TKP3501

Agricultural Mechanization

Topic 6c:

Crop Production

>> Planting

Ahmad Suhaizi, Mat Su

Email: asuhaizi@upm.edu.my

History

Seedling or planting – one of the earliest

mechanized operation

Hand planter patented in 1856 consisted

of a hoe and small container for seed,

mounted near the handle.

After dug a small pit, a farmer pulled a

lever to release the seed. Then covered

and firmed the seed into the soil with foot.

In 1609, Romans sowed their corn with as

much care as they trained their armies.

Modern agriculture is important on

planting crops as did by predecessor

On no till soil

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www.campsilos.org

Learning outcomes

Be able to understand the

operating principles and seedling

mechanism of planting equipment

Be able to identify the types of

planting equipment, components of

row-crop planting equipment, and

maintenance procedures for

planting equipment

Be able to explain the calibration

of planting equipment.

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Reading Materials

http://www.uaex.edu/publications/pdf/fsa-1047.pdf

http://extension.psu.edu/plants/crops/grains/small/production/

calibration-of-grain-seed-drills

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Topics

Methods of planting

Mechanism of planting

Seeds characteristics

Planting Equipment

Planter

Broadcast

Drill

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Methods of Planting

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•Row seedling, point seedling (drill), and broadcasting (e.g. rice)

Seedling

•Vine (stem) cutting, tuber

Cutting

•Bare root, polybag, rooting media in foam tray seedling

Transplanting

Self propelled rice transplanter

Machine for manual planting seedlings with roots

enveloped in rooting medium

Transplanter for seedlings with rooting medium

Transplanter for seedling from poly bag and the machine

also places plastic mulch

Placement of plastic mulch and planting

Transplanting seedlings from ply styrene foam

PLANTING MACHINES

Planting machines functions to place seeds, cuttings and

drop the seed/seedlings in the soil at the right depth, using

a random broadcasting, or continuous seeding in furrows.

Components;

1) Seed box

2) Metering device

3) Furrow opener

4) Seed covering device as well as soil compacter.

5) Wheels that harness power from soil as well as bear

the load.

6) Tubing for seed passage.

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Planting equipment varies among crops, depends on the

function either for transplanting or seeding germinated

seeds.

The seeds must be graded and metering device suited to

crop seed

Calibration must be done prior to actual field operations

Row planting can be done on:

i) Level soil surface

ii) In the furrow (dry areas not prone to flooding)

iii) On the ridges or beds, one or two row where there is

high risk of flooding.

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Types of ridge / seed beds

Performs on any bed types

Topics

Methods of planting

Mechanism of planting

Seeds characteristics

Planting Equipment

Planter

Broadcast

Drill

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What type of mechanism do

farmers use to plant?

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1. Opening a furrow in the soil

Place below the soil surface

Therefore, planting equipment must

provide a mechanism to open the soil.

Type: Shovel, shoed, runners, and wheel

openers

The opener must remain in the soil and

maintain the seed a proper depth in variety

of soil condition.

21 Travel direction

2. Meter the seed

Controlled the seeding rate e.g. seeds

per hectare

Mostly for row crop, one seed as a

time to be metered and placed in the

soil.

Types: plate, fluted feed, air, internal

run, and variable orifice

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MECHANICAL: FINGER PICK-UP

PNEUMATIC: PRESSURE

PNEUMATIC: PRESSURE

3. Placing the seed

Depth and space – yield

Must provide uniform seed placement in

uneven soil conditions.

The furrow opener on the grain drill

often equipped with spring loaded to

ride over irregularities and place the

seed at desired depth and uniform depth

Mechanism: seed tube, and power drop

devices, to deliver the seed to the

furrow opener

Same mechanism for side dress

fertilizer

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4. Cover the seed and

5. Firm the seedbed

Used the spike-tooth harrow, cult

packer, chains, drag bars and shovels.

Press in adequate pressure to

compact the soil.

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Topics

Methods of planting

Mechanism of planting

Seeds characteristics

Planting Equipment

Planter

Broadcast

Drill

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SEEDS

Are biological materials with non-uniform properties which includes:

Size, Shape

Specific gravity, Aerodynamic properties

Dielectric properties, Surface texture

Other characteristics

Grading of seeds; Done to increase the

efficiency of seeding by: 1) size, 2) shape

Processed seed to achieve the right shape if

seeds are too small but without inhibiting seed

germination.

