scholarly journals Row-crop planter performance to support variable-rate seeding of maize

2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 603-619 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. S. Virk ◽  
J. P. Fulton ◽  
W. M. Porter ◽  
G. L. Pate

Abstract Current planting technology possesses the ability to increase crop productivity and improve field efficiency by precisely metering and placing crop seeds. Planter performance depends on determining and utilizing optimal settings for different planting variables such as seed depth, down pressure, and seed metering unit. The evolution of “Big Data” in agriculture today brings focus on the need for quality as-planted and yield mapping data. Therefore, an investigation was conducted to evaluate the performance of current planting technology for accurate placement of seeds while understanding the accuracy of as-planted data. Two studies consisting of two different setups on a 6-row, John Deere planter for seeding of maize (Zea mays L.) were conducted. The first study aimed at assessing planter performance at 2 depth settings (25 and 51 mm) and four different down pressure settings (varying from none to high), while the second study focused on evaluating planter performance during variable-rate seeding with treatments consisting of two seed metering units (John Deere Standard and Precision Planting’s eSet setups) with five different seeding rates and four ground speed treatments which provided a combination of 20 different meter speeds. Field data collection consisted of measuring plant emergence, plant population and seed depth whereas plant spacing, plant population after emergence along with distance and location for rate changes within the field were also recorded for the variable-rate seeding study. Results indicated that both depth setting and downforce affected final seeding depth. Measured seed depth was significantly different from the target depth even though time was spent adjusting the units to achieve the desired prior to planting. Crop emergence did not vary significantly for the different depth and downforce settings except for target depth in Field 1. Results from the variable-rate study indicated that seeding rate changes were accomplished within a quick response time (< 1 s) at all ground speeds regardless of magnitude of rate change. Data showed that planter performance in terms of emergence and plant spacing CV was comparable for most of the meter speeds (17.4–33.5 rpm) among the two seed meters utilized in the study. Plant spacing CV increased with an increase in meter speed, however no significant differences existed among meter speeds in the range of 17.4–33.5 rpm. Results implied that correct seed metering unit setup is very critical to obtain expected performance of today’s planting technology. A concerning find was that the quality of as-applied maps from the commercial variable-rate display was not reflective of the actual planter performance in the field. The study recommended that operators need to ensure the correct planter and display setups in order to achieve needed seed placement performance to support variable-rate seeding.

2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (6) ◽  
pp. 937-948
Author(s):  
Simerjeet S. Virk ◽  
Wesley M Porter ◽  
John P. Fulton ◽  
Gregory L Pate

Abstract. High planter performance requires achieving near-perfect seed meter performance in the field during planting. In-field meter performance can be impacted by several factors including meter setup, ground speed, seeding rate, planter vibration, and field conditions. A study was conducted to evaluate the field performance of two different seed meters (John Deere Standard and Precision Planting eSet) at varying seeding rates and ground speeds during planting. Study treatments consisted of planting corn at seeding rates of 49,000, 59,000, 69,000, 79,000, and 89,000 seeds ha-1 at four different ground speeds of 6.1, 7.1, 8.2, and 9.5 km h-1. These ground speeds and seeding rates were implemented in a strip-split plot design in the field with seeding rates blocked within the individual ground speed replications. Field tests were performed by uploading a variable-rate seeding prescription map into the planter rate controller and then travelling at the desired ground speed for each planter pass. Field data collection consisted of measuring plant population and plant spacing in the plots separately for each seed meter. Meter performance was evaluated by computing percent skips, multiples, singulation, coefficient of variation (CV), and crop emergence from the field data. Statistical analysis on field data suggested that the percent skips, singulation, CV, and crop emergence were significantly (p&lt;0.05) affected by the seeding rate, and the ground speed did not have any significant (p&gt;0.05) effect on these variables. The percent multiples and CV values also differed significantly (p&lt;0.05) between the John Deere Standard and Precision Planting eSet meter at different ground speed and seeding rate treatments. The percent skips (0.5-3.8%) observed in the field data were, on average, higher than the percent multiples (0.0-1.8%) for both seed meters. The percent skips in general decreased with an increase in the seeding rate whereas no particular trend was observed in the percent multiples. The singulation values varied between 96.0% and 99.4%, and they were not statistically different between the seed meters. The percent CV values increased with an increase in the seeding rate indicating higher variability in plant spacing with increases in the seeding rate. The mean percent emergence for both seed meters ranged from 92.8% to 99.3%, and it was influenced by the seeding rate for the JD Standard meter. A weak association (R2 values between 0.2028 and 0.6587) between the meter performance parameters (percent skips, singulation, and CV) and the meter speed was determined for both seed meters. Results from the study suggested that meter performance was significantly affected by the seeding rate, and the type of seed meter had a significant impact on percent multiples and CV (plant spacing) values attained during planting. Keywords: Field performance, Ground speed, Meter speed, Seed meter, Seeding rate.


