Awad, M. (2016). Fabricated Prototype of Raised-Bed Planter for Wheat. Journal of Soil Sciences and Agricultural Engineering, 7(12), 921-927. doi: 10.21608/jssae.2016.40547
M. Awad. "Fabricated Prototype of Raised-Bed Planter for Wheat". Journal of Soil Sciences and Agricultural Engineering, 7, 12, 2016, 921-927. doi: 10.21608/jssae.2016.40547
Awad, M. (2016). 'Fabricated Prototype of Raised-Bed Planter for Wheat', Journal of Soil Sciences and Agricultural Engineering, 7(12), pp. 921-927. doi: 10.21608/jssae.2016.40547
Awad, M. Fabricated Prototype of Raised-Bed Planter for Wheat. Journal of Soil Sciences and Agricultural Engineering, 2016; 7(12): 921-927. doi: 10.21608/jssae.2016.40547
Fabricated Prototype of Raised-Bed Planter for Wheat
Researcher in Agric. Eng. Res. Institute, A.R.C, Giza, Egypt
Abstract
A bed-former-planter has been fabricated in order to overcome the shortage of appropriate machinery to practice the raised-bed technology for wheat sowing in Egypt. The fabricated planter consists of a frame, seed hoppers, precision metering device, bed former, and power transmission system. It is mounted machine, that supplied it’s draft requirement from a tractor while; the drive to seed metering mechanism is transmitted from ground drive wheel through chain and sprockets. The fabricated planter is capable to perform two wheat sowing modes, namely: - sowing seeds on pre-established broad beds, and sowing seeds while simultaneously establishing beds. The performance of fabricated planter was tested under the following variables: Average of four travel speeds (0.76, 1.08, 1.21 and 1.46 m/s); three-disc cells capacities (6, 8, and 10 seeds per cell); and the two available wheat sowing modes. The evaluation of the fabricated planter was investigated by taking into consideration the machine mechanical performance, and the wheat growth aspects. The mechanical performance was evaluated in terms of machine power requirements, specific energy consumption, and machinery cost. while, the wheat growth aspects were evaluated in terms of the seed hills number, germination ratio and grain yields (ton/fed). The data evaluated the fabricated planter performances, revealed, that the best planting performance was accomplished using forward travel speed of 1.21m/s, and metering cell capacity of (8 seeds). Whereas, under these operating conditions lower energy consumption of 3.01 KW.h /fed, higher grain yield of 2.9 (ton/fed), machinery cost of 59 LE/fed and higher germination ratio of 97.78% % were achieved compared to the other investigated operational parameters.