SEEDING AND

PLANTING EQUIPMENT
 AGRO CLIMATIC REQUIREMENT OF
SOWING & PLANTING EQUIPMENT
• OPEN A FURROW
• METER THE SEED
• PLACE THE SEED AT PROPER
DEPTH
• MAINTAIN ROW AND PLANT
SPACING
• COVER THE SEED
• FIRM THE SEED BED
 METHODS OF PLANTING/SEEDING

• BROADCASTING
• SEED DRILLING
• HILL DROPPING
• SEED PLANTING
• PRECISION PLANTING
• CHECK ROW PLANTING
PLANTING METHODS AS PER SURFACE
PROFILE
▲MINIMUM TILLAGE PLANTING
▲Zero tillage planting
▲Strip tillage planting
▲Till plant
▲Lister planting

These system is used for planting crops like

wheat, corn, soybean and sorghum
 Till planting

• 2.2 m rotary tiller with 4/6 blades per strip/flange

• 9/11 row seed drilling attachment
• Cost 50% more than zero till drill
• Fuel consumption > zero till drill, but < conventional tillage
• Yields are comparable with zero tillage
• Advantage over zero tillage where residue level is too high
 HAPPY SEEDER
• Can handle high rates of
residue and seed either on
beds or on the flat bed.
• Combination of two machines,
a forage harvester and a zero
tillage drill using inverted T
winged openers .
• The forage harvester cuts,
chops and lifts the straw,
providing the drill with a clean
surface for zero tillage drilling.
• The chopped material is blown directly behind the drill and floats
down as mulch. Field trials in India have confirmed the
usefulness of the approach.
• But problems with germination and resulted in the need for
adjustment for the cutting height as well as strip tilling in front of
each inverted T opener.
Multicrop Ridge planter
Zero till happy seeder

Zero till multi-crop planter

Types of planting as per surface
profile
• Furrow planting
• Flat planting
• Bed planting
• Bed planting in two rows per bed
• Combination bed shaping and planting
• Furrow planting or Lister planting
– Practised in semi arid condition
– Corn, cotton, sorghum
– The furrow protect the seedling from
wind erosion
 Flat planting

• Planting is done on flat bed

• Practiced where natural moisture condition
are favorable
• Bed planting
– High rainfall area to facilitate surface drainage
– Bed planting helps in conserving soil moisture,
avoids soil compaction and promotes plant
growth.
– Practised in irrigated area
– Sugar beat, lettuce, vegetables
– Now-a- days wheat is also grown in raised bed
– Two or more rows
– Irrigation in the furrows
– Water requirement is less
 PLANT POPULATION &
SPACING
• Optimum plant numbers per m2 area
• Helps in better growth of plant
• Gives good yield
• Every seed variety has a recommended plant
population
• Spacing is also important for plant growth and
yield
• Plant population and spacing depend on
– Crop, soil type, fertility level, moisture availability,
 Parts of a seed drill/planter
• Seed and fertilizer box, or hopper
• Furrow opener
Seed box
• Metering device
• Seed tube Fertilizer box

• Furrow closer
• Transmission unit
Transport
wheel

Furrow
opener
SEED AND FERTILIZER BOX
LOCATION OF SEED
BOX
FOR SEED DRILL: 40
TO 90 CM ABOVE
GROUND
FOR PLANTER: 30 TO
50 CM
 The feeding slots below the
boxes are in such a way that
material flow is uniform

The top width (B1) and

V = Q1 / ρ = A LB, height depend on the
Q1 = Seed rate/ha volume, length and form of
cross section and suitability
ρ= Density of seed
of servicing.
A = (hB2 + h2cot α1)
B1 = 25 to 30 cm
= h (B2 + h cot α1)
B1 LB = Lm – 2 b, Lm = length of
h seed drill and b = distance of
seed box from wheel (10 cm)
α1
B2
 TYPES OF METERING MECHANISM

• IN CASE OF SEED DRILL:

