The Study of the Process of Supplying Seeds of Row Crops Using a Vacuum Seed-Placing Unit

Abstract

Introduction. The performance of precision seeders depends on many factors, including the functionality of their dosing systems, the modernization of which is possible only on the basis of patterns, which allows forecasting the indicators of single seed placing into a furrow.Aim of the Study. The study is aimed at analyzing the influence of the diameter of the suction holes of seed-placing units and the rarefaction created in them on the characteristics of placing seeds of the main row crops.Materials and Methods. The results of the study were obtained based on a series of experiments on sowing corn and sunflower seeds using an MS-8 seeder, the operation principle of which can be considered typical for vacuum seed-placing units.Results. There have been obtained empirical dependences of the particular features of zero and group placing seeds of such row crops as corn and sunflower on the area of the suction holes and the rarefaction in the vacuum chamber.Discussion and Conclusion. The quantitative estimates obtained may differ for seeds of the same crop, but having different technological properties. The general factor is that the frequency of missing seeds is proportional to the suction force magnitude in the working plane of the metering element, regardless of its area. At the same time, the probability of double seed placing depends on the area of the metering ports with a constant suction force, a decrease in their diameter leads to a decrease in the frequency of double seed placing. The data obtained allow considering joint variations in the magnitude of the rarefaction in the vacuum chamber and the diameter of the suction holes as effective tools for improving the seed placing quality.