Off-Road Equipment Management TSM 262: Spring 2016 LECTURE 8: Planters I Off-Road Equipment Engineering Dept of Agricultural and Biological Engineering achansen@illinois.edu

Homework and Lab

Homework and Lab

Planters: Class Objectives Students should be able to: Analyze different methods of planting and the corresponding functional processes Understand the principles of operation of broadcast, drill and precision planters

Agronomic Requirements Plant type Seed Spacing Germination Emergence Soil strength and resistance to seedling emergence Plant population

Methods of Planting Broadcasting Drilling Random scattering of seeds over the surface of the field Drilling Random dropping and covering of seeds in furrow to give definite rows

Methods of Planting Precision Transplanting Accurate placing of single seeds at about equal intervals in rows Transplanting Crop grown from seed in special beds and then transplanted into fields (Will not be covered further in course)

Ground Engaging Tools for Planters Row Cleaners Soil warming, seed placement Double disk furrowers, sweeps, horizontal disks, spokes Coulters, 400-600 lbs per coulter Furrow Openers Chisel point, hoe openers Slot and Runner Openers Residue Problems Single, Double Disk Most common Depth Control Down pressure springs Seed metering wheel slippage Press Wheels Coulter Furrow opener Seed firming wheels Gauge wheels

Furrow Openers

Theory of Furrow Mechanisms In bare soil, moisture content increases with depth - depth & firm contact provide moisture Soil is warmer near the surface Seedlings need strength to emerge through the firm soil Optimum depth & firmness are compromises Judged by % of emergence

Basic Methods of Planting Broadcast Seeder Seed is usually thrown on top of the ground Generally used on smaller seeds, fertilizer, pesticides, or other small granular material Seeding rate is controlled by a variable orifice at bottom of hopper Spinning disk at bottom accelerates material horizontally away from machine Coverage width depends on many variables including size, shape, and density of seeds

Basic Methods of Planting Hopper Orifice Spinner, Beater, Spinning Disk Beater Drive Motor, usually electric or hydraulic

Functional Processes Broadcasting Store/Convey Seed (hopper) Meter seed Distribute seed Cover seed with second operation (depends on seed) Meter Seed Distribute Seed

Two drill designs Air drill Box drill

Drilling Small Grain Hopper Fluted wheel Furrow opener Drag chain Soybeans, oats, wheat, barley Hopper Fluted wheel Furrow opener Drag chain Press wheel

Basic Methods of Planting – Box Drills Characteristics of a drill Large Hopper that feeds several rows Fluted wheels at bottom of hopper that adjust seeding rate Row spacings from 150mm to 400mm

Basic Methods of Planting – Box Drills Hopper Rate Adjustment Fluted Wheel

Two basic types of drills Conventional Tillage Most commonly used in 80’s Much simpler, lighter, cheaper No-till Built to handle rough terrain encountered during no-till

Basic Methods of Planting – Air Drills Time required to fill seed boxes has big impact on field efficiency Fill time reduced by storing seeds in central bin and transporting them to row units pneumatically

Basic Methods of Planting – Air Drills Furrow Openers Chisel point, hoe opener, single disk, double disk Metering System Fluted wheel Seedbed Preparation Conventional No-till

Basic Methods of Planting – Precision Planters

Precision Planters Characteristics of a precision planters Individual row units More precise metering system (in most cases, each seed is individually metered) Row spacings from 380mm to 1000mm Usually have markers to help keep row spacing consistent

Precision Planting Accurate placement of single seeds Functions of all precision planters Open furrow at controlled depth Meter seeds into furrow at a uniform spacing Cover the seed Firming the soil against the seed 23

Functional Processes Row Crop Planting Open a furrow Meter the seed Place the seed Cover the seed Firm the seedbed Store/Convey Seed (hopper) Meter Seed Seed Transport/ Placement Firm Seedbed Open Furrow Cover Seed

Functional processes: Seed Metering Key factors Metering rate Singulating seeds (precision planting) Seed metering mechanisms Volume-based Singulated seeds

Volume-Based Seed Metering Mechanisms Internal Double-Run Fluted Wheel (Used on Drills)

Plant Population Control for Drill http://salesmanual.deere.com/sales/salesmanual/en_NA/seeding/2009/feature/metering/1590_eprc.html?sbu=ag&link=prodcat Electronic population rate control Box Drill attachment (adjusts flute wheel metering)

Metering unit design (fluted wheel) Estimating the volume flow rate: Where: Q = flow rate (L/s) Vc = cell volume (mm3) lc = # of cells on flute wheel n rotational speed (rev/min) Disk opener Fluted wheel Drag chain

Singulated Seed Metering Mechanisms Horizontal Seed Plate (gravity fed) Finger pickup (plateless planters suited for corn)

Singulated Seed Plateless Meters Three general types Finger pickup (suited for corn) Pressurized Vacuum

Singulated Seed Metering Mechanisms Finger Pickup

Singulated Seed Metering Mechanisms Air Planter: Seed Drum

Singulated Seed Metering Mechanisms Air Planter: Pressure-Disk

Singulated Seed Metering Mechanisms Air Planter: Vacuum-Disk

Single row unit