Abstract. The purpose of the paper is to verify the theoretical assumption on the operability of the design of a new sowing device, which has a number of advantages in comparison with the existing ones. It is known that the shortcomings of the existing planting and sowing machines lead to considerable crop losses (uneven germination and weakened plants due to incomplete use of soil potential) and, as a consequence, losses of expensive planting materials. It is also known that the existing equipment and techniques cannot reduce the number of field vehicle movements, which leads to excessive compaction of the soil, a deterioration of its microstructure, and a decrease in fertility, as well as additional financial costs. To solve the existing problems of planting, a new technique is proposed. It is implemented on the basis of a pre-distributed planting material on a specially prepared tape. Such a technical solution allows sowing expensive planting material by the piece and in a strictly distributed sequence and, as a result, minimizing losses and ensuring a uniform depth of planting. The design of the sowing equipment is simplified and the adjusting works, as well as the cost of labour, are reduced. To confirm the theoretical assumptions, we developed a laboratory plant, and this paper presents the results of experimental work, which confirms high technological capabilities of the proposed equipment in terms of homogeneity of the seeding depth and its constructive simplicity. The presented technique based on the specially prepared tape material allows carrying out simultaneously both planting and additional agrotechnical measures, such as pointby-point application of a dosed fertilizer, which leads to an increase in the ecological compatibility of products, simultaneous soil cultivation with herbicides, etc.Keywords: sowing equipment, planting, crop yield, seeder.
IntroductionSince ancient times, it is known that the quality of the crop depends on the quality and varietal properties of the planting material. It goes without saying that the harvest is much dependent on the care of crops. With the development of agricultural sciences and technology, it became clear that the process of sowing or planting is also very important.According to the existing seeding technologies, it is assumed that the grain/seed is transported to the seminal duct, through which it will "gravitate" into the soil. Theoretically, this method should place seeds in a uniformly distributed row and same depth.In practice, it turns out not quite so. First, because of the lumpy structure of the soil, a number of seeds fall deeper between the clumps or remain on the lumps themselves. As a result, we get an uneven depth of sowing. Seeds that are sowed deeper give late, and, as a rule, weak shoots. Seeds, which are not deep enough, shoot early and often undergo frost. As a result, we have about 7 % of crop losses [1].Secondly, for most machines based on the row seeding method, we also face an uneven distribution of seeds along the width of the row. T...