2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 001-011
Author(s):  
Albert K. Arkoh ◽  
Emmanuel Y.H Bobobee ◽  
Ahmad Addo

Uniformity in plant spacing, evenness of dropping, planter capacity and among others has been identified as constraints facing planter performance. The main objective of the study was to evaluate the technical performance of the developed double row yam minisett (DRYM) planter. Category (I) tractor 50 hp was used to carry out field trials to determine the metering efficiency, effective field capacity, evenness of dropping, fuel consumption and wheel slippage. Three (3) yam varieties (pona, dente and CRI afase biri) of the average weight of 50 g with moisture content (82 %) were used for the test. Multivariate and (ANOVA) statistical method was used for analyzing the similarities among the tractor speed using OriginPro 2018 software. Metering efficiency (80.4%), effective field capacity (3.84 h/ha), field efficiency (66.6%), evenness of dropping (81.00%), and wheel slip (3.39%) were recorded. The use of developed planter will be expected to reduce human drudgery and also timeliness improvement. The study concluded that planter should be used on relatively flat (ploughed-harrowed) land to avoid wheel not touching the ground.


Plants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 126
Author(s):  
Judit Barroso ◽  
Nicholas G. Genna

Russian thistle (Salsola tragus L.) is a persistent post-harvest issue in the Pacific Northwest (PNW). Farmers need more integrated management strategies to control it. Russian thistle emergence, mortality, plant biomass, seed production, and crop yield were evaluated in spring wheat and spring barley planted in 18- or 36-cm row spacing and seeded at 73 or 140 kg ha−1 in Pendleton and Moro, Oregon, during 2018 and 2019. Russian thistle emergence was lower and mortality was higher in spring barley than in spring wheat. However, little to no effect of row spacing or seeding rate was observed on Russian thistle emergence or mortality. Russian thistle seed production and plant biomass followed crop productivity; higher crop yield produced higher Russian thistle biomass and seed production and lower crop yield produced lower weed biomass and seed production. Crop yield with Russian thistle pressure was improved in 2018 with 18-cm rows or by seeding at 140 kg ha−1 while no effect was observed in 2019. Increasing seeding rates or planting spring crops in narrow rows may be effective at increasing yield in low rainfall years of the PNW, such as in 2018. No effect may be observed in years with higher rainfall than normal, such as in 2019.


2020 ◽  
Vol 49 (2) ◽  
pp. 329-334
Author(s):  
MMA Mondal

Field experiments were conducted under sub-tropical condition during March-May of two consecutive years of 2013 and 2014 to assess the effect of different levels of debranching and spacing on synchronous pod ripening and yield of mungbean. The debranching levels were: (i) Category 1 [main stem (MS) with 4 branches per plant, control], (ii) category 2 (MS with three branches per plant), (iii) category 3 (MS with two branches per plant), (iv) category 4 (MS with one branch per plant) and (v) category 5 (only MS). Under recommended plant spacing (30 cm × 10 cm), plants having MS with 3 branches produced the highest seed yield due to increased number of seeds per pod over category 1. The lowest seed yield was recorded in category 5 (only MS plant) due to fewer number of pods per plant. When the optimum plant population per unit area according to canopy area was considered, it was estimated that the highest plants/m2 was accommodated in MS only of 50 plants/m2 showing the highest seed yield (2570 kg/ha) followed by MS with one branch (40 plants/m2, 2460 kg/ha) and these two treatments also showed synchronous pod maturity. The lowest plant population per unit area was accommodated in MS with 3 and 4 branches (25 plants/m2) and also showed lower seed yield (1910 and 1940 kg/ha, respectively) behaving asynchronous pod maturity.