• Gravity flow type
• Fluted roller type
• Cell type
 Metering mechanism

• The functions of the metering devices are as

follows:
• Meter seeds evenly
• Deliver uniform amount of seed to each
furrow opener.
• Do not damage the seed.
• Maintain uniform sowing rate
• Handle seeds of different shape size and
surface texture.
Fluted roller type metering
mechanism
1Locking split pin
2 Fluted roller
3 Latch plate
4 Feed cup
5 Feed cut off
6 Square shaft
Seed rate variation mechanism

1 Seed index
2 Grain feed shaft shifter
3 Square shaft
4 Feed cup
5 Cup
6 Seed tube
Sl Type of No. of Cross- Size of grooves, mm
No. crop grooves on section of
fluted roller grooves
Depth Width Radius
of
curvat
ure
1 Lahi 10 Rectangular 1.50 2.00 -
2 Sorghum 06 Rectangular 3.00 5.50 -
3 Bajra 06 Rectangular 3.00 5.50 -
4 Maize 09 Semicircular 7.25 14.50 7.25
5 Sunflower 09 Semicircular 7.25 14.50 7.25
6 Sugarbeet 10 U-shaped 4.00 7.00 4.00
7 Soybean, 12 U-shaped 7.00 10.00 5.00
pea and
Wheat
 Peripheral speed of fluted roller:
= Vr = (dr/ dg) * Vg * i
dg = dia. of ground wheel
Vg = speed of ground wheel
i= speed ratio = (Nr/Ng)

dr = Nf ( df + Sf) / π
The circumferential
speed : 20 cm /s
dr

Nf = No. of flutes
Df = Dia of flutes
Sf = spacing between flutes
dr = dia. of fluted roller
 No of cells on the rotor
• If required seed spacing is x
and no of cells is n The circumferential speed of fluted
• 1 rev of ground wheel roller/ cell plate rotor
covers πDg Ng
• 1 rev of rotor covers Vg = π Dg Ng, Vr = π dr Nr
distance of π dr Nr Vr/Vg = π Dr Nr/π dg Ng
• If Nr / Ng = i
Vr = Vg ( dr / Dg) * Nr / Ng
• Corresponding distance
covered by ground wheel Vr / Vg = ( dr / Dg) * Nr / Ng
= π Dg / i
Vr= Vg ( dr / Dg) * i where i = Nr/ Ng
• Since, n * x = π dr
• So, n * x = π Dg / i Vr = 0.2 m/s for minimum breakage
of seeds
• n = π Dg / i *x
• x = π Dg / i *n
Length of exposure of fluted roller
8 S Wd Dg 1 1
l f  [( )( )( )( )( 2 )( )]
10  N f n d f i
Where. Lf = exposed length of fluted roller, mm
Wd = width of seed drill, mm
Dg = Dia. Of ground wheel, mm
ρ = density of material, kg/m3
df = dia of flute, mm
Nf = no. of flutes
n = no of fluted rollers
i = transmission ratio (Nr/Ng)
TYPES OF METERING MECHANISM IN
PLANTER

• Horizontal plate type

• Vertical plate type
• Inclined plate type
• Cup feed type
A: Edge drop plate A

B: Flat drop
C: Hill drop plate
B

C
CUP FEED TYPE
 PRECISION PLANTING
• Accurate placing of single seed in rows
• Precise control of depth
• Creating uniform germination environment
• The requirements are
– Seeds must be uniform in size
– Planter cell must be of proper size
– Seeds must have adequate opportunity to enter the cell
– Good cut off device
– Unloading must be positive
– Seeds must not be damaged
– Proper conveying of seeds from the metering device to
furrow
•
PRECISION PLANTER
CIAE TRACTOR MOUNTED PNEUMATIC
PLANTER
 19.0 rpm and 2.5 kPa

