Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1 1- Associate Professor, Department of Biosystems Engineering, Agriculture Faculty, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad
2 3- PhD student, Department of Biosystems Engineering, Agriculture Faculty, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad
Abstract
Transplantation is one of the most effective ways to increase economic efficiency of some agricultural products like rice, vegetables and etc. The aim of this study was to design construction and evaluate a simple and inexpensive seeder to fast and accurate seeding in transplant trays. Modeling was performed using CATIA software. The prototype consists of a cylindrical vacuum distributor with holes 1 and 2mm diameters, pressure hewn mechanism, the cam & follower mechanism to pushing tray the step by step, and a power transmission mechanism (consisting of the sprocket and belt). To evaluate the machine and determine the optimum conditions, average operating errors include none-planting and multiple-planting errors obtain for the two kinds of seed (cucumber and lentil). A factorial experiment based on a completely randomized design with was applied. Independent variables were the diameter of holes (1 and 2 mm) and pressure (-8 and -15 kpa for cucumber and -7 and -13 KPa for lentils). The results showed that the better performance was in higher vacuum and smaller diameter. The optimum conditions was obtained at diameter of 1 mm and pressure of -15 and -13 KPa for the seeds of cucumber and lentil, respectively. The optimal capacity was 240 trays (25200 seed) per hour and an average of none-planting and multiple-planting errors were 19.1% and 8.9%, 16.13% and 7.81% for the seeds of cucumber and lentil, respectively
Keywords
)