Agriculture (Apr 2022)

Seeding Performance Caused by Inclination Angle in a Centralized Seed-Metering Device for Rapeseed

  • Xiaolong Lei,
  • Wencheng Wu,
  • Cheng Chang,
  • Tao Li,
  • Zhonglin Zhou,
  • Jinyue Guo,
  • Peixu Zhu,
  • Jianfeng Hu,
  • Hong Cheng,
  • Wei Zhou,
  • Fei Deng,
  • Yong Chen,
  • Yongcheng Wu,
  • Wanjun Ren

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture12050590
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 12, no. 5
p. 590

Abstract

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Rapeseed is mainly cultivated in hilly areas in China and the inclination angle is an important parameter for influencing the seeding quality of a seed-metering device. However, the relationship between seeding performance and inclination angle remains unclear. This study analyzes the influence of inclination angle (θ) on the characteristics of seed-filling and seeding performance in a centralized seed-metering system of rapeseed using DEM simulation and the bench test. The results revealed that the inclination angle (θ) had a significant effect on seed-filling performance. The missing seeds ratio and the deviation of seed layer height increased with an increase in a lateral inclination angle. The missing seeds ratio in the forward direction (−Y direction) and seed-filling angle, double seed-filling ratio, and seed layer height in the back direction (Y direction) increased with the increasing inclination angle. Under seed-cleaning treatment, the missing seeds ratio was significantly reduced in the −Y direction at a seed layer height of 25 mm, and the qualified ratio was more than 91.0% at a seed layer height of 20 mm in X direction. The phenomenon of seeds passing through the seed-metering wheel disappeared with a qualified ratio larger than 90.0% in Y direction by installing a seed-cleaning brush. The results contributed to improving the knowledge of seed-filling characteristics of the centralized seed-metering device at inclination conditions and should help to improve seeding performance by adjusting the seed layer height and installing a seed-cleaning brush.

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