Press Wheel Research Articles

Effects of compaction during drilling on yield of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.)

Excessive soil compaction can reduce crop growth, but compaction can also have positive effects, e.g. increasing soil unsaturated hydraulic conductivity and thereby the capillary flow of water and nutrients to seeds and plants. There may thus be an optimum state of compactness for plant growth.This study examined the effect of different levels of compaction on sugar beet growth and sugar yield in a total of 10 field experiments performed during 2006–2008, mainly on sandy loams (Eutric Cambisols). In most cases, the soil had been mouldboard-ploughed in autumn. A newly constructed sugar beet seed drill with press wheels was used to create different levels of compaction directly around the seed. Greater compaction was achieved by 1 or 3 passes by tractor wheels over the soil. The actual degree of soil compaction was determined by measuring bulk density at 5–10cm depth and penetration resistance to 30 or 35cm depth. Crop growth was determined by measuring root and plant biomass in mid-June and final sugar beet yield. The concentration of plant nutrients in sugar beet foliage was also determined. Two additional experiments in 2009 examined different levels of traffic in combination with mouldboard ploughing or chisel ploughing to 10 or 20cm depth.On average, one pass with a tractor wheel increased yield compared with uncompacted soil, but increasing the compaction by press wheels on the seed drill had little effect on yield. In most cases, even three passes with tractor wheels had no harmful effect on sugar yield. The effect of traffic on nutrient concentrations in the plant was also very small. In one experiment, shallow tillage with a chisel plough lowered yield compared with mouldboard ploughing. There was also an interaction between the effects of primary tillage and compaction in the spring, with more negative effects after shallow tillage.Overall, the sugar beet crop was relatively insensitive to different levels of traffic applied at the time of sowing. The results indicate that the risk of yield losses due to compaction caused by normal traffic after autumn ploughing is low. However with ploughless tillage, soil bulk density may be too high for optimal growth regardless of traffic during seedbed preparation.

Effects of seedbed properties on crop emergence: 3. Effects of firming of seedbeds with various sowing depths and water contents

Extensive experiments were carried out in shallow plastic boxes placed directly on the ground in the field to study the effects of seedbed properties on the emergence of various crops in a cool temperate climate. In a group of experiments with barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), we studied the effects on crop emergence of firming (slight compaction) of the seedbed, simulating the recompacting effects of rolling after sowing or press wheels on the seed coulters. Most of the experiments were carried out without irrigation after sowing. The firming usually had a slightly positive effect on emergence when the water content in the surface layer at sowing was below the wilting point. When the water content in the surface layer was higher, firming often reduced emergence drastically, particularly with deep sowing and in coarse-textured soils. The main reason for negative effects was harmful hardening of the surface layer when the more firm seedbed gradually dried out. When irrigation kept the seedbed continuously moist, the negative effect of firming was almost eliminated. Very high initial water content in the basal layer tended to delay surface layer drying and hardening, and to reduce the negative effect of firming. Firming only slightly influenced the evaporative water losses from the soil. In contrast to the results presented here, previous field trials with cereals have usually resulted in more positive effects of rolling after sowing. This indicates that other effects than firming, such as modification of sowing depth and reshaping of the soil surface, are other important effects of rolling.

NOTA TÉCNICA: EFEITO DE DIFERENTES TEORES DE ÁGUA DO SOLO E CARGAS APLICADAS PELA RODA COMPACTADORA DE UMA SEMEADORA-ADUBADORA NO ESTABELECIMENTO INICIAL DO FEIJÃO

A cultura do feijão tem expressiva importância econômica no cenário nacional devido a seu destaque pelo uso alimentar e pela extensão da área cultivada. Neste trabalho teve-se como objetivo estudar os efeitos da combinação entre teores de água do solo e cargas aplicadas pela roda compactadora da semeadora-adubadora sobre o estabelecimento inicial de plântulas de feijão, em sistema de plantio direto. O delineamento foi de blocos ao acaso em esquema fatorial onde os fatores foram três teores de água do solo e quatro níveis de cargas aplicadas pela rodas compactadoras. Concluiu-se que diferentes teores de água do solo influenciam o índice de velocidade de emergência.

