Parameters and Modes of a Hydraulic Mini Seeder Operation for Small-Seeded Vegetable Crops

Abstract

Introduction. In the area of sowing with water and suspensions, there has been observed the trend of the development of hydroseeding lawn grass. The direction is less studied for sowing small seeds (germinated and sprouted) of vegetables. Existing works are mainly aimed at substinating the sowing of germinated seeds of watermelons, pumpkins, cucumbers and tobacco. At the same time, there are no studies for hydroseeding of carrot, parsley, dill, lettuce, tomatoes and celery seeds. Thus, theoretical research aimed at substantiating the method and technical solutions for sowing small-seeded crops in open and closed ground conditions are relevant. The problem is the lack of constructive-technological scheme of the tank for formation of sowing mixture of small-seeded crops, design and mode parameters of hydraulic mini seeder for sowing in drills to increase the efficiency of sowing. Aim of the Study. The study is aimed at optimizing parameters and modes for operation of a hydraulic mini seeder for sowing in drills. Materials and Methods. Theoretical studies of the process of homogenization of the seed mixture, power consumption during the operation of the reservoir for the formation of the seed mixture were carried out. Laboratory studies were carried out in Kuban State Agrarian University, field studies in private farms of Krymsky district of Krasnodar Krai. Results. There have been jbtained the expressions describing the dependence of the value of the average circumferential velocity of the seed mixture flow and the power during the operation of the reservoir for the formation of seed mixture for various combinations of design and operating parameters. The analytical dependence describing the value of seed concentration in the carrier medium at a specified moment of time at a fixed point of the tank height is presented. Discussion and Conclusion. Optimal parameters and modes for the operation of a universal hydroseeder for a seeding step are: agitator rotation frequency ‒ 92 min–1; crane opening value – 47%; seeder speed – 3.1 m/s at seeding step 20.5 mm; for seeding step variation coefficient: agitator rotation frequency ‒ 87 min–1; crane opening value – 56%; seeder speed – 2.7 m/s at seeding step variation 15%. The use of suspensions for hydroseeding vegetable crops is promising and should be developed.

Keywords

• hydraulic seeding
• seeds
• seed mix
• water
• vegetables
• mini seeder