Design and Testing of a Punching-on-Film Precision Hole Seeder for Peanuts

Abstract

HighlightsThe designed precision seeder meets the agronomic requirements for on-film hole seeding.Influencing factors were found by studying the operating principle and key parameters.A response model was successfully built and verified by experiments.This study provides technical support for punching-on-film hole seeding technology.Abstract. To satisfy the agronomic requirements for punching-on-film precision seeding of peanuts, a precision hole seeder was designed in this study. The seeder can perform simultaneous functions of film mulching, film punching, pipe laying, precision hole seeding, and seed covering. The overall structure and operating principle of the device were analyzed, and its major components, including a seed-metering device, soil-covering roller, and drip irrigation pipes, were theoretically studied. To optimize the operating parameters and achieve favorable performance, a three-factor quadratic orthogonal test was performed to test the effects of the vacuum chamber pressure, advancing speed of the seeder, and height of the type hole boss on the seeding performance; the variance and range of the test results were analyzed accordingly. Through the field experiments, when the vacuum chamber pressure, advancing speed of the seeder, and height of the type hole boss were optimized to 7.5 kPa, 4.2 km h-1, 5.3 mm, respectively, the qualification index, re-seeding index, and miss-seeding index of the seeder were 92.7%, 3.8%, and 3.5%, respectively. Thus, the developed seeder satisfies the agronomic requirements, and the study results provide a technical reference for the punching-on-film precision seeding of peanuts. Keywords: Model, Peanut, Precision seeding of peanut, Punching-on-film hole, Seeder.