Design, Development, and Laboratory Evaluation of a Live-Mulch Planter Unit

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.