Covered with coating so that it becomes larger

and round.

Placed in tapes that degrade in soil

Processed seeds

PLANTING PATTERNS

Planting chart-Spacing

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The spacing required, reflected the spacing

setting on the planting machine

How to estimate the seed population?

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𝑺𝒆𝒆𝒅 𝒑𝒆𝒓 𝒇𝒐𝒐𝒕 =𝑻𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒅𝒔 (𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒅 𝒑𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒄𝒓𝒆)

𝟒𝟑, 𝟓𝟔𝟎 𝒇𝒕𝟐− 𝒂𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒙𝒓𝒐𝒘 𝒔𝒑𝒂𝒄𝒊𝒏𝒈 (𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒉)

𝟏𝟐

𝑺𝒆𝒆𝒅 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒆𝒓 =𝑻𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒅𝒔 (𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒅 𝒑𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒂)

𝟏𝟎,𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝒎𝟐−𝒉𝒂𝒙 𝒓𝒐𝒘 𝒔𝒑𝒂𝒄𝒊𝒏𝒈 (𝒎)

Example

A farmer is planning to plant a corn at 100,000 seeds per

acre. The row spacing is 15 inch. How many seed per foot

of row will be planted?

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𝑺𝒆𝒆𝒅 𝒑𝒆𝒓 𝒇𝒐𝒐𝒕 =𝑻𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒅𝒔 (𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒅 𝒑𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒄𝒓𝒆)

𝟒𝟑, 𝟓𝟔𝟎 𝒇𝒕𝟐− 𝒂𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒙𝒓𝒐𝒘 𝒔𝒑𝒂𝒄𝒊𝒏𝒈 (𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒉)

𝟏𝟐

𝑺𝒆𝒆𝒅 𝒑𝒆𝒓 𝒇𝒐𝒐𝒕 =𝟏𝟎𝟎, 𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒅 𝒑𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒄𝒓𝒆

𝟒𝟑, 𝟓𝟔𝟎 𝒇𝒕𝟐− 𝒂𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒙𝟏𝟓(𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒉)

𝟏𝟐

= 2.87 seeds/ft of row

= ~ 3 seeds/ft of row

Topics

Methods of planting

Mechanism of planting

Seeds characteristics

Planting Equipment

Planter

Broadcast

Drill

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Planting Equipment

Planting equipment is equipment used to place seeds in the soil

for germination. It must be properly adjusted so the right amount

of seed is planted at the proper depth in the soil.

Planting equipment includes planters and drills.

A planter is an implement used to place seeds in the soil at the

proper rate, depth, and spacing.

The planter opens a small furrow, drops and covers the seeds,

and lightly compacts the soil over the seeds.

Corn, cotton, and many vegetable crops are planted with

planters.

Before this machine was invented, farmers would have to dig

rows and plant the seeds by hand.

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Machines for planting :

(1) pulled by hand,

(2) pulled by 2WD or 4WD

(3) air plane

Planting and fertilizing machines may be combined during planting

operations

Fertilizing are also done regularly during crop growth.

Pre-emergent weedicide are often used for weed controls prior to

planting.

Liming are done to decrease the acidic nature of the soil 1 or 2 weeks

before planting, if required.

Machines for planting and fertilizing are chosen according to the type

of crop. E.g. Paddy: wet or dry planting. Fertilizer: broadcast or side

dressing.

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Technique

1. Planter

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Row planting have the advantage in weeds control, side

dressing and ridge repair while causing soil aeration

The planting device should not damage the seeds

contributing to missing points. Generally a 3 -5 % missing

points is acceptable for large scale seeding.

