is to orient corn seed tip down and embryo out before it reaches the soil.

How the System Works (in plain terms)

According to the developer, ArrowTube:

• uses acceleration and “strategic friction” within the delivery path to orient kernels from the meter to the furrow;
• employs a knife that creates a narrow sub-furrow, where the oriented kernel is placed;
• the sub-furrow “cradles” the kernel, and the main furrow is then closed by the planter’s standard closing wheels.

In practice, the goal is not simply dropping seed into the trench, but guiding it into the soil in a consistent position.

Developer Data: Trial Scale and Reported Outcomes

PTx describes a multi-year testing program focused on repeatable performance across different conditions:

• over 4 years, roughly 3,000 acres of test plots were planted across 4 U.S. states;
• approximately 75 corn hybrids of different brands, shapes, and seed sizes were included;
• for orientation and development analysis, agronomists hand-dug and cataloged about 7,000 plants.

Key figures PTx reports from its internal research:

• with tip down, embryo out placement, 84% of plants emerged within 24 hours;
• conventional delivery systems achieved optimal orientation 12% of the time, while ArrowTube achieved 62%;
• across a study covering 7 locations and 52 replications, ArrowTube increased yield in 87% of cases, with an average gain of 6.4 bu/acre.

These are company-reported internal results (from presentations and field trials), but they illustrate the product’s value proposition: more uniform emergence, fewer “late” plants, and better early-season use of sunlight.

Practical Notes: Compatibility, High-Speed Planting, and Row-Unit Setup

On the operational side, PTx emphasizes that ArrowTube:

• is compatible with high-speed planting;
• for growers running vSet2, it may require an additional seed cover component;
• remains compatible with Precision Planting rear attachments, including FurrowJet, SmartFirmer, and Keatons.

PTx also notes that while research focused primarily on corn, the system has performed well in soybeans, and the company plans to study additional crops in the future, including sugar beets.

The expected commercial availability is the 2027 planting season.

A Practical Note for Ukraine: What to Verify Before Adopting Similar Systems

For Ukrainian farms evaluating precision planting upgrades, it is important to validate:

1. real-world compatibility with your planter row units and existing metering/delivery components;
2. performance across soil and field conditions - moisture variability, clod structure, residue levels, and tillage systems;
3. depth control and furrow closing consistency, because correct orientation will not compensate for poor depth or poor seed-to-soil contact;
4. economics: the investment should be justified either by measurable yield gains or by more stable outcomes and fewer weak plants on challenging fields.

Where to Buy Planter Parts in Ukraine: BAS-Agro

During planting season, downtime caused by worn components or missing parts can be costly. Reliable access to planter consumables and replacement components is therefore critical.

BAS-Agro (Cherkasy, Ukraine) offers planter spare parts in a dedicated catalog section:
https://bas.ua/shop/spare-parts-for-seeders-000000003-1

This is a practical option for supporting planter maintenance and keeping equipment ready for tight planting windows.

Conclusion

ArrowTube reflects a clear trend in corn planting: moving from “verifying the act of planting” to influencing what the seed does in the soil. If the reported improvements in orientation, emergence uniformity, and yield response hold up in broader practice, systems like this may become the next step for farms that already invested in precision planting and want to push plant-by-plant performance even further.