Simulation System of Wheat Broad Width Intelligent Precision Seeding

In order to overcome the deficiencies of miss-seeding and random seeding in the current ground wheel driven seeding,a set of intelligent control simulation system for wheat precision seeding was studied and built.The system adopts self-designed seeding apparatus and intelligent control method to complete broad width and precision seeding of wheat. The system uses keys to set parameters such as seeding rate, thousand-grain weight and seeding space, etc.According to the measured value of the operating speed of the planter by the encoder, the speed of the DC motor is dynamically adjusted by controlling the pulse width modulation (PWM) of the chip, so as to achieve the purpose of changing the operating speed of the seeder and keeping the seeding rate and seed spacing unchanged. The DC motor is poweredby tractor’s own battery to drive seeding, and all information is displayed on the LCD.The simulation test of the rotation speed measurement of the seeding shaft shows that there is only slighterror caused by vibration between the corresponding theoretical and actual rotation speeds of the seeding shaft for different operating speeds when the intelligent control system of wide planting of wheat is used for seeding, which can meet the requirements of precision seeding.

Agro-techniques for Production of Seed Size Tubers in Conventional Seed Potato Production System–A Review

The seed potato cost is very important component in total potato production and account for 30 to 70% which varies depending on the country or region. Tuber size is an important factor to decide the seed requirement per unit area. Seed size affects total yield, graded or marketable tuber yields. Standard seed tuber of 25–125 g weight (30–55 mm) is known as seed size tubers in India. Obtaining seed size tuber is important for achieving higher potential of the cultivars. The tuber size profile can be reduced or expanded by altering inter and intra row seed spacing, controlling days of growth by planting late or killing vines/haulm early, regulating inputs like fertilizer and water etc. An ideal combination of plant population, row width, and in-row seed spacing for a particular variety were the major factors for optimizing tuber size. Variation in tuber bulking ability in different genotypes results in variation in proportion of seed size tubers among different varieties. 70–80 days haulm killing found most suitable for getting higher proportion of seed size tubers in high bulking varieties. Proper management of N, P and K fertilizers is considered very important to maximize tuber yield and attain desirable quality. Variability in nitrogen dose/ha was observed which ranged from 100–150 between different regions of the world. Hence proper combination of above Agro-techniques should be adopted in seed production programme as per the region for getting higher proportion of seed size/plantable seed tubers.

OPTIMIZATION OF THE DESIGN AND OPERATIONAL PARAMETERS OF PLANTER FOR VEGETABLE PIGEON PEA (CAJANUS CAJAN L. MILLSP.) SEED

Precision machinery is one of the most important technology in the recent decades in respect to judicious use of resources. In precision machinery one of the most important machine is seeding machines because it picks the seed from the hopper and individually placed in field. An effort has been made to optimize the operational (forward speed and vacuum pressure) and design (nozzle diameter) parameters of the precision seed drill. For optimizing the metering mechanism three parameters i.e. nozzle diameters: 2.00, 2.50, 3.00, 3.50 and 4.0 mm; forward speed: 0.27, 0.55, 0.83, 1.11 and 1.38 m/s and vacuum pressure: 19.33, 39.32, 43.98, 58.64 and 68.63 kPa were selected. The seed to seed spacing was 300 mm. The RSM technique was used to optimize the above parameters. The machine was evaluated on the basis performance parameters like miss index, multiple index, quality of feed index and precision. The optimum value for forward speed, vacuum pressure and the nozzle holes diameter was 0.83 m/s, 43.98 kPa and 3.50 mm, respectively. The most important variable that governs planting phenomenon for vegetable pigeon pea seed is nozzle diameter as well as vacuum pressure.

Performance Evaluation of Tractor Operated Garlic (Allium sativum L.) Clove Planter

Garlic (Allium sativum L.) is an important foreign exchange earner for India. The farmers generally plant garlic by manual method, which is labour intensive and time consuming. A tractor-operated garlic clove planter was developed and evaluated for its performance in the field. The average wheel slip, draft and average depth of seed placement by the developed planter were 6.93 %, 289.83 kg, and 42.1 mm, respectively. The average seed spacing, miss index, multiple index, quality of feed index, seed rate and seed metering efficiency for GG-4 and GG-5 garlic varieties were 99.4 mm, 6.12 %, 7.91 %, 85.96 %, 377 kg.ha-1; and 96.35 % and 99.9 mm, 4.58 %, 6.07 %, 89.34 %, 443 kg.ha-1, and 96.75 %, respectively during field tests. The effective field capacity and field efficiency of the developed planter were 0.33 ha.h-1 and 80.33; 0.32 ha.h-1 and 79.02 %, respectively, for GG-4 and GG-5 garlic seeds. The cost of planting by the developed planter with operational cost of tractor was ` 553.63 per hour (` 1677.67 per ha), and was less as compared to available planting machineries for garlic.