Simulation of Pressing Effect of Press Wheel with Different Rims by Discrete Element Method

Pressing is an important part of precision seeding operation, which has an important effect on crushing soil. In order to enhancing the effect of soil crushing, some press wheels with flange rim are used. But further research is needed to evaluate whether the use of these press wheels affect the actual seeding depth that will affect precision seeding quality. Three kinds of press wheels, with the smooth rim, circular flange rim and rib rim respectively were designed, and the PFC3D discrete element method (DEM) software was used to simulate the pressing processes of these press wheels, and the contact force between the rim and soil, soil displacement and porosity were analyzed. It was concluded that the press wheel with the smooth rim is better than others in precision seeding operation.

Efeito da compactação do solo sobre a semente no desenvolvimento da cultura do feijão

One of the factors of low productivity is the difficulty of establishing the ideal population of plants at sowing time, due to the several factors that prevent the normal germination of part of the seeds. Among the primordial factors for germination are humidity, temperature, and airing of the soil. It is important to mention that these factors are directly influenced by the state of soil compaction around the seed. The present work aimed to study the effects of the combination between depths of sowing and loads applied by press wheel of the seeder on the emergence and development of bean culture, in no-tillage systems. The factorial scheme was applied, at the delineation in random blocks composed of twelve treatments (three depths of sowing and four levels of loads applied by the press wheel) and four replications. The results showed that the sowing performed at 5.0 cm of depth presented the best index of speed emergence when compared to the depths of 3.0 and 7.0 cm.

PROFUNDIDADE DE SEMEADURA E CARGA APLICADA NA RODA COMPACTADORA PARA PRODUÇÃO DE MILHO SILAGEM

Objetivou-se, com o presente trabalho, avaliar os efeitos da profundidade de deposição das sementes e das cargas verticais sobre a roda compactadora, nos atributos físicos do solo e agronômicos do milho. O ensaio foi realizado no campus da UNESP de Jaboticabal com o delineamento inteiramente casualizado no esquema fatorial 4 x 3, sendo comparadas quatro cargas verticais (62,7; 160,7; 258,7 e 356,7 N) e três profundidades de semeadura (0,03; 0,05 e 0,07 m) com três repetições. As variáveis analisadas foram: número de dias para a emergência das plântulas, resistência do solo à penetração, perdas de massa na colheita, umidade massas verde e seca das plantas de milho. Os resultados evidenciaram que à resistência do solo à penetração foi afetada após a passagem das rodas compactadoras pelas diferentes cargas verticais. Não houve efeito dos fatores sobre o número de dias para a emergência, assim como as produções de matéria seca e verde e as perdas no processo de trituração da biomassa de milho.

Corn Response to Mesotrione as Affected by Soil Insecticide, Application Method, and Rate

Corn Response to Mesotrione as Affected by Soil Insecticide, Application Method, and Rate

Efeito do teor de água do solo e da carga aplicada pela roda compactadora na velocidade de emergência da soja

The aim of this work is to study the effects of soil water contents combined with press wheel loads of a seed drill on the emergence velocity index of soybean plants, in direct drilling systems. The experiment was a subdivided design where each unit corresponded to a different soil water content (U1, U2 e U3): 0.27; 0.31 and 0.36 kg kg-1, and the sub-portions stood four charge levels applied by the press wheel (C1, C2, C3 e C4): 0, 50, 90 and 140 N, respectively, in a randomized block design with four repetitions. Parameters evaluated were: pondered medium diameter of the aggregates in the planted line, percentage of thin ones < 2.0 mm, plants velocity emergence index. The combination between the charges applied by the press wheel and the soil water contents did not influenced the thin percentage < 2.0 mm. The soybean plants emergence velocity was affected by the applied charges and the water contents. The maximum charge of 140 N applied by the press wheel on the seed caused a superficial incrusting of the soil.

