Abstract. Precision planting has been proven to be an effective method for seeding row crops with uniform seed spacing, which favors crop yields. However, most precision planters were developed for low field operating speeds. In this study, a mechanical seed-metering device was developed with double-setting seed pickers, which allows high-quality planting at high field operating speeds. A discrete element model (DEM) was used to examine the effects of the design parameters on the metering performance, as indicated by the quality index (Iq), miss index (Imiss), and multiples index (Imult). Based on the model results, a seed-metering device was fabricated with the optimal design parameters and tested in laboratory conditions for model validation. Results showed that the critical parameters for the seed picker design were the lengths of the first and second setting plates (L1 and L2, respectively) and the seed cell and seed holder angles (a and ß, respectively). The Iq was generally high and the Imiss and Imult were generally low over the ranges of L1 from 15.5 to 17.5 mm, L2 from 4.6 to 5.5 mm, a from 57.5° to 65.0°, and ß from 50.0° to 70.0°. The most influential factors were ß and L2 and their interactions. The best performance, represented by the highest Iq, occurred at L2 = 5.18 mm and ß = 61.9°, where the Iq was 99.59%. The model results agreed well with the test results, as demonstrated by the low relative error (2.5%). Keywords: DEM, Modeling, Precision metering, Quality index, Seed, Travel speed.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.