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Abstract. A methodology has been developed for the selection of an electric motor for the replacement of the mechanical with electric drive of the sowing apparatus of the Saxonia A200 seeder. The gear ratio, angular velocity and torque required to drive the sowing apparatus have been determined. As a result, 22.65 W of motor power is calculated.

A methodology has been developed for the selection of an electric motor for the replacement of the mechanical with electric drive of the sowing apparatus of the Saxonia A200 seeder. The gear ratio, angular velocity and torque required to drive the sowing apparatus have been determined. As a result, 22.65 W of motor power is calculated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kazakhstan is one of the top ten countries in the world that use careful farming with a total area of 2 million hectares, therefore, the priority area of scientific research in the field of agriculture is the development and improvement of effective means: seed drills, tillage machines and mechanisms. As part of the research, tests were conducted with the use of experimental seed drills with various combinations of coulters: (1) double-disc and chisel coulters installed in different rows, (2) double-disc coulters and cultivator sweeps with seed distributors for band sowing. The research showed a higher efficiency of the use of combined coulters in comparison with only sweep rows in seed drills both in terms of agrotechnical indicators (yield, stubble conservation, uniformity of seed depth and field fullness germination of seeds, drag force of the drill), and from the economic effect terms. The results of this research can be used in the agricultural sector, regardless of the country and region, with careful farming using No-till technology in similar soil and climatic zones.

The design of domestic grain drills largely determines the quality of sowing and the effectiveness of technologies for cultivating farm grain and seed crops in general. (Research purpose) To consider the development stages of domestic industrial production of grain drills and, in the form of an analytical review, to present the main information a chronological order. (Materials and Methods) the authors have conducted an expert analysis of the results of domestic scientists’ research on the effect of the surface distribution of seeds on the yield of grain crops and determined general trends in the development of sowing machines, which made it possible to implement various methods of sowing cereals. The authors have also identified the main trends and stages of industrial production of grain drills in the Soviet Union and the Russian Federation. (Results and discussion) The contribution of Russian and Soviet scientists to the improvement of grain drills and the issues of the optimization of structural and operational characteristics of sowing units have been analyzed in the paper. The authors have determined and examined the main directions of development of grain drill in the pre-­perestroika period, as well as characterized the state of the domestic agricultural machinery industry at the present stage. (Conclusions) Basing on the results of the conducted research, the authors have found that the development of grain drill designs in the domestic agrarian market is influenced by various reasons and has several directions. Among the most obvious trends we can single out the following ones: the use of the best foreign samples as prototypes; a tendency to increase the area of plant nutrition; the use of operational experience and comparative test results; optimization of design and technological parameters of drills based on the results of targeted scientific research; the development of machines that ensure the rational utilization of the energy resources used; extending the functionality of sowing machines as a result of combining operations and carrying out sowing on stubble backgrounds.