Efeito do teor de água do solo e da carga aplicada pela roda compactadora na velocidade de emergência da soja

Este trabalho teve como objetivo estudar os efeitos da combinacao entre teores de agua do solo e cargas aplicadas pela roda compactadora da semeadora-adubadora sobre o indice de velocidade de emergencia de plântulas de soja, em sistema de plantio direto. Utilizou-se o esquema de parcelas subdivididas, em que as parcelas constituiram os tres teores de agua do solo (U1, U2 e U3), correspondentes a 0,27; 0,31 e 0,36 kg kg-1, respectivamente, e as subparcelas os quatro niveis de carga aplicada pela roda compactadora (C1, C2, C3 e C4), correspondentes a 0, 50, 90 e 140 N, respectivamente, no delineamento em blocos ao acaso, com quatro repeticoes. Foram avaliados o diâmetro medio ponderado dos agregados na linha de semeadura, a porcentagem de finos < 2,0 mm e o indice de velocidade de emergencia de plântulas. a combinacao entre cargas aplicadas pela roda compactadora e teores de agua no solo nao influenciaram a porcentagem de finos < 2,0 mm. A velocidade de emergencia das plântulas de soja foi afetada pelas cargas aplicadas e pelos teores de agua do solo. A carga maxima de 140 N aplicada pela roda compactadora sobre a semente causou encrostamento superficial do solo.

Cultura da soja em função da profundidade de semeadura e da carga vertical sobre a fileira de semeadura

A análise do efeito da profundidade de semeadura e carga vertical visando a melhorar o aproveitamento, e a integração entre o solo e a cultura é muito difícil. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar cargas verticais (0; 98; 196 e 294 N) sobre as rodas compactadoras das semeadoras, combinando com profundidades de semeadura (0,03; 0,05 e 0,07 m) para a cultura da soja. O trabalho foi realizado no DER/UNESP - Jaboticabal, na pista de ensaio do Laboratório de Máquinas e Mecanização Agrícola (LAMMA), utilizando o delineamento experimental em blocos casualizados, no esquema fatorial (4 x 3), com 12 tratamentos e três repetições, totalizando 36 observações. Foram analisados: emergência de plântulas, estandes inicial e final, índice de sobrevivência, área mobilizada e rendimento de grãos. Os resultados evidenciaram que, com exceção da área mobilizada em relação à profundidade de semeadura, todas as demais variáveis não foram influenciadas pelos tratamentos.

Profundidades de semeadura do milho e cargas aplicadas na roda compactadora da semeadora

The influence of factors related to the sowing can produce changes in the behavior of the crops, such as corn. In this context, the objective of the present work was to evaluate the soil properties and the height of the corn as a function of the sowing depth and of the loads imposed in the press wheel. The experiment was carried out in FCAV - UNESP of Jaboticabal (SP) in the Testing Track of the Laboratório de Máquinas e Mecanização Agrícola (LAMMA) of the DER. The used design was a completely randomized design in the factorial scheme of 4 x 3, being four vertical loads (62.7; 160.7; 258.7 and 356.7 N) and&nbsp; three sowing depths (3; 5 and 7 cm) with three repetitions. The analyzed parameters were: soil deformation, mobilized area, depth of final sowing and plant height. The results highlight that the increase of the applied vertical loads on the soil in the sowing produced deformation in the soil, with high determination coefficient. The sowing depth affected the mobilized area. The depth of 5 cm affected the final height of plants, being found at this depth the highest crop height.

Efeitos da roda compactadora de semeadoras sob cargas verticais na deformação do solo com dois teores de água

O presente trabalho foi conduzido na Pista de Ensaios de Semeadura do Laboratório de Máquinas e Mecanização Agrícola (LAMMA) da UNESP/Jaboticabal - SP, para o estudo da ação da roda compactadora de semeadoras sob cargas verticais, na deformação do solo, com dois teores de água. Os tratamentos consistiram da combinação de dois teores de água e seis cargas verticais, totalizando 12 tratamentos, com três repetições, em dois ensaios, analisando-se a resistência mecânica do solo à penetração e a deformação do solo provocada pela roda compactadora. A roda compactadora utilizada era de alumínio, com massa de 6,4 kg, 40 cm de diâmetro e 10 cm de largura, sob a ação de cargas verticais de 63; 161; 259; 357; 455 e 553 N, obtidas acoplando-se lastros de chumbo sobre a roda compactadora, sendo os teores de água do solo de 15,4 e 9,2%. Os resultados permitem concluir que o teor de água do solo tem grande influência na deformação e compactação do solo, que aumentam proporcionalmente com as cargas verticais sobre a roda compactadora, e que, quanto maior o teor de água do solo, mais suscetível o mesmo fica à compactação e deformação.

