A Novel Approach for Development and Evaluation of LiDAR Navigated Electronic Maize Seeding System Using Check Row Quality Index.

Dilip Kumar Kushwaha,Indra Mani,Atish Sagar,Susheel Kumar Sarkar,Ankur Srivastava,Nrusingh Charan Pradhan,Pramod Kumar Sahoo,Nikul Kumari,Yash Makwana

doi:10.3390/s21175934

Abstract

Crop geometry plays a vital role in ensuring proper plant growth and yield. Check row planting allows adequate space for weeding in both direction and allowing sunlight down to the bottom of the crop. Therefore, a light detection and ranging (LiDAR) navigated electronic seed metering system for check row planting of maize seeds was developed. The system is comprised of a LiDAR-based distance measurement unit, electronic seed metering mechanism and a wireless communication system. The electronic seed metering mechanism was evaluated in the laboratory for five different cell sizes (8.80, 9.73, 10.82, 11.90 and 12.83 mm) and linear cell speed (89.15, 99.46, 111.44, 123.41 and 133.72 mm·s−1). The research shows the optimised values for the cell size and linear speed of cell were found to be 11.90 mm and 99.46 mm·s−1 respectively. A light dependent resistor (LDR) and light emitting diode (LED)-based seed flow sensing system was developed to measure the lag time of seed flow from seed metering box to bottom of seed tube. The average lag time of seed fall was observed as 251.25.39 ms at an optimised linear speed of cell of 99.46 mm·s−1 and forward speed of 2 km·h−1. This lag time was minimized by advancing the seed drop on the basis of forward speed of tractor, lag time and targeted position. A check row quality index () was developed to evaluate check row planter. While evaluating the developed system at different forward speeds (i.e., 2, 3 and 5 km·h−1), higher standard deviation (14.14%) of check row quality index was observed at forward speed of 5 km·h−1.

Highlights

Introduction iationsWith the incessant growth in population and urbanization, it is necessary to produce more from less available land to meet the increased food requirements
In order to maintain accurate spacing between seeds along the row, the light detection and ranging (LiDAR) sensor was used to measure the distance between a reference line and a reflective surface mounted on the planter
The LiDAR distance sensor was calibrated in the Soil Dynamics Laboratory of the Agricultural Engineering Division

Summary

Introduction

With the incessant growth in population and urbanization, it is necessary to produce more from less available land to meet the increased food requirements. Developing countries like India are the most affected by rapid population growth. Maize is the third most important crop after rice and wheat in India. Maize production in India has grown over the last ten years from. 15.10 million tonnes in 2006–2007 to 27.23 million tonnes in 2018–2019 and the area under maize cultivation in the same period increased from 7.89 million hectares in 2006–2007 to. Maize prices have increased during last few years due to gap between the increased cost of maize production and transfer of increased cost to the end user. In order to increase maize production, the planting of maize has to be done

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Conclusion