Külviks

Külviks is the Estonian term for a seed drill, an agricultural implement designed to sow seeds at a controlled depth and spacing. It deposits seeds from a hopper through a metering mechanism into the soil, often with devices to create a furrow and to close the soil over the seeds after placement. The aim is to achieve uniform germination, better seed-to-soil contact, and efficient use of seeds.

Seed drills have a long history in European agriculture and have evolved from simple seed dispensers to sophisticated machines. Early designs focused on basic seed distribution and furrow creation, while later models added precise metering, depth control, and mechanisms to ensure consistent placement across fields. The development of mechanical and then pneumatic seed drills improved accuracy, efficiency, and adaptability to different crops and soil conditions.

Modern külviks come in several configurations. Mechanical seed drills rely on rotating discs or rollers to meter seeds, while pneumatic models use air to convey seeds from the hopper to the furrow for greater precision and smaller seed sizes. They can be tractor-drawn or used as handheld devices for smaller plots. Key features typically include adjustable seeding rate, adjustable seed depth, multiple rows, and optional fertilizer placement or seed-bed preparation functions.

Use of seed drills is common for cereals, legumes, grasses, and many vegetable crops, especially in larger fields or where precise spacing is beneficial. They are valued for reducing seed waste, improving harvest yields, and enabling synchronized planting. In modern agriculture, külviks may be integrated with precision farming systems to optimize seed rate, depth, and fertilizer use.

See also: seed drill, planter, sowing equipment, agricultural machinery.