2022

AGRICULTURAL AND BIOSYSTEMS ENGINEERING

BOARD EXAM REVIEWER

SEEDING AND PLANTING

EQUIPMENT
by

Engr. Alexis T. Belonio, MS

Agricultural and Biosystems Engineer
ASEAN Engineer

Volume 3 – Agricultural Machinery and Equipment

 Introduction

n Seeding and planting equipment are used to place the seeds or

plant parts into the soil and keep them from weeds and insect
pests and diseases until they are fully grown and ready for
harvesting.
n Seeders – are machines used to place seeds such as corn, rice,
etc. in the soil.
n Planters – are machines used to place plant parts such as sugar
cane cuttings, rice seedlings, etc. in a prepared soil.
 Related Terms

n Broadcasting – randomly scattering of seeds on the surface

of the field.
n Drill Seeding – randomly dropping and covering of seeds in
furrow.
n Precision Planting – accurate placing of single seed/plant at
about equal interval in rows.
n Hill Dropping – placing of group of seeds at about equal
interval in rows.
n No-Till Planting – procedure in which planting is made
directly into an unprepared seedbed or untilled soil.
n Minimum Tillage – minimum soil manipulation necessary for
crop production or for meeting tillage requirement under
existing soil condition.
n Seed-Tape Planting – planting system wherein the seeds are
deposited either singly or in group on a water soluble tape
(polyethylene oxide) under controlled condition.
 Functions of Seeder/Planter

n Meters seeds/plant parts of different sizes and shapes.

n Places the seeds/plant parts in the acceptable pattern or
distribution in the field.
n Places seeds/plant parts accurately and uniformly at the desired
depth in the soil; and
n Covers the seeds/plant parts optionally and compact the soil
around them to enhance germination and emergence.
Classifications of Seeder According
to Methods of Seeding

n Drill – machine that prepares the soil, meters the seed, and
positions the seed in one operation.

n Field Distributor – machine consisting of a seed box with

metering device in the bottom of the hopper. This is used to
prepare the soil for the seed as well as for fertilizer.

n Broadcaster – machine that meters the materials onto a

revolving flange wheel, less expensive to purchase, and has the
highest work capacity but is hardest to calibrate because of
uneven distribution from the flange wheel, unequal seed weight
and shape, and difficulty with wind as well as uneven soil
surface.
Classifications of Seeder According to
Source of Power

n Manually Operated – Machine that is pushed or pulled by

human.
n Animal Drawn – Power source is by the use of draft animal
harnessed either singly or in multiple animals.
n Power-Tiller Operated – seeding or planting machine that is
drawn by a small walking-type tractor powered by a separate
engine. The machine sometimes obtain power from the engine
through the belt-and-pulley drive.
n Tractor Type – seeding or planting machine that is either
mounted or pulled-type units. Power source for the machine is
transmitted through the power take-off drive of the tractor.
 Basic Components of a Seeder

n Seed Box – It is used to hold and contain the seeds in the

seeder.
n Metering Device – It is used to meter the seeds or control the
rate of delivery either in bulk or as single seed into the seed tube.
n Seed Tube – It is used to convey the seeds from the metering
device to the rear of a furrow opener and drop them into the soil.
n Furrow Opener – It is a soil engaging device used to open a
furrow at a desired depth for placement of the seeds and partially
cover them with soil.
n Covering Device – It is used to move the nearby surface soil
into the furrow and then cover the seeds.
n Press Wheel - It is used to compress the soil around the seeds
in order to create good contact between the seeds and the soil
aggregates for improved germination.
n Ground Wheel – It is used to drive the metering device at a
proper rotational speed in order to attain the required plant
spacing.
n Main Frame – It is used to hold and support the various
components of the seeder and to provide hitch attachment to the
tractor or power tiller.
Factors Affecting the Performance of
Seeder/Planter

n Seed Related Factors

• Quality of seed
• Method of seed treatment

n Soil Related Factors

• Soil bulk density
• Soil porosity
• Soil water
• Soil temperature
• Specific volume
• Soil cohesion
• Soil air
• Soil strength
n Mechanical Factors
• Seed damaged during metering;
• Uniformity of depth of placement of seeds;
• Uniformity of distribution of seeds along rows;
• Transverse displacement of seeds from the row;
• Prevention of loose soil getting under the seeds;
• Degree of soil compaction above the seeds;
• Uniformity of soil cover over the seeds; and
• Changes of mixing fertilizer with seeds during placement on
the furrow.
 Plant Spacing and Row Spacing of
Various Crops
Crops Plant Spacing (cm) Row Spacing (cm)
Groundnut 5-10 22-60
Soybean 4-7 20-60
Maize 20-25 45-60
Cotton 20-40 50-80
Peas 5-15 45-60
Rice 15-20 20-30
Sorghum 10-15 30-45
Sunflower 20 45-80
Wheat 3-5 15-22
Number of Hills Planted per Hectare

Nh = 10000 A / [Sh Sr]

where: Nh - number of hills

A - area, hectare
Sh - plant spacing, m
Sr - row spacing, m
Compute the number of hills to be planted with corn seeds on a 100-
hectare farm. The seed spacing is 50 cm while the row spacing is 40
cm.

