Seed-Filling Characteristics of a Centralized Seed-Metering Device for Rapeseed Caused by Vibration

Abstract

Sowing quality is directly influenced by the seed-filling characteristics of a centralized seed-metering device, and vigorous seed-motion status deteriorates seeding performance resulting from field surface roughness, seeder vibration, etc. However, the relationship between vibration and seed-filling properties remains unclear. This study measured the vibration characteristics of a seed-metering device, examined unmeasurable seed-motion characteristics based on DEM simulation, and used bench tests to determine the seed-filling characteristics under vibration conditions. The frequency distribution of the rapeseed seeder was 0–180 Hz. The simulation results revealed that the vibration mainly changed the level of seed in the seed-filling area; moreover, it significantly increased the seed-filling angle, ranging from 56.00°–59.00° to 69.78°–91.40°, which affected the seed-filling performance. A vibration frequency of 10–40 Hz resulted in a target seed rate within 88.67–99.44%, but when there is no vibration, the target seed rate reached 100%. The bench test results demonstrated that the seed-filling angle under vibration will increase with an increase in longitudinal distance, and will change between 15.49°–102°. The seed-filling performance affected by longitudinal distance was larger than that affected by lateral distance. By adjusting the longitudinal distance to range from 0–20 mm, the target seed rate could be maintained above 91%. The findings help to improve our knowledge of seed-filling characteristics under vibration conditions, and should be conducive to improving seeding performance by adjusting the seed layer height to reduce the impact of vibration on field operations.

Keywords

• rapeseed centralized seed-metering device
• vibration
• DEM simulation
• seeding performance
• seed-filling characteristics
• seed layer height