Comportamento da cultura do sorgo em função do tipo de rodas compactadoras e cargas verticais impostas na operação de semeadura

O sorgo pode ser cultivado em áreas e situações ambientais secas e quentes, em que a produtividade de outros cereais é antieconômica. Quando a semeadura do sorgo é realizada de modo eficiente, os benefícios podem ser verificados em sua produtividade. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o comportamento da cultura do sorgo semeado sob três níveis de carga vertical impostas sobre as rodas compactadoras das semeadoras-adubadoras. O experimento foi conduzido na FAZU - Faculdades Associadas de Uberaba (MG), no delineamento em blocos ao acaso, no esquema de parcelas subdivididas, com três modelos de rodas compactadoras e três cargas verticais, com cinco repetições. Observou-se que não houve efeito dos tratamentos tipo de rodas compactadoras e cargas em relação aos dias para emergência, mas a regressão linear mostrou significância para carga vertical. A altura, o teor médio de água das plantas e a produção de matéria verde e seca do sorgo não diferiram entre os tratamentos.

The creation of longitudinal cracks in shrinking soils to enhance seedling emergence. Part II. The effect of surface micro‐relief

AbstractCrusting and hardsetting phenomena are major problems in the emergence of delicate seedlings through weak structured soils. When a hard layer develops on the surface, it can retard seedling emergence and the trapped seedlings may perish unless the hard layer is broken or weakened. The development of natural desiccation cracks on the soil surface creates a route by which seedlings can emerge. The work conducted by the same authors suggested that the compaction of soil strips over the seed rows creates longitudinal cracks along the planting lines to improve seedling emergence. This study is an attempt to develop an alternative method to create the linear cracks using the effect of surface micro‐relief. Preliminary experiments showed that the creation of small furrows (50 mm deep) on the soil surface caused the appearance of cracks mainly at the bottom of the furrows. Monitoring the movement of aggregates during drainage, where small depressions are formed on the soil surface, revealed that the aggregates on either side of the turning point of the depression move in opposite directions as a result of the greater water tension developed in the ridges causing development of cracks at the turning point. Laboratory experiments indicated that the radius of curvature at the turning point of the depression, the spacing between depressions and the shape of ridges either side of the depressions are key factors influencing crack development at the bottom of depressions. A field experiment in semi‐arid central Iran confirmed the feasibility of the technique by the use of a backward raked shaper to develop small ridge and furrows on the surface of the seedbed which resulted in the creation of longitudinal cracks in the furrow bottoms, coincident with the seed row. An outline design of a press wheel is given.

Effects of Press Wheel Weight and Soil Moisture at Sowing on Grain Yield

Effects of Press Wheel Weight and Soil Moisture at Sowing on Grain Yield

Low Soil Moisture Planting of Cotton for Optimum Emergence

A row crop planter field study was conducted to optimize cotton seed emergence. The depth of moist soil scraped off below the drying front (the interface between the air-dry and initially moist soil) was varied from 1.3 to 5.1 cm to determine the moist soil scraping depth that produced optimum emergence. Next, the effect of seed planting depth below this scraped moist soil surface was varied from 2.5 to 5.1 cm to determine optimum planting depth. Finally, the V-closing/press wheel force was varied from 89 to 356 N to determine optimum press wheel force. A planter automatic seed depth control system (Weatherly and Bowers, 1997) was modified to sense the drying front depth and then scrape off a set depth of moist soil below the drying front. The field study planter was a two row unit with each row consisting of a drying front sensor, an automatic scraper depth control system, a V-wing scraper blade, and a John Deere MaxEmerge planter unit. The moist soil scraping depth that gave the highest emergence was 3.8 cm below the drying front. The V-trench seed depth with the highest emergence ranged from 3.8 to 5.1 cm. The V-closing/press wheel force for highest cotton seed emergence ranged from 178 to 267 N. Setting these three planter functions, in the ranges stated above, produced cotton seed emergence as high as 80% in low soil moisture conditions.

Ação de rodas compactadoras de semeadoras submetidas a cargas verticais na deformação do solo

Uma semeadura bem realizada é fundamental para o sucesso de implantação de uma cultura e as rodas compactadoras utilizadas nessa operação devem ser capazes de melhorar o contato solo-semente para promover boa emergência das plântulas. Com o presente trabalho teve-se por objetivo estudar a influência de três modelos de rodas compactadoras submetidas a diferentes níveis de carga vertical, sobre parâmetros físicos do solo, em uma pista de ensaios projetada para essa finalidade. O trabalho foi desenvolvido no município de Uberaba, MG, em LATOSSOLO Vermelho distrófico, textura média, preparado com enxada rotativa. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o de blocos ao acaso, com 3 tratamentos e quatro repetições. Os modelos de rodas 1 e 2 apresentaram melhores coeficientes de correlação para as equações obtidas nos diagramas pressão-deformação do que a equação obtida com a roda 3.