Given: Seeds - corn

Area - 100 has.
Hill spacing - 50 cm
Row Spacing - 40 cm

Required: Number of hill to be

planted

Solution: Nh = 100 ha (10000) / [0.50 m x 0.40m]

= 5,000,000 hills
A 10-hectare farm will be planted with soybean at hill and row
spacing of 20 cm x 30 cm. If the seed has a percentage emergence
of 80%, how many plants are expected to emerge during cropping
season.

Given: Area - 10 hectares

Hill spacing - 20 cm
Row spacing - 30 cm
% emergence - 80

Required: Number of plants to emerge

Solution: Nh = 10000 x 10 ha / [0.2 m x 0.3 m]

= 1,666,666.67 hills
Np = 1,666,666.67 hills x 0.80
= 1,333,333.33 plants
 Number of Seed Germinated and
Number of Plant Emerge

Ng = Nh σ / 100

where: Ng - number of seeds germinated

σ - percentage germination, %

Ne = Nh ∈ / 100

where: Ne - number of plant emerged

∈ - percentage emergence, %
Total Weight of Seed to be Planted

TWs = [Nh Ns γs σ] / 100

where:
TWs - total weight of seeds to be planted, kg
Nh - number of hills to be planted
Ns - number of seeds to be planted per hill
γs - specific weight of seeds, kg/seed
σ - percentage germination, %
A 5-hectare farm is to be planted with peanut at a rate of 250
kg/hectare. The hill and row spacing is 30cm x 50cm, respectively.
How many kilos of peanuts is to be planted per hill?

Given: Area - 5 hectares

Seeding rate - 250 kg/hectare
Hill spacing - 30 cm
Row spacing - 50 cm

Required: Weight of peanut to be planted per hill

Solution: Ws = [250 kg/ha x 0.3 m x 0.5 m ] /10,000

= 0.00225 kg or 2.25 grams
Weight of Seeds per Hill

Ws = [ Rs Sh Sr ] / 10000

where: Ws - weight of seeds, kg/hill

Rs - rate of seeding, kg/ha
Sh - hill spacing, m
Sr - row spacing, m
A 120-hectare farm is to be planted with corn. The row and hill spacing
are 50cm and 40cm respectively. How many hills is to be planted in the
farm? If 12-row drill planter is to be used at 10kph implement speed, what
is the theoretical and effective field capacity of the machine? Assume a
field efficiency of 80%. If the field required 3 seeds per hill and has a
percentage emergence of 90%, how many kilos of seeds are needed for
the entire area? Assume 0.1g per seed.

Given: Area - 120 hectares

Row spacing - 50 cm
Hill spacing - 40 cm
Machine - 12- row seeder
Implement Speed - 10 kph
Field efficiency - 80%
% Emergence - 90%
No. of Seeds/hill - 3 seed
Wt per seed - 0.1 g / seed

Required: Number of hills, Theoretical field capacity, Effective field

capacity, and Weight of seeds needed for the entire farm.
Solution:

No. Hills = (10,000 x A) / (Sh x Sr)

= 10,000 x 120 ha / (0.50 m x 0.4 m)
= 6,000,000 hills
FCt = 0.1 Wi x Vi
= 0.1 x 12-row x 0.5 m x 10 kph
= 6 ha/hr
FCe = FCt x ξf
= 6 ha/hr x 0.80
= 4.8 ha/hr
Ws = No Hills x No. Seeds x SWs / E
= (6,000,000/hill x 3 seeds/hill x 0.1 g/seed
x kg/1000g) / 0.9
= 2000 kg.
A 4-meter sugar planter is used to transplant sugar cane to a 150-
hectare farm. The plant spacing is 60cm while the row spacing is
120cm. Compute the number of hills the machine can plant for the
entire area. What is the rate of planting in hills per hectare if the
machine travels at a speed of 6kph? Estimate the number of tractors
and planter units required to finish the entire area in 10 days with 8
hours/day operation. Assume a planting efficiency of 80%.