Simulation of Square Cluster Planting

Introduction. For cultivated crops, the optimal form of spacing is square form, which is provided by the square cluster method of planting. Currently, due to the high metal consumption and low productivity, this method of planting has been replaced with a single-seed planting one. But this does not solve the problem of rational distribution of seeds in the field, so the problem of plant spacing with the use of the optimal square form of spacing is relevant. The aim of the study is to develop and analyze a simulation model of square cluster planting based on an algorithm for controlling the executive mechanisms of the seeder sections using devices for local coordination of the seeding apparatus. Materials and Methods. A programmable square cluster planting using local coordination of the seeding apparatus and an algorithm for its realization are considered. The article describes the construction of a simulation model of sowing planting in Simulink Matlab with justification of its elements. The seed spreading in furrows and the seeder variable speed are taken into account. The number of pulses per revolution of the encoder shaft is theoretically justified. Results. The graphs of the distance traveled, positions coordinates of the flap opening and control signals depending on the time are constructed. The analysis of the encoder settings is carried out. When varied the plant spacing and the coordinates of the first flap opening, the dimension of the last seed cluster changes in the range from –2.6 ∙ 10–3 to 2.7 ∙ 10–3 m. With the increase in the seeder speed from 1.5 to 3.0 m/s, the mathematical expectation of the seed cluster dimensions increase from 0.054 to 0.218 m, and the coefficient of variation decreases from 61.2 to 15.0%. Discussion and Conclusion. The analysis of the simulation model of the square cluster planting showed that the algorithm for controlling executive mechanisms together with the local coordination system works adequately and provides high precision of placing seed clusters in the field. The dependences of the optimal number of pulses per an encoder shaft revolution on the specified seed spacing and radius of the track measuring wheel are determined. It was determined that the maximum dimension of the last seed cluster does not exceed 2.7 mm per 1 000 m (for x = 0.3 m and t = 0.7 m). It was found that the precision of the distribution of seed clusters in the field is determined more by the seeder speed than by the settings of the measuring device.

Comparison of computational fluid dynamics-based simulations and visualized seed trajectories in different seed tubes

The objective of this study was to compare computational fluid dynamics (CFD)-based simulations and visualized seed trajectories in different seed tubes that can provide seed incorporation into the soil with enhanced seed spacing. The other objective was to determine the relation between the seed trajectories and peripheral speed of the vacuum disk. In order to meet the first objective, 2 different seeds (corn and cotton) and artificial spherical material (Ø10 mm) were tested under laboratory conditions. The seeds and artificial material were released by free fall into the semitransparent seed tubes (seed tubes A and B) from different release points, and their trajectories were recorded using a video camera. For the second objective, corn seeds were used and released from a vacuum-type metering unit equipped with a semitransparent seed tube (seed tube A) at 3 different peripheral speeds of the vacuum disk, as a function of 3 forward speeds of the seeder. For both objectives, the seed tubes were modeled and release of the seeds into the seed tubes was simulated and analyzed using ANSYS Fluent for CFD. The results obtained from the captured video and simulations were compared. As a result of the comparisons, it was found that the seed release point was an effective parameter on both the seed trajectory and seed spacing, since seed bouncing and skating in the seed tube, based on the release point, may occur. The results also showed that the lab tests and simulations were found to be very similar in terms of the seed trajectories and seed spacings. It is believed that this study, using CFD, will be an example and enable the development and design of new seed tubes in order to obtain better seed distribution uniformity.

Seeding Performance Simulations and Experiments for a Spoon-Wheel Type Precision Cottonseed-Metering Device Based on EDEM

To study the effects of seed metering on seeding performance under different motion parameters, a simulation model for a spoon-wheel type seeder was established. A seed meter was tested by using EDEM (Engineering Discrete Element Method) software to simulate its working process at different speeds and tilt angles. The trajectories of individual cottonseeds in the seed-metering device were obtained, concurrently, the stress trend in the grain group was determined as a function of time. The simulation results suggest that at larger speeds, the metering index of the seed meter gradually decreases, while the index and the missing index gradually increase. As the tilt angle increased, the multiples index and missing index gradually decreased, while the multiples index gradually increased. When the seed meter speed reached 50 r/min and the tilt angle was 15°, the seed meter had a relatively good working performance with a seed spacing acceptance index of 92.59%, a multiples index of 1.85%, and a missing rate index of 5.56%. The seed meter was tested on a bench by using a JPS-12 performance-tester bench. At the aforementioned speed and angle, the coefficient of variation for the cottonseed spacing was 2.1%. The field trial results indicated that the multiples and the missing rates were higher than those for the tester bench but still met a passing rate of more than 90%. The coefficient of variation for the seed spacing was less than 10%, suggesting that the design could be used for field sowing. The resulting seeding uniformity was higher under these conditions, which indicates that the seed meter has a better working performance and the bench has a good seeding effect.

Speed Control of Peanut Planting System

This paper is aimed to control the speed of peanut planting system. The system introduces a control mechanism to drop the seeds at a particular position with specified distance, to achieve desired seed rate within the row, uniform seed spacing and alarm system. The overall system includes motion sensor, proximity induction sensor, two servo motors, three DC motors and alarm system. These parts are controlled by Arduino Mega 2560 which is the heart of the system. The battery 12V, 5AH Lead Acid Battery is used for the whole system. So, the wheel motors of machine are controlled by PWM DC motor speed controller separately. Another DC motor is used to stir the seeds within the seed storage tank. When there is no seed to detect within the seed storage tank, it sends the signal to the Arduino and indicates the alarm. To get equal seed spacing or seed to seed distance, proximity induction sensor is used. Servo motors are used for precise control of seed rating. The paper presents calculation of gear ratio, desired motor RPM, PWM out level are also described completely.