How high-quality are the vegetable pneumatic seeders of precise seeding?

Getting fully developed and healthy plants is very important for a high crop of vegetable crops. Unfortunately, the manufacturer can not always manage the factors that hamper plant development, such as covering the soil with crusts, temperature changes and excessive soil moisture. However, it is possible to minimize or overcome the effects of climatic and biotic factors through proper seeding.

The homogeneity of the interval between the seeds and the same depth of seeding are important indicators of the quality of the seeder and its productivity. Studies were carried out to assess the quality of work of precision seeders, their seedlings and packing wheels when sowing several types of vegetable crops.

Uniformity of sowing

Two types of vegetable seeders: belt and pneumatic were evaluated for uniformity of selection from the seeds of five types of vegetables. Cultures were represented by a different range of seed forms: round or almost round (cabbage and onion), polyhedral (spinach), elongated and flat (carrots and cucumber). Belt seeders showed good uniformity of sowing on round (cabbage) or almost round (onion) seeds, and vegetable pneumatic seeders better sowed seeds of elongated and flat form (carrots and cucumber). However, none of these types of seeders have been able to provide an ideal uniformity in the sowing of carrot, cucumber and spinach seeds.

In general, belt seeders showed better uniformity and accuracy, especially with round or nearly round-shaped seeds. When sowing elongated and multifaceted seeds, twins were observed and the intervals between seeds were varied.

Treads and coiling wheels

Manufacturers complete vegetable pneumatic seeders and belt seeders with several types of rolling wheels (steel, rubber, mesh) and a picket (standard, light, double). The results of the tests did not show great differences in the yield of mustard and cabbage when using different types of rolling wheels and pickets if they were correctly selected and the seeds were closed in the furrow and their packing was qualitative. General recommendations for the correct selection of rolling wheels and pickets are the following: for clay and wet soils, the rolling wheels made of rubber and standard tines are best suited, for heavy and compacted soils - steel wheels and double headers, and for light and sandy - mesh wheels and light zagotraci.

However, sowing without a wormhole with any type of rolling wheels left the furrow open, and the seeds not embedded in the soil.

Depth of sowing and types of openers

The sustainable development of agricultural plants is largely determined by the correct depth of sowing, which is usually three diameters of the seed. However, with very small seeds, such as mustard and cabbage, this recommendation can lead to very shallow depth of seeding and there is a danger of flushing the seeds with heavy rain. In addition, the dry surface of the soil can reduce seed germination. Both these problems can be solved by varying the depth of the crop.

Two types of coulters were evaluated: two-row and for broadband sowing. The two-row coulter distributes the seeds in two lines with a distance of 5 cm between them and the coulter for broadband seeding with a strip 8 cm wide. A larger number of shoots was observed in the areas where the coulter was sown with a double-row seeder than for broadband sowing. This is due to the problem with the opening and closing of the furrow with a broadband opener, which forms a broad band and randomly distributes the seeds at its base. Standard oarthers cover this furrow with a layer of soil that can move part of the seeds. In addition, the depth of sowing with this type of opener is difficult to control.