Performance of Fertilizer Metering Mechanisms of Planters as a Function of Longitudinal Inclination

Abstract

Sowing occurs in agricultural areas with irregular relief, influencing the quality of seed and fertilizer distribution. The aim of this study was to analyze the performance of different fertilizer metering mechanisms of planters as a function of longitudinal inclination. The experimental design was a completely randomized design with five treatments and six replications. Treatments consisted of five longitudinal inclinations to the metering mechanism (−10, −5, 0, 5, and 10 degrees). The mass of fertilizer collected per minute was considered as a replication. We worked with two types of fertilizers: a mixture of granules and powder. Metering mechanisms used were a horizontal toothed rotor, helical without flow restrictor, helical with lateral overflow, and helical with longitudinal overflow. The longitudinal inclination of ±10° in relation to the leveling altered the metered amount of both fertilizers used in all metering mechanisms. The helical with lateral overflow was the metering mechanism that obtained the smallest amount variation of fertilizer distributed in the different longitudinal inclinations, followed by the helical with longitudinal overflow, horizontal toothed rotor, and helical without flow restrictor.

Fertilizer Metering Mechanism With Helical Conic Cylindrical Thread for Family Agriculture

“…Garcia et al (2012) obtained a coefficient of variation for flow of 11.4% for helical thread dosers by proposing an angular speed controller for the motor drive shaft. Garcia et al (2017) analyzed the performance of different fertilizer metering mechanisms for planters as a function of longitudinal inclination. The mechanism with the lowest percentage variation in the average dosage of granule mixtures had a coefficient of variation of 6.5%.…”

Methodology to Evaluate the Fertilizer Distribution by Helical Doser from Seed Planter

“…This mechanism is found in the seed planter market in three models: helical screw feeders by gravity, overflow longitudinally or lateral. The parameter that best qualifies the work of the helical feeders is the coefficient of variation [5,6,7,8,4,9] which indicates the percentage of irregularity of a certain variable observed, so the lower the value, the better the performance of the mechanism.…”

“…In laboratory conditions, the distribution can reach variation coefficient between 9.7 and 13.2% [7,9], and in the field, in real working conditions, reaching values close to 35%, considering the most efficient feeders available on the Brazilian market, by overflow longitudinally, in gravity helical feed, it can reach up to 79% [10]. Such difference, are related by the discrepancies between field tests, laboratory and methodologies.…”

Mobile Helical Capacitive Sensor for the Dynamic Identification of Obstructions in the Distribution of Solid Mineral Fertilizers

“…All the experiments carried out presented variations in fertilizer application; however, the best result was obtained with a 26 ${\mathrm{ms}}^{-1}$ speed at a 20 ${\mathrm{kg} \mathrm{ha}}^{-1}$ rate, presenting the lowest variation coefficient. Variations in fertilizer dosage carried out by a helical dosing mechanism were also reported by [13,14,15] when the mechanism was submitted to different longitudinal inclinations.…”