1995 ◽  
Vol 75 (1) ◽  
pp. 87-91 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. C. Miller ◽  
B. L. Vasilas ◽  
R. W. Taylor ◽  
T. A. Evans ◽  
C. M. Gempesaw

Selection of a target population for dryland corn (Zea mays) production on drought-susceptible soils is a difficult decision, as a stand appropriate for drought conditions may not fully utilize the environment during a non-stress year. One possible management strategy is to use a low seeding rate and hybrids with ear characteristics that promote yield stability over a range of environments and plant populations. To evaluate this strategy, a 2-yr field study was conducted on a Rumford loamy sand. The performance of four hybrids — 1) full season, flexible ear; 2) short season, flexible ear; 3) full season, prolific; and 4) short season, prolific — was evaluated at four populations — 29 600, 39 500, 49 400, and 59 300 plants ha−1 — in two different growing seasons. Seasonal precipitation in 1988 was 14 cm below the average of 50 cm; 1989 seasonal precipitation was 37 cm above average. Average grain yields were 40% lower in 1988 than in 1989, and the yield loss was due primarily to a decrease in ear size. All hybrids demonstrated the ability to compensate for changes in population in 1988. Averaged across years, highest yields were produced with the two highest populations. The full-season, prolific hybrid was the most productive at every population. Key words: Maize, Zea mays, genotype × environment interactions, plant population, prolificacy, ear size


2018 ◽  
Vol 98 (6) ◽  
pp. 1331-1341 ◽  
Author(s):  
W.E. May ◽  
M.P. Dawson ◽  
C.L. Lyons

In the past, most sunflower research was conducted in tilled cropping systems and was based on wide row configurations established using precision planters. Little agronomic information is available for the no-till systems predominant in Saskatchewan, where crops are typically seeded in narrow rows using an air drill. Two studies were conducted in Saskatchewan to determine the optimum seeding and nitrogen (N) rates for short-season sunflowers in a no-till cropping system. The N rate study used 5 N rates (10, 30, 50, 70, and 90 kg N ha−1) with the hybrid 63A21. The seeding rate study used 7 seeding rates (37 000, 49 000, 61 000, 74 000, 86 000, 98 000, and 111 000 seeds ha−1) with two cultivars, AC Sierra (open pollinated) and 63A21 (hybrid). There was a linear yield increase as the N rate increased from 10 to 90 kg N ha−1. Based on the N rates tested in this study and current N fertilizer costs below $1 kg−1, sunflower yields and gross returns were most favorable at 90 kg N ha−1. Future N response research with a wider range of N rates is warranted to best determine the optimum N rate. The optimum seeding rate was between 98 000 and 111 000 seeds ha−1 for AC Sierra and between 74 000 and 86 000 seeds ha−1 for 63A21. The optimum plant density, approximately 70 000 to 75 000 plants ha−1, was similar for both cultivars. These results are higher than the current recommended seeding rates for wide-row precision planting systems in areas with a longer growing season.


2019 ◽  
Vol 46 (1A) ◽  
pp. 99-103 ◽  
Author(s):  
R.S. Tubbs

ABSTRACT Many guidelines for agronomic management of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) are well-established when considered individually. However, crop productivity is typically driven by more than one variable and the interactions of multiple practices are not as easily derived. With an ever-changing availability of new cultivars with greater disease resistance, improved yield and/or grade potential, and varying growth characteristics, there is a steady need for agronomic research in both the immediate and distant futures. In some cases, traditional agronomic experimentation on variables such as rotations, tillage and land management, timing of planting, row pattern and spacing, seeding rate, irrigation, plant growth regulators, inoculant/biological products and fertilization need to be revisited every several years when a new cultivar becomes commercially relevant. This is especially true with differing climates and soil types in various growing regions. The effects of climate and weather along with pest pressure, pest management programs, and maturity characteristics of cultivars are also drawing the attention of peanut agronomists to improve predictability of optimum maturity. Yet, peanut agronomists are also attempting to adapt new ideas to assist with management decisions and increase revenue potential for growers to stay competitive in a very volatile commodity market domestically and with fluctuating export opportunities. The adoption of technologies such as GPS guidance, seed monitors, aerial imagery, and variable rate planting or spraying equipment are becoming more common to assist growers with better precision in planting and digging practices, ensuring proper seed placement, and assessing problematic areas in the field for site-specific in-season management decisions. So many excellent achievements have been made through the collaborations of scientists of the American Peanut Research and Education Society over the last 50 years, and there is no doubt that similar collaborations remain strong throughout the current membership to lead us into the future.