Efeito de rodas compactadoras submetidas a cargas verticais em profundidades de semeadura sobre o desenvolvimento do milho

O sucesso de implantação de uma cultura pode ser garantido por uma semeadura bem realizada, e as rodas compactadoras utilizadas nessa operação devem ser capazes de melhorar o contato solo-semente para promover boa emergência das plântulas. O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar a influência de três modelos de rodas compactadoras, três profundidades de semeadura e três níveis de carga sobre a roda compactadora na germinação e no desenvolvimento da cultura do milho, em uma pista de ensaios projetada para essa finalidade, no município de Uberaba - MG, em Latossolo Vermelho distrófico, textura média. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o de parcelas subsubdivididas, com 27 tratamentos e quatro repetições. Os resultados obtidos evidenciaram que a profundidade de semeadura foi o fator que mais afetou o desenvolvimento vegetativo da cultura do milho no estádio 2, enquanto no estádio 4 nenhum dos fatores afetou as medidas de desenvolvimento da cultura.

Drill and crop performances as affected by different drill configurations for no-till seeding

No-till farming can reduce soil erosion, conserve soil moisture and minimize labor and fuel consumption. A 2-year field trial of seeding wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.), and corn ( Zea mays L.) and soybeans ( Glycine max [L.] Merr) with a low disturbance no-till drill was conducted on clay loam soils with three different stubble conditions and in a laboratory condition. The sites were located at the Manitoba Zero Tillage Research Farm in Brandon, Man., Canada. The drill’s seeding-unit consisted of a large offset double disc opener, gauge wheel and press wheel. A fertilizer attachment was an option for mid-row fertilizer banding. Seeding trials were conducted with four different drill configurations as treatments. When the press wheel was removed from the original seeding unit, the speed of emergence and the plant population were reduced in the normal and dry seeding condition. In the wet soil condition, advantages on the speed of emergence were observed without using press wheel. In the soft soil condition (laboratory condition), the removal of the gauge wheel resulted in two-fold greater seeding depth, which resulted in reduced speed of emergence and plant population. Those drill configurations without using press or/and gauge wheels had lower crop yields in the dry and normal seeding conditions. Effects of press and gauge wheels on drill and crop performances differed between dry and wet soil condition, and between field and laboratory. In general, banding fertilizer at the same time as seeding had little negative effects in this regard.

AN IMPLEMENT TO INSTALL AND RETRIEVE SURFACE DRIP IRRIGATION LATERALS

A surface drip irrigation tape installer/retriever was developed for small fields. One operator can install driptapes on or just beneath the soil surface to precisely irrigate crops after planting and retrieve the drip tapes after irrigationis no longer needed for the season. The implement is mounted to the tractor using a three-point hitch and performs bothfunctions of installation and retrieval of drip tapes in one unit. The retriever mainly consists of a speed reducer, a powertransmission line, a drip tape distributor, drip tape spool supporters, water extractors, tensioners, and drip tape guides. Theinstaller mainly consists of a chisel, a press wheel, a tape depth adjustment screw, a tension spring, two soil cover plates, anda tangling prevention ring holder. During the installation process, drip tapes are placed in shallow trenches cut by the 5-cmwide chisel and are covered with soil by 6.5-cm wide pneumatic wheels. The depth of drip tapes can be adjusted from 0 to5 cm beneath the soil surface. During the drip tape retrieval process, drip tapes are distributed evenly across rotating spoolswhile any water in the tapes is squeezed out. The retrieval speed is adjusted by changing the tractor PTO speed. To retrieveexcess disposable drip tapes, a special spool was developed to quickly remove the tapes from the unit. No tools are neededfor either installing or removing drip tape spools. Mathematical models were developed to calculate drip tape length,retrieving time, and spool sizes. Speeds of both retrieval and installation increased as the total number of laterals per hadecreased, or as the field length increased.