Performance of a planter-fertiliser under reduced soil preparation: furrowers, speeds and depths when sowing maize

Abstract

ABSTRACT The search to optimise agricultural systems by adapting mechanised sets for sowing maize, is essential for improving operational performance, energy efficiency and initial crop establishment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance and sowing quality of a planter-fertiliser for maize, in a dystroferric Red Latosol managed under reduced tillage, as a function of the type of furrower, depth of seed deposition and operating speed of the planter. The experimental design was completely randomised, in a split-plot scheme with three replications, where the plots represented the type of furrowing mechanism (shank or double-disk) and the subplots represented three displacement speeds (3.20, 5.15 and 7.32 km h-1) and two sowing depths (35 and 40 mm). The best sowing quality for second-crop maize, the lowest power requirement at the tractor drawbar, the lowest specific and hourly fuel and consumption time, and the lowest travel reduction ratio are achieved when the tractor-planter-fertiliser set is configured to use a double-disk at a sowing depth of 35 mm. The adoption of higher displacement speeds results in increased operational and effective field capacity, as well as a lower energy demand when the tractor-planterfertiliser set develops speeds close to or greater than 7.32 km h-1, irrespective of furrower type or soil depth.

Keywords

• Sowing quality
• Plant production
• Soil management
• Energy demand