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Improving the Performance of Mechanized Seeding Through Innovations in Seed Metering and Delivery System (2018-19)

M A Matin
Farm Machinery & Postharvest Process Engineering Division

K K Saha
Farm Machinery & Postharvest Process Engineering Division

M N Amin
Farm Machinery & Postharvest Process Engineering Division

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

A precision metering system for adoption in two-wheeled tractor operated maize planters was developed. The project tested three types of conventional maize seed meters used in Bangladesh (BARI, WRC and VMP) and an imported precision seed meter (CPM) at low, medium and high rotational speeds and inclination angles of seed meters. The tests were conducted using seeder test rig and soil bin facility of the FMPE Division, BARI. Two tests were conducted – one at steady state (zero vibrations) and the other at dynamic state (running prototype seed boxed on a PTOS to take in vibrations). Data collected were singles, doubles, multiples, missings, bridgings and gaps. The CPM seed meter outperformed other seed meters for the maize varieties tested (NK40, Elite and BHM9) giving a minimum of 92% single seeds that went up to as high as 97% depending on the operational settings. The CPM is a highly desirable seed meter that can used on seeders to improve precision of maize planting. All these tests were repeated as dynamic tests to identify the seed meters’ effectiveness under vibrations (due to engine and roto-tilling). The performance of the CPM seed meter did not change significantly due to vibrations compared to the other seed meters. Under the vibrations, the CPM seed meter resulted in 93–97% singles, <3% doubles and ≤5% gaps which indicates its suitability for maize seeding. Comprehensive field testing and fine tuning of the precision seeder for maize, wheat, pulse and oil seed crops in different soil and copping conditions are thus suggested.

Keywords: Seed metering,Tilling, Seeding, Maize

Location: ‘Tillage-cum-Seeding’ Lab., FMPE Division, BARI, Gazipur

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Farm Mechanization

Commodity: Seeder

Objectives:

Benchmark the performance of maize seed meters and identify the critical design parameters at the ‘Tillage-cum-Seeding’ laboratory;
Design, development and fabrication of a prototype precision maize seed metering system and evaluate its performance in the laboratory;
Fabricate a full scale seeder incorporating the precision seed metering system and validate its performance through on-station field trial.

Methodology:

The study was conducted using the seeding rig and soil bin of the ‘Tillage-cum-Seeding’ Laboratory of the FMPE Division, BARI, Gazipur. Experiment 1 (steady state test) was conducted to benchmark the performance of maize seed meters available in the country for planting maize and identify their critical design parameters using prototype seed metering systems (boxes). While Experiment 2 (dynamic test) was conducted using the soil bin and a power tiller fitted with the prototype seed boxes. Details of the test rig, soil bin, prototype seed metering boxes and the experimental procedure are described in the following sections. Seeder test rig: The seeding rig consisted of a motor (3-phase, 440 V, 750 W) driven seed meter drive shaft, prototype seed box, soil tilling rotor, a winch system, a soil bin and a camera stand. The motor was connected through a variable frequency drive (changes electrical frequency input to the motor and regulate its shaft rpm) to obtain the desired rpm of the seed meter. The soil tilling rotor and the winch mechanism (driven by another frequency drive driven electric motor (3-phase, 440 V, 7.5 kW) which moves the rig back and forth on the rails over the bin at a desired travel speed (were not used in this study). The soil bin was 1.7 m wide and 14.0 m long and 0.5 m deep and it allows testing of implement up to 1.5 m wide (power tiller or small tractor driven). The soil bin was filled with soil collected from the maize and wheat growing areas of Meherpur district. The soil contained 47.2% sand, 22.0% silt and 30.8% clay falls in the category of Sandy Clay Loam according to USDA soil classification system. The test rig can be fitted with high speed camera, measurement instruments and data logging systems (not used in this study). Thus, the rig allows testing of any tillage or seeding implements (up to 1.5 m wide) and test in the soil bin. Prototype seed metering boxes: Prototype maize seed metering systems (3–4 rows) of BARI Seeder (BS), Wheat Research Centre Seeder (WS), Versatile Multi-crop Planter (VMP), and Chinese Precision Meter (CPM) were fabricated for the tests. They were fitted on the test rig though an adjustable frame that allowed change of inclination of the seed meters as required for the study. The height of the seed meter from the soil was maintained similar to the actual field condition of a full scale seeder. Calibration of inclination angles and rotational speed of the seed metering plates: The BS and WS were inclined at three different angles of inclination (marked as low, medium and high) of the seed metering boxes (i.e. seed meter). The inclination angles 90° means the seed metering plate is perfectly vertical whereas 0° means perfectly horizontal. The angles selected for the test were decided from the field test of the PTOS (Fig. 2) operated at 0, 50, 75 and 100 mm tilling depth. The data are plotted as Fig. 3. The VMP and CPM were operated only at vertical position (90° inclination angle). On the other hand, the rotary speed (rpm) of the seed meters were decided from a laboratory test by measuring the speed of the metering plates at gear I, II, and III at the engine rpm of 1300 and 1500 (engine pulley used was of 135 mm diameter). Calibration of variable speed drive (VSD) for drive motor’s output shaft speed: Before start of any test, the variable speed drive was calibrated for rotary speed of the motor that drove the seed meters. Rotary speed of the output shaft and the frequency of the drive were highly correlated (R² = 1.0). The physical properties of seeds were tested.

Source of Information: Annual Research Report 2018-2019, BARI, Gazipur, Bangladesh

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

1.

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The study tested three locally made (BARI, WRC, and VMP) and one imported seed meters (CPM) for three popular varieties of maize at various rotary speeds of the seed meters. Results showed that at steady state (laboratory condition) the simulation efficiency increased with the rotary speed of the BARI seed meter, but did not vary for WRC, VMP and CPM seed meters. The highest percentage of single seeds were obtained with the CPM seed meter (92–97%) which is highly desirable/precise. On the other hand, BARI seed meter produced the lowest percentage of doubles (up to 62%). In steady state test, the percentage of gaps was up to 25–37% for BS, WRC, and VMP seed meters, whereas it was ≤6% for the CPM seed meter. There was no bridging of seeds with the CPM seed meter. The high performance of the CPM seed meter maintained even at the high rotational speed of the seed meter indicating that it would be suitable for both low speed speed (2WT operated) and high speed (4WT operated) seeders. In dynamic test (replicating the field operation of the seeder in a soil bin lab), the performance of the CPM seed meter did not change significantly compared to the steady state test. The meter produced 93–97% singles, <3% doubles and ≤5% gaps which indicates its high suitability for maize planting. Preliminary laboratory test of the CPM seed meter showed that it would be suitable for some other corps, but require thorough field testing. The precision seeder had about 28.5% higher field capacity and 7% higher field efficiency and produced high amounts of furrow backfill when compared to those of BARI seeder. However, some of the uncovered seeds germinated as they were favoured by rains. In case of the BARI seeder, uncovered seeds resulted mainly from lack of enough soil backfill in the furrow. However, in case of the precision seeder, it was due to residue raking (seed dragging) and bending of the furrow opener. The conventional method (hand planting) did not leave any uncovered seeds ensuring optimum germination of seeds, but it required high amounts of labours for planting. It is recommended that the precision seeder be improved for better furrow soil cutting and residue handling ability. On the other side, the press wheels’ width and diameter should be matched with the furrow width for proper soil compaction over seeds. It is also suggested that the seeder be tested for other crops such as wheat, rice, pulses, oil seeds, etc.

Knowledge Management: Report/Proceedings