Electronic Seed Tube Blockage Detector and Remover
Journal of Agricultural Engineering, Vol. 40(2): 13-20: April-June, 2003
Electronic Seed Tube Blockage Detector for Tractor
Drawn Seed Drill
AK Rail, K Sivadasan 2 and SN Murty3
ABSTRACT
Tractor driven seed drills are extensively used for sowing seeds. Choking of lower end of tubes in seed drills is a comJIlon problem while sowing. To detect the choking of tubes/ channels instantaneously, a multichannel electronic seed tube blockage detector for tractor drawn seeddrills (ESTBDTDS) has been designed and developed. The Opto-electronic transducers, Fitted at the lower end of the seed drill channels near furrow opener, Monitor the path and give audio visual signals to the tractor driver when anyone or more channels get choked during sowing. The signal permits the driver to stop the tractor for corrective action. The electronic seed tube blockage detector for tractor drawn seeddrill has been successfully field tried and found satisfactory.
rop sowing refers to placement of seeds in the soil under optimum condition and as per required seed rate. The primary functions of any planting operation are to establish an optimum plant population and spacing in the soil. The function of a welldesigned seed drill is to place the seed in the acceptable pattern, accurately and uniformly at the desired depth in the field, cover the seed and compact the soil. The amount of seeds to be sown per unit area varies from crop to crop. To get high yield, seeds should be placed in soil at predetermined depth and spacing, depending upon crops. In mechanized farming, tractor driven seed drills are used for sowing. Seed drill provides proper seed rate, uniform distribution and correct placement of seed resulting in less seed
C
requirement and optimum plant population
i.e. finally higher yield. The choking oflower end of seed drill channel takes place quite often in sowing operations, resulting in stoppage of sowing in respecti~e channel.
Choking of
Electronic Seed Tube Blockage Detector for Tractor
Drawn Seed Drill
AK Rail, K Sivadasan 2 and SN Murty3
ABSTRACT
Tractor driven seed drills are extensively used for sowing seeds. Choking of lower end of tubes in seed drills is a comJIlon problem while sowing. To detect the choking of tubes/ channels instantaneously, a multichannel electronic seed tube blockage detector for tractor drawn seeddrills (ESTBDTDS) has been designed and developed. The Opto-electronic transducers, Fitted at the lower end of the seed drill channels near furrow opener, Monitor the path and give audio visual signals to the tractor driver when anyone or more channels get choked during sowing. The signal permits the driver to stop the tractor for corrective action. The electronic seed tube blockage detector for tractor drawn seeddrill has been successfully field tried and found satisfactory.
rop sowing refers to placement of seeds in the soil under optimum condition and as per required seed rate. The primary functions of any planting operation are to establish an optimum plant population and spacing in the soil. The function of a welldesigned seed drill is to place the seed in the acceptable pattern, accurately and uniformly at the desired depth in the field, cover the seed and compact the soil. The amount of seeds to be sown per unit area varies from crop to crop. To get high yield, seeds should be placed in soil at predetermined depth and spacing, depending upon crops. In mechanized farming, tractor driven seed drills are used for sowing. Seed drill provides proper seed rate, uniform distribution and correct placement of seed resulting in less seed
C
requirement and optimum plant population
i.e. finally higher yield. The choking oflower end of seed drill channel takes place quite often in sowing operations, resulting in stoppage of sowing in respecti~e channel.
Choking of
References: Gite, L.P. and S.K. Patra. 1981. Sowing and Fertiliser Application Equipment of India, Michael AM and Ojha TM. 1987. Principles of Agricultural Engineering Volume-I, Jain Yadav BG and Yadav RNS. 1991 Feasibility of using field plot in India Malvino AP and Leach DP. 1987. Digital Principles and Applications, McGraw-Hill Farm Machinery & Research Digest, 1997.