39.0 rpm and 4.0 kPa

19.0 rpm and 4.0 kPa

 SEED TUBE
• All seeds should be released at same height and
velocity
• Inclination of seed tube should be less than 20o.
• Tube size: 25 mm dia
• Angle of impact is 70 to 90 0
• Velocity should be as low as possible
• Distance of fall minimum as seeds accelerate in
falling
• Height less than 200 mm air speed or pipe
inclination has little effect
• Seed tube should be bent backward
 Types of furrow opener
• The basic requirements of a furrow opener in
a seed drill are:
• Uniformly open a furrow of stipulated depth.
• Minimize mixing of soil layers to prevent loss
of moisture.
• Compact the furrow bottom.
• Minimize disturbance to seed flow.
• Leave an adequate soil layer between seeds
& fertilizer.
DIFFERENT TYPES OF FURROW
OPENERS
 HOE TYPE FURROW OPENER
A narrow reversible
pointed shovel mounted on
the front of deliver boot.
The soil falling in from the
sides behind the delivery
boot covers the seeds.
Used for deep placement of
seeds in a well-prepared
seedbed where soil is
Hoe type furrow openers relatively free from trash.
with spring tip shanks are
used in stone or root
infested soils
• Shoe type openers work
well in poorly prepared
seedbed or in trashy
condition. They are made
of two curved runners
with their cutting edges
on the ground and
meeting at the front. At
the rear, they are
connected to a common
boot through which the
seeds drop in the furrow.
• Also suitable for black
cotton soil
• Single disc furrow opener: Used in soils
having plant debris and trash mulch. The
disc is set at a tilt angle of 5º to form a
small ridge. The seeds are dropped in the
delivery boot placed on the concave side
of the center of the disc. A scrapper is
provided on concave side to reduce soil
throw at higher speed and prevent soil
build up.
• Double disc Furrow opener: It has two flat
discs positioned together at the front and
opened at the rear. The included angle
between discs are kept at about 10 O.
Seeds are placed through the delivery
tube placed between two discs.
Shovel type furrow opener
has
A tine or shank (mild steel:
45to 65 mm x 12 to 15 mm)
Boot and tube (mild steel)
(min thickness = 1.6 mm)
Shovel: thickness = 4 mm
Carbon steel (min = 0.5%)
Hardness = 350 to 450 HB
 Covering Devices
FUNCTION
• Place moist soil around the seed
• Cover the seeds to proper depth
• Leave the soil directly above the row loose enough to
minimize crusting
• Promote easy emergence

• Drag chain: suitable in loose moist soil for grain drill

• Drag bars
• Steel press wheels: Loose sandy soil or furrow drilling
in heavy trashy condition
• Zero pressure pneumatic press wheels: Vegetables
• Wooden planker
 COVERING DEVICES

A Drag chain
C
B Press wheel
C Drag Bar A
B
D Disc hiller D
 TRANSMISSION SYSTEM
• To operate the metering device power is
taken from the ground wheel.
• Mostly chain and sprocket or belt pulley is
considered
 ZERO TILL DRILL
3
1. Frame
2. Slit/furrow openers
3. Seed and fertilizer boxes
4 4. Seed metering device
5. Fertilizer metering device
5 6. Power transmission unit
7. Depth-control side wheels
6
8. Hitch points
9. Iron/wooden platform or
1 stand
9 8
7
2
 FURROW OPENER IN ZERO TILL
DRILL The T-type slit/furrow
High carbon steel bit

openers open a narrow slit 3-

5 cm wide.