Given: Area - 150 ha

Plant spacing - 60 cm
Row spacing - 120 cm
Speed - 6 kph
Oper time required - 10 day (8hr/day)
Field efficiency - 80 %

Required: No. of hills to be planted, Rate of planting in hills/ha

No. of tractors/planter unit
Solution:

No. of hills = (150 ha x 10, 000) / (06 m x 1.2 m)

= 2, 083, 333.3 hills

Rate of planting = 0.1 x 6 km/hr x 1.2 m x 0.80

= 0.576 ha/hr

No. of Tractors = 150 ha / (0.576 ha/hr x 8 hrs/day

x10 days)
= 3.25 or 4 tractor and planter units
No-Till Planters – are machines that directly place the seeds
into undisturbed soil.

Rice Transplanters – are machines that place rice seedling

at a proper spacing in a well-prepared paddy soil.

Rice Drum Seeders – are machines that are designed for

planting pre-germinated rice seed in rows so that manually-
operated mechanical weeders can be used.

Air Seeders – are machines which pneumatically place the

seeds into the soil by means of a deep tillage tool.
QUESTIONS AND PROBLEMS
1. Equipment used to place the
seeds or plant parts into the soil
and keep them from weeds, insect
pests and diseases until fully
grown.
a. Tillage equipment
b. Seeding and planting
equipment
c. All of the above
d. None of the above
2. Method of randomly scattering
seeds on the surface of the field.
a. Broadcasting
b. Drill seeding
c. Seed tape planting
d. None of the above
3. Method of randomly dropping
and covering seeds in furrow.
a. Broadcasting
b. Drill seeding
c. Precision planting
d. None of the above
4. Accurate placing of seeds
singly at equal interval in rows.
a. Broadcasting
b. Drill seeding
c. Precision planting
d. None of the above
5. Placing of group of seeds at
equal interval in rows.
a. Hill dropping
b. No-till planting
c. Seed tape planting
d. None of the above
6. Planting method in which
seeds are deposited, either singly
or in group, in a water soluble
tape under controlled condition.
a. Precision planting
b. Seed-tape planting
c. Hill dropping
d. None of the above
7. Method in which seeding is done 10. Equipment used to place plant
directly into previously undisturbed parts to a prepared furrow.
soil. a. Planter
a. Much tillage b. Seeder
b. No-till c. Broadcaster
c. Minimum tillage d. All of the above
d. None of the above
11. Which of the following is a
8. Method in which planting is done classification of seeder according to
directly onto an essentially method of seeding?
unprepared seedbed. a. Drill
a. Zero tillage b. Field Distributor
b. No-tillage planting c. Broadcaster
c. Reduced tillage d. All of the above
d. None of the above
12. Which of the following is a
9. Equipment used to place seeds in classification of seeder according to
furrow. source of power?
a. Planter a. Manually operated
b. Seeder b. Animal drawn
c. Broadcaster c. Power-tiller operated
d. All of the above d. All of the above
13. Which of the following is
the function of a
seeder/planter?
a. To meter seeds/plant parts
of different sizes and shapes.
b. To place the seeds/plant
parts accurately and uniformly
at the desired depth and
spacing in the soil.
c. To cover the seeds/plant
parts optionally and to compact
the soil around it to enhance
germination and emergence.
d. All of the above
14. Machine used to prepare
the soil, meter the seed and
position them in one operation.
a. Broadcaster
b. Drill
c. Field distributor
d. None of the above
15. Machine consisting of a seed
box with metering device in the
bottom of the hopper used to
prepare the soil for the seed.
a. Broadcaster
b. Drill
c. Field distributor
d. None of the above
16. Machine that is pushed or
pulled by human.
a. Manually operated
b. Animal drawn
c. Power-tiller operated
d. None of the above
17. Machine that meter the
materials onto a revolving flange
wheel, less expensive and has the
highest work capacity but is
hardest to calibrate.
a. Broadcaster
b. Drill
c. Field distributor
d. None of the above
18. Which of the following is a reason 21. Seeding or planting machine
why the broadcaster is hard to drawn by a small walking-type tractor
calibrate? powered by a separate engine.
a. Uneven distribution from the a. Manually operated
flange wheel b. Animal drawn
b. Unequal seed weight c. Power-tiller operated
c. Uneven soil surface d. None of the above
d. All of the above
22. Machine that sometimes obtain
19. Minimum area required for power from the engine using belt-
testing manually-operated seeder. and-pulley drive.
a. Not less than 100 m2 a. Tractor type
b. Animal drawn
b. Not less than 500 m2
c. Power-tiller operated
c Not less than 1000 m2 d. None of the above
d. None of the above
23. Power source for this machine is
20. Machine with power source from transmitted through the power-take-
draft animals harnessed either singly off drive of a tractor.
or with multiple animals. a. Manually operated
a. Tractor type b. Animal drawn
b. Animal drawn c. Tractor type
c. Power-tiller operated d. None of the above
d. None of the above