Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 student

2 Biosystems Eng. Dept. Tarbiat Modares Univ. Tehran, Iran

3 Associate professor, AERI, AEERO

Abstract

This research includes the design, manufacturing, and evaluation of a live mulch planter unit. In order to address the problems of using agricultural machinery in performing live mulch planting in the furrows or simultaneously with the main crop, a prototype planting unit was designed. In this planter, a seed-drop plate was used to convey the seeds from the metering device to the ground. The result of this project was a prototype of a planter with the ability to plant 19.6 to 163.2 grams per minute of live mulch (hairy vetch) with a tolerance of 0.54 grams along the entire width of a 75 cm furrow. Laboratory and field experiments were conducted to evaluate its performance in actual field conditions, based on planting accuracy and field efficiency. The Laboratory test was performed according to ASAE S341.2 DEC92 standard for Grain Drill evaluation. Results of the initial evaluation of the planter showed that changing the rotational speed of the metering device significantly affected seed output on the drop plate in terms of seeding rate. The position of the outlets did not differ significantly in terms of seed damage. Increasing rotational speed of the metering device significantly increased the tendency of metering mechanism to damage seeds. Increasing rotational speed of the metering device significantly decreased index of non-uniformity in all outlets.

Results of the initial evaluation of the planter showed that changing the rotational speed of the metering device significantly affected seed output on the drop plate in terms of seeding rate. The position of the outlets did not differ significantly in terms of seed damage. Increasing rotational speed of the metering device significantly increased the tendency of metering mechanism to damage seeds. Increasing rotational speed of the metering device significantly decreased index of non-uniformity in all outlets.

Keywords

Aladesanwa, R. D., & Adigun, A. W. (2008). Evaluation of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) live mulch at different spacing’s for weed suppression and yield response of maize (Zea mays L.) in southwestern Nigeria. Crop Protection, 27, 968-975.
 
Anon. (1993). ASAE S341.2 DEC92. Procedure for measuring distribution uniformity and calibration-granular broadcast spreaders. ASAE Standards. St. Joseph, MI.
 
Baets, S. D. E., Poesen, J. J., Meersmans, J. J., & Serlet, L. L. (2011). Cover crops and their erosion-reducing effects during concentrated flow erosion. Catena, 85, 237-244.
 
Baghdadi, A., Balazadeh, M., Kashani, A., & Golzardi, F. (2017). Integrated crop management effect on carbon and nitrogen of soil. Journal of Water and Soil, 31(4), 1093-1107. (in Persian)
 
Bakhtiari Moghadam, M., Vazan, S., Golzardi, F., Azizkhani, S., & EsfiniFarahani, M. (2011). Effect of mungbean living mulch on density and dry weight of weeds in corn field. Proceedings of the 63rd International Symposium on Crop Protection, May 24, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
 
Bashford, L. L. (1993). External flute seed metering evaluation related to site specific farming. ASAE International winter meeting, Paper No. 93-8517.
 
Blanco-Canqui, H. H., Claassen, M. M., & Presley, D. R. (2012). Summer cover crops fix nitrogen, increase crop yield, and improve soil-crop relationships. Agronomy Journal, 104, 137-147.
 
Curran, B., Roth, G., Dillon., Houser, R., & Hoover. J. (2015). Raley cropping to plant cover crops using new technologies. Department of Plant Science, Penn State University, Matthew Ryan, Soil and Crop Sciences Section. Sustainable Ag Systems Laboratory, USDA-ARS.
 
Ding, G. W., Liu, X., Herbert, S. S., Novak, J. J., Amarasiriwardena, D. D., & Xing, B. S. (2006). Effect of cover crop management on soil organic matter. Geoderma, 130, 229-239.
 
Ghasemnejad Maleki, H. (2019). Filed evaluation of mechanized cultivation planters of rapeseed in Shoushtar region. Journal of Plant Production Science, 8(2), 183-196. (in Persian)
 
Hoffman, M. L., Regnier, E. E., & Cardina, J. (1993). Weed and corn (Zea mays L.) responses to a hairy vetch (Vicia villosa L.) cover crop. Weed Technology, 7, 594-599.
 
Karayel, D., Wiesehoff, M., Özmerzi, A., & Müller, J. (2011). Laboratory measurement of seed drill seed spacing and velocity of fall of seeds using high speed camera system. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 21(2), 99-93.
 
Maleki, M. R., Mouazen, A. M., De Ketelaere, B., & De Baerdemaker, J. (2006). A new index for seed distribution uniformity evaluation of grain drills. Biosystems Engineering, 94, 471-475.
 
Martin, R. C., Greyson, P. R., & Gordon, R. (1999). Competition between corn and a living mulch. Canadian Journal of Plant Science, 79, 579-586.
 
Potter, T. L., Bosch, D. D., Joo, H. H., Schaffer, B. B., & Munoz-Carpena R. R. (2007). Summer cover crops reduce atrazine leaching to shallow groundwater in Southern Florida. Journal of Environmental Quality, 36, 1301-1309.
 
Stepanoff, A. J. (1969). Gravity flow of bulk solids and transportation of solids in suspension. John Willeyy & Sons Inc.
 
Tillman, G. G., Schomberg. H. H., Phatak, S. S., Mullinix, B. B., Lachnicht, S. S., Timper, P. P., & Olson, D. D. (2004). Influence of cover crops on insect pests and predators in conservation tillage cotton. Journal of Economic Entomology, 97, 1217-1232.