Kazakhstan is one of the top ten countries in the world that use careful farming with a total area of 2 million hectares, therefore, the priority area of scientific research in the field of agriculture is the development and improvement of effective means: seed drills, tillage machines and mechanisms. As part of the research, tests were conducted with the use of experimental seed drills with various combinations of coulters: (1) double-disc and chisel coulters installed in different rows, (2) double-disc coulters and cultivator sweeps with seed distributors for band sowing. The research showed a higher efficiency of the use of combined coulters in comparison with only sweep rows in seed drills both in terms of agrotechnical indicators (yield, stubble conservation, uniformity of seed depth and field fullness germination of seeds, drag force of the drill), and from the economic effect terms. The results of this research can be used in the agricultural sector, regardless of the country and region, with careful farming using No-till technology in similar soil and climatic zones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• An infrared seed sensor for detection the seed flow. • IR LEDs and photo-diodes were set directly on opposite sides. • A mass flow model based on receiving voltages from the seed sensor, thousand seed weight and equivalent diameter of seeds. • A mass flow model was developed for various size seeds. • Easy calibration method for seed drills and assessment of its performance. Seed drills are usually used for sowing various seeds with different physical properties. It is important to develop a sensing system for planters capable of measuring the sowing rate of various kinds of seeds with the same settlement. For this purpose, an infrared sensing system was developed comprised of IR LEDs and photo-diodes on the opposite sides. When a seed stream passes, the output voltage of the light-receiving sensor changes proportionally in response to changing in the intensity of light at the receiving element. The voltage changes were added using a microcontroller and converted to an analog value by DAC chip. The test apparatus was designed to calibrate and evaluate the sensor with three types of seeds of chickpea, wheat, and alfalfa. These seeds respectively represent the large, medium and the fine seeds. The results revealed a good correlation between the voltage received from the seed sensor and the mass flow of seeds in the delivery tube. A model was developed for seed flow rate based on sensor output voltages, thousand seed weight and equivalent diameter of seeds. The coefficient of determination for the model was 0.94. So, it was concluded that the seed flow rate could be estimated based on some physical properties and output sensor voltage. The developed infrared sensing system could be used for the assessment of planter rows performance in the laboratory. It could provide an easy calibrating method for seed drills before planting in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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O plantio direto (PD) é, comprovadamente, uma técnica de manejo do solo eficiente no controle à erosão, minimizando as perdas de solo. No entanto, o não-revolvimento do solo, aliado ao tráfego de máquinas, acarreta alterações na sua estrutura que, associada à reduzida rugosidade superficial, podem ser desfavoráveis à infiltração de água, modificando a sua dinâmica nesse sistema. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar as alterações nas propriedades físico-hídricas do solo sob PD e plantio direto escarificado (PDE), após seis anos sob PD, e os efeitos de sulcadores de semeadoras-adubadoras no solo. Avaliaram-se a densidade do solo, a porosidade total, a macroporosidade e a infiltração da água no solo antes da semeadura da soja, a rugosidade superficial e o percentual da superfície do solo coberto com restos culturais antes e depois da semeadura e a condutividade hidráulica do solo saturado após 12 meses da escarificação. O PDE apresentou uma densidade do solo menor que o PD e uma maior infiltração de água, condutividade hidráulica do solo saturado e rugosidade superficial, demonstrando ser uma técnica eficaz para melhorar a conservação do solo e da água, apresentando efeito residual da escarificação transcorrido um ano da operação. A porosidade total e a macroporosidade não apresentaram diferença significativa entre os manejos. Nos dois manejos, a cobertura do solo apresentou-se similar antes da semeadura, isto é, após seis meses da escarificação. Durante a semeadura da soja, os mecanismos sulcadores de adubo apresentaram ação distinta, tendo o tipo guilhotina incorporado significativamente mais restos culturais do que o duplo disco.No tillage (NT) is a proven and efficient soil management practice used to reduce soil erosion, minimizing soil losses. However, the absence of soil movement associated with traffic of heavy machinery cause changes in the soil structure, which combined with low surface roughness, can affect water dynamics by reducing the water infiltration rate. Our aim was to evaluate changes in soil properties under NT and chiseling in no tillage (CNT), as well as the effect of distinct planter furrow openers on soil characteristics. The following parameters were assessed: bulk and particle density, total porosity, macroporosity, water infiltration into soil prior to soybean planting, surface roughness, percentage of soil surface covered with crop residues before and after planting, and soil hydraulic conductivity after 12 months of chiseling. CNT showed a lower soil density than NT, higher water infiltration, higher saturated soil hydraulic conductivity, and higher surface roughness. Therefore, CNT improved soil and water conservation since there were still residual effects one year after chiseling. Total porosity and macroporosity did not differ significantly between the soil management systems. Soil cover was similar under both managements before planting, i.e., six months after chiseling; however, at soybean planting, the hoe-type planter provided better incorporation of crop residues into the soil than the double-disc type.

Abstract: Small holder farmers in rainfed agriculture believe that soil tillage is needed to maximize crop yields. However, as cropping intensity, and hence tillage intensity, increases there may be a decline in particular physical, chemical and biological properties of the soil which limit crop yield. This is primarily caused by declining soil organic matter, its oxidation being accelerated by tillage, particularly in warmer climates, and exacerbated by the limited return of above-ground biomass to the soil due to its competing use for other purposes. In large-scale commercial agriculture declining soil quality has been effectively addressed by conservation agriculture—cropping systems based on minimum tillage, crop residue retention and appropriate crop rotations and associations, preferably including legumes. This has required development of minimum tillage planting equipment along with herbicide technology to achieve weed control that is traditionally achieved through tillage. However, a shortage of mechanized options suitable for small holder farmers is creating an impediment to the adoption of conservation agriculture practices that would arrest the decline in soil quality in their fields. In South Asia, two-wheel tractors are replacing animal-drawn ploughing in small holder plots. This speeds the tillage operation and hence the turnaround time between crops, which may increase opportunities for crop intensification, but the problems associated with full tillage remain. Over the previous decade planter attachments to two-wheel tractors have been developed which permit seed and fertilizer placement with minimum to zero tillage in a single-pass. Recent tests have demonstrated that use of these implements can produce crop yields equal to or better than conventional tillage involving hand broadcasting of seed and fertilizer. Further, fuel and labour costs, seed and fertilizer inputs and turnaround time between crops can be reduced. In Africa, the introduction of animal-drawn rippers and direct seeders, originally developed for small-scale farmers in Brazil, is considered as a major breakthrough to small-scale farmer mechanization. It significantly reduces labour required for planting and benefits may be even greater if herbicides can be effectively used for weed control. Nevertheless, movement towards minimum tillage with two-wheel tractor mounted planters and animal-drawn direct seeding equipment is constrained by weed management issues. There are problems of availability and of safe and effective use of herbicides by resource-poor farmers and there is a need to develop more integrated weed management strategies that can be combined with small-scale planters. There is also a need to optimize the performance of small-scale planters to suit farmers’ needs in different agro-ecological environments. Tools and concepts are now available to implement conservation agriculture for small holders and thereby increase profitability of their cropping practices and at the same time improve soil quality and sustainability of their livelihoods. However, much more adaptive research and on-farm evaluation is needed across a diverse range of soils, cropping systems and agro-ecological regions to bring conservation agriculture to more small holders. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]