Determination of the seed geometry of cup plant as requirement for precision seeding

Abstract

In search of economically and ecologically interesting alternatives and additions to maize, currently the predominantly used biogas substrate, cup plant (Silphium perfoliatum L.) has been found as a promising plant species. The perennial composite, which is located in North America, can be established by modified conventional seeders. Due to a long flowering period and different geographic origins of the plant material, seeds of different sizes and shapes can be found in the seed batch, which makes a precise singling of the seeds difficult. For the quantification of the geometric parameters the seeds were recorded and measured. The results of these researches were used to optimize the seeding in precision seeders.