Rake angle

Relief angle

INVERTED ‘T’ TYPE Seed Boot

FURROW OPENER

Slit/furrow opener
 b
a

Flutted rollers
Seed adjustment
lever
Inner view of (a) Seed, and (b) Fertilizer boxes
 CALIBRATION OF SEED DRILL
· Determine the nominal width of coverage of the
drill. It is equal to the multiplication of row spacing
(S) and number of rows (n) e.g. 4 furrow openers x
30 cm row spacing = 120 cm = 1.2 m is the width of
coverage of the seed drill.
·  Calculate the circumference (C) of the drive wheel
of the seed drill.
·  Calculate the number of revolution required (N) to
cover 1/100th of a hectare
N= 10000/CxSxnx100
·  Calculate the wheel revolution N1 after allowing 10
% wheel skid e.g, N1= N-0.1N
·  Put a mark on the drive wheel to count the wheel
revolutions·       
·  Jack up the seed drill so that the drive wheel will be
free to rotate.
· Set the seed index lever to desired seed rate position
·  Fill the seed box to the full and turn the drive wheel
by 2-3 revolutions so that the seeds will fill into the
feed cup of the seed-metering device.
·   Place gunny bags or containers to collect seeds.
Rotate the drive wheel to N1 revolutions at an
appropriate speed. The speed of operation of an
animal drawn seed drill will be 2-2.5 kmph whereas
that of the tractor drawn seed drill is 3, 5 and 8 kmph.
Exmp: A 60 cm dia. wheel will make 21 revolution per
minute when traveling at 2.4 kmph speed.
·  Weigh the total seeds (W) collected in
different bags. Calculate the observed seed
rate (R= 100W) and compare that with the
recommended seed rate. If the difference is
over 5 % take necessary adjustment to reduce
the seed rate. All the seed tubes of different
furrow openers should drop equal amount of
seeds. Take two replications of each
observation.
·  Repeat the process with the hopper 3/4th and
½ full.
· The fertilizer calibration can be done in the
same way along with that of the seed.
 SEEDING UNIFORMITY
The seed uniformity can be determined by the
following methods:
• Sticky belt method: Mount the drill on a stand and
allow a 10 m long belt to travel under the furrow
openers or seed tubes in such a way that the speed
of the belts equals to the forward speed of the seed
drill in field condition.
• In case the drive is taken directly to the feed shaft of
seed, keep the relationship between the speed of the
feed shaft and belt the same as that of the feed shaft
and the ground wheel.
• Apply a sticky layer of grease to the belt to facilitate
the proper embedding of seeds without any
displacement.
• The belt used may be painted and marked in
centimeters for quick reading. Operate the drill and
observe the number of seeds dropped and the
average distance between two seeds for each meter
of belt length. Repeat the test at least twice.
 Sand bed method:
• The seed uniformity can be observed with sand bed if
the sticky belt is not available in the laboratory.
• Prepare an artificial level bed of 5 m long and 25 cm
depth from fine sand.
• The width of the bed should be equal to the nominal
width of the drill or planter. Allow the seed
drill/planter to run over the sand bed with the furrow
openers or the seed tube lowered to 3 to 5 cm from
the top surface of the bed following the same drive
mechanism as described in the sticky belt method.
Observe the number of seeds dropped and the
average distance between two seeds for each meter
length of bed. Repeat the test at least twice. For
repeating the test get the sand sieved to separate the
grain and prepare the bed again. Record the data in
the following table.
 UNIFORMITY OF SEED
DIDTRIBUTION
• Se = 100 (1 – y/x)
– Se = Seed uniformity distribution efficiency
– X= average number of plants /meter length
– Y = Σ yi /N
• Average numerical deviation of plants /meter
length of a row from the average number of the
plant
 VEGETABLE TRANSPLANTER
Two row vegetable transplanter is
provided with opening type finger with
flappers. Power from the wheel is
supplied to planting mechanism through
shaft, chain and sprockets.
Plant spacing in the machine is kept at
300 mm and can be varied by changing
sprockets or number of fingers.

Two persons (one for each row) are required to place seedlings in the flappers
when there are open.
To increase planting speed, number of persons for seedling feeding are increased
to two per tow.
After seedling is dropped, the soil is compacted with two moving inclined wheels.
The machine is operated at forward speed of 1 km/hr. The capacity of machine is
0.07 – 0.08 ha/hr for two-row model. Cost of operation is Rs 2,200/ha.