2002 ◽  
Vol 82 (3) ◽  
pp. 521-529 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven J. Shirtliffe ◽  
Adrian M. Johnston

There is relatively little agronomic information on solid-seeded production of dry bean in western Canada. Recommended seeding density for dry bean can depend on the growth habit of the plant, the yield–density relationship, percent emergence, seed cost and environment. The objective of this study was to determine the yield–density relationships in two determinate bush type cultivars of dry bean and the optimum plant population under solid-seeded production in Saskatchewan. CDC Camino, a late-season pinto bean and CDC Expresso, a medium-season-length black bean were the cultivars evaluated. In most sites, the yield-density relationship of the cultivars was asymptotic and an optimum plant density for maximum yield could not be determined. Camino generally required a lower plant population to reach a given yield than Expresso. Increasing plant population did not affect 1000-seed weight. Higher seeding rate did result in a greater number of seeds produced m-2, with Expresso having a greater increase in seed produced m-2 compared with Camino. Expresso was required to be at higher plant densities than Camino to maximize economic returns. This reflects the differences between cultivars in yield-density relationship and seed cost, as Camino has a heavier 1000-seed weight than Expresso. Saskatchewan bean growers wishing to maximize profit should target plant populations for Expresso and Camino of approximately 50 and 25 plants m-2, respectively. Key words: Saskatchewan, yield components, non-linear regression, seeding rate, narrow rows, solid-seeded


2017 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 477-486
Author(s):  
Christopher A. Landau ◽  
Brian J. Schutte ◽  
Abdel O. Mesbah ◽  
Sangamesh V. Angadi

Brassicaceae weeds can be problematic in canola varieties that have not been modified to resist specific broad-spectrum herbicides. The overall objective of this study was to evaluate the potential for increased rapeseed seeding rate as a management strategy for flixweed. To accomplish this objective, a field study was conducted to determine crop seeding rate effects on canopy light transmission and rapeseed yield characteristics, as well as a greenhouse study to determine morphological and photosynthetic responses of flixweed to decreasing irradiance levels. Results from the field study indicated that light transmittance through the canopy decreased linearly as crop seeding rate increased from 1.8 to 9.0 kg ha-1. Increasing crop seeding rate did not influence rapeseed aboveground biomass, seed yield, and harvest index, but negatively affected rapeseed seed oil content in one of two site-years. Greenhouse study results indicated that declining irradiance levels caused reductions in flixweed biomass, root allocation, and photosynthetic light compensation point. Flixweed leaf allocation, foliage area ratio, and specific foliage area increased in response to decreasing irradiance levels. Combined results of field and greenhouse studies suggest that increasing rapeseed seeding rate can suppress flixweed growth while not causing yield penalties from increased intraspecific competition. However, increased rapeseed seeding rate might not be an adequate control strategy on its own because flixweed displays characteristics of a shade-tolerant species.


2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 220-231
Author(s):  
Wajid Ali Shahani ◽  
Feng Kaiwen ◽  
Aslam Memon

The crop productivity in Pakistan is very low as majority of the farmers are still practicing traditional farming techniques. The existing crop production technologies do not offer effective and efficient utilization of natural resources, particularly that of water. Moreover, a significant amount of irrigation water is wasted due to uneven fields and ditches. Unevenness of the soil surface also has a major impact on the germination, stand and yield of crops through nutrient water interaction and salt and soil moisture distribution pattern. Therefore, the water use efficiency along with yield per acre could be increase by adopting resource conservation technologies like laser leveling. A sample of 120 growers including 60 wheat growers and 60 cotton growers were selected from Mirpurkhas & Tando Allahyar districts of Sindh province of Pakistan. Study results revealed that about 21 percent irrigation water saved by the adoption of laser leveling technology and also obtained higher yield and profit margins comparatively. Study concluded that adoption of laser leveling technology helps in reducing the farm input costs, improve water use efficiency and enhance crop productivity.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document