The Utilization of a Metering Plate Device for Cowpea Planting

Abstract

This study is carried out to evaluate the actual relationship between the three hole areas (9.62, 15.90 and 23.76 mm 2 ) and the feeding device parameters (seeding speed, peripheral speed of metering wheel device. The hole of feeding device was controlled by seed lever control which lies in seed tank bottom. All parameters were measured at constant level of seed brush parameters. Quality of feed, miss, multiple indexes and preciseness of seed index are the most common characteristics used to evaluate the metering wheel device performance. Varies physical properties of seeds including seeds density, projected area, sphericity and one thousand seeds mass are the most important factors in determining the optimum levers dimensions for metering device. The highest seed feed index was achieved on the seed plate with oblong holes (Aob2) for all cowpea moisture content (M1 of 64.45%; M2 of 56.13% and M3 of 49.74%), and the plates with circular holes followed this. The lowest seeding feeding ratio was obtained from the experiments using the plates with oblong hole (Aob1). The highest seed feed index was with moisture content (M1=86.08%) at 1.0 km/h, whereas the lowest the seed feed index was with M3 (46.21%) at 4.0 km/h. When the seed feed index was 86.73%, 79.77% and 74.56% for M1, M2 and M3 cowpea moisture content at 1.0 km/h planting speed, the seed feed index reached 71.04%, 61.07% and 46.21%, respectively, in a planting speed of 4.0 km/h. The changing planting speed had a greater effect on the feed index of M3 cowpea seed on the other 2 seed moisture content.

A Smart Feeding System for Planting Machine

“…( 7), shows that the multiple indexes increased with increasing the operating speed in case of using sorghum and paddy. Increasing the multiple indexes with the operating speed agrees with Ismail et al (2009). At sowing sorghum seeds the multiple indexes at a distance between hills of 10 cm were 0.91, 1.82; 2.73 and 3.63 % but at a distance between hills of 15 cm were 1.54, 3.13; 5.1 and 6.16 % while at a distance between hills of 20 cm were 1.88, 3.77; 5.72 and 6.85% with increasing the operating speed 0.5, 0.8; 1.2 and 1.5 k.m.h -1 at respectively.…”

“…The lateral distribution of seeds around the sowing center line was determined according to Ismail et al (2009) and Ibrahim et al (2013). The lateral distribution is the ratio between the scattering seeds with different distances from the planting row to the total number of the planting distance between seeds center line.…”

Some Phesoengineering Properties of Okra Seeds Determination

“…Geometric mean diameter (Dg), arithmetic mean diameter (Da) and volume (V.) of okra seeds calculated using the following equations, according to, (El Raie et al, 1996) and (Ismail et al, 2009) = ( ) / … … … . .…”

“…A choke valve is built as the inlet of blower to control the air flow rate manually. Terminal velocity can be obtained by measuring the air velocity required to suspend the particles in the vertical air stream (Ismail et al, 2009). Air velocity was measured at the bottom of the tube by an anemometer.…”

“…The angle of repose affects the design of mass flow structures. In drying and aeration systems for seeds (Ismail et al, 2009), bulk density and porosity play a significant role as these properties control the amount of hindrance caused by airflow (Zewdu and Solomon, 2006).…”