Types of seed metering device:

Flat, inclined and vertical types drill

Pneumatic for soft and expensive seeds

Broadcast type

Seeding in continuous band in furrow

Point seeding devices

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Planter-Pneumatic

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Marker

Seed meter wheel

Seed tank

Vacuum system

Seed

meter

wheel

gears

Fertilzer tank

PNEUMATIC: VACUUM

SEEDLING TRANSPLANTER

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Travel direction

# (hidden)- Marker disk: As a marker on the unplanted area.

80- Vacuum hose: to deliver the air pressure, to drop the seed

29 - Box of fertilizer: To host a fertilizer , granular shape

22/23 - Tilling tool: To make a furrow opener for seed

28- Tire and sprocket: metering device

30 - Box for seed: To store the seed, in unit liter

26 - Sprocket: metering device, connect the gear

60 - Seed plate: to meter the seed, and drop at proper distance

23 - Compact wheel: to back fill the soil at firm pressure

www.yetterco.com

Operation

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Flat

Vertical

Metering Device

Inclined

Vertical

Pneumatic seeder for 2 WD, also place

fertilizer next to seed

Furrow opener

View of row continuous seeder

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Continuous seeder with individual unit

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Continuous row seeder

Manual rotary

injector

planter row

point seeding

Continuous row seeder for 2 wheel tractor

Seedling transplanter

Seedlings with roots but without soil medium such as rice;

kuku kambing

Seedlings grown so that it have rooting medium such as padi,

sweet potatoes, tobacco.

The transplanter main device is the cone opener which carries

the seedling and open the soil surface.

Clamp

The seedling is carried by rotating clamp at low speed to soil

surface for push planting.

Clamps and similar devices can now plant younger seedlings

with rooting medium such as that grown in polystyrene foam

in the shape of inverted pyramid.

The planting machine for tapioca and sugar cane cuttings are

more simple consisting of rotating tubes attached radially on

large disc

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Manual driven seedling transplanter Kuku kambing

Machine to plant seedlings without soil

attached to roots

Technique

2. Broadcaster

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CENTRIFUGAL BROADCAST SEEDER

Seed is loaded in a hopper

Metering is done with a variable orifice

An agitator is used to prevent bridging of seeds

A spinning disc accelerates and throws the seeds

Seed rate controlled by gate opening, width and speed

Equipment can seed, apply fertilizer or pesticides

May require secondary tillage to cover seeds

SEED BROADCASTER

• Knapsack type

• 4 wheeled tractor type

• Broadcasting from air plane

(Felcra, California)

4 wheeled

tractor

broadcaster, seeds (padi)

and granular

fertilizer

FERTILIZER APPLICATOR

• Types depends on size of land, type of fertilizer and

purpose of fertilizing or manuring

- basal fertizer application,

broadcaster or continuous banding

- form: dusts or granule

Broadcaster for seed and fertilizer

Fertilizing and weed control

Manure broadcaster

Row placement or

manure

Manuring

OPERATING PRINCIPLE

SEED GERMINATION / EMERGENCE

Factors which affect germination:

Seed viability

Soil temperature

Moisture and air

Soil resistance to seedling emergence

SEED CHARACTERISTIC SHAPE

DETAILS OF ORIFICE

DETAILS OF ORIFICE

Technique

3. Drill

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Planter-Drill

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Drill

A drill is an implement used to plant seeds for

germination.

Applied the seed on “no-till” soil

The drill opens the soil, places the seeds, and

covers the seeds.

Drills can be used to plant seeds in plowed or

unplowed land.

Soybeans, wheat, oats, and rye grass are

examples of crops that are commonly planted

with drills.

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SEED DRILLS: FLUTED WHEEL METERING

Seed is metered from a hopper

Metering is done using a fluted wheel

Adjustable gate after the wheel controls seed rate

Requires furrow opener to deliver at desired depth

Press wheels carry drill weight and firm up soil

SEED DRILL METERING

Planting seeds as well as placing

fertilizer

Drill

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SEED DRILLS

Review / Questions

What factors controlling the seed density using the

planter?

The _______ must remain in the soil and maintain the

seed at a constant planting depth in variety of soil

condition

So what does a drill or planter have to do with no-till?

Why planting the crop is easier doing in row rather than

random?

What is the operation that can be combined during

planting?

Review / Questions

What is the best method to plant a very tiny and light

weight seeds such mustard seeds using the machine?

Explain.

Matched the five essential functions that a row-crop planter

must perform with the components that perform the job;

A. Open the soil 1. Seed tube

B. Select the seed 2. Coverer

C. Place the seed 3. Metering mechanism

D. Cover the seed 4. Press wheel

E. Firm soil around 5. Furrow opener the seed

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