Abstract
A prototype punch planter for no-till corn was developed to provide different seed spacings. Plant populationwas adjusted by changing planter punch wheels. Seed spacings of 136, 165, and 210 mm were obtained by constructingthree punch wheels with different punch lengths, represented by external diameters of 650, 825, and 1,000 mm,respectively. Laboratory and field tests were conducted at speeds of 1.5, 2.0, and 2.5 m/s to evaluate the effect of thepunch lengths and speeds. Field tests were conducted in three different residue covers (corn, grain sorghum, andsoybean). Overall, high values for quality of feed index (spaces between seeds or plants within 0.5 and 1.5 the theoreticalseed spacing) were observed. Despite problems with synchronization between the seed meter and punch wheels, the lengthof the punches offered no performance limitations at the speeds tested. A soil cleaning device was designed to reduce soilsticking to the punches and reduce soil disturbance. The volume of soil displaced by the smallest punch wheel (650 mm)was less than half of that displaced by a commercial no-till planter. Differences in planting depth due to residue cover andpunch wheel diameter were minimal. Emergence was delayed under the corn residue cover and may have influenced thelower performance of the planter prototype as compared to the other two residue types.
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