Effects of Seed Drop Height and Tillage System on the Emergence Time and Rate in the Single Seed Planters

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the effects of seed drop height and tractor forward speed in different tillage systems on the mean emergence time, emergence rate index, and percentage emergence in single seed planters. The experiments were carried out in the conventional and reduced tillage systems, at seed drop heights of 120, 180, and 240 mm and tractor forward speeds of 1.1, 1.5, and 2.2 m s-1. Sunflower and maize seeds were used in the study. The results of the study showed that seed drop height significantly affected the mean emergence time, emergence rate index, and percent emergence in both experiments (P<0.05). Also, the tillage system significantly affected the mean emergence time and emergence rate index. The lowest mean emergence time and the highest emergence rate index were 10 d and 0.19 seedlings d-1 m-1 in the reduced tillage system for sunflower, respectively. The same parameters were 12 d and 0.37 seedlings d-1 m-1 in the reduced tillage system for maize, respectively. As a result, the seeds of sunflower and maize should be sowed in reduced tillage system, 180 mm seed drop height, and 1.1 - 1.5 m s-1 tractor forward speeds for rapid germination and high percentage emergence.

Keywords

• Single seed planter
• Forward speed
• Sunflower
• Maize

References

1. Altıkat, S., and Çelik, A., 2011. The effects of tillage and intra-row compaction on seedbed properties and red lentil emergence under dry land conditions. Soil Tillage Research 114: 1 – 8.
2. Bilbro, J. D., and Wanjura, D. F., 1982. Soil crusts and cotton emergence relationships. Transactions of the ASAE 25(6): 1484-1487.
3. Chaudhuri, D., 2001. Performance evaluation of veriustypes of furrow openers of seed drills-a review. Journal of Agricultural Engineering Research 79(2): 125-137.
4. Choudhary, M. A., Pei, Y. G., and Baker, C. J., 1985. Seed placement effects on seeding establishment in direct drilled fields. Soil Tillage Res. 6(1): 79‐83.
5. Chen, Y., Monero, F., Lobb, D., Tessier, S., and Cavers, C., 2004. Effects of six tillage methods on residue incorporation and crop performance under a heavy clay soil condition. Transactions of the ASAE 47 (4): 1003–1010.
6. Gebresenbet, G., and Jönsson, H., 1992. Performances of seed drill coulters in relation to speed, depth and rake angles. Journal of Agricultural Engineering Research 52: 121-145.
7. Hayden, C. W., and Bowers, S. A., 1974. Emergence and yield of bean planted with a seed orienting planter. Agronomy Journal 66: 50-52.
8. Heege, H. J., 1993. Seeding method performance for cereals, rape and beans. Transactions of the ASAE 36(3): 653 – 661.

9. Karayel, D., and Özmerzi, A., 2003. No‐till seed drill coulters. Conversation Tillage and Direct Seeding Workshop 163‐186. Izmir, Turkey.
10. Karayel, D., and Özmerzi, A., 2005. Effect of coulters on seed distribution pattern for precision sowing. J. Fac. Agric. Akdeniz Univ. 18(1): 139‐150.
11. Karayel, D., and Özmerzi, A., 2008. Evaluatıon of three depth-control components on seed placement accuracy and emergence for a precısıon planter. Applied Engineering in Agriculture 24(3): 271-276.
12. Krall, J., Dubbs, A. and Larsen, W., 1979. No till drills for recropping. In: Bulletin No 76: Montana Agricultural Station, Montana, USA
13. Morrison, J. E., Allen, Jr. R. R., Wilkins, D. E., Powel G. M., Grisso, R. D., Erbach, D. C., Herndon, L. P., Murray, D. R., Formanek, G. E., Pfost, D. L., Herron, M. M., and Baumert, D. J., 1988. Conservation planter, drill and air-type seeder selection guideline. Applied Engineering in Agriculture, 4(4): 300-309.
14. Önal, I., 2011. Sowing Maintenance and Fertilizing Machines. Ege University Faculty of Agriculture Publications, İzmir.
15. Parish, R. L., and Bracy, R. P., 2003. An attempt to improve uniformity of a gaspardo precision seeder. Horttechnology 13(1): 100-103.
16. Peterson, C. L., Dowding, E. A., Hawley, K. N., and Harder, R. W., 1983. The chisel-planter minimum tillage systems. Transactions of the ASAE 26(2): 378-383.
17. Raoufat, M. H., and Mahmoodieh, R. A., 2005. Stand establishment responses of maize to seedbed residue, seed drill coulters and primary tillage systems. Biosystems Engineering 90(3): 261-269.
18. Raoufat, M. H., and Matbooei, A., 2007. Row cleaners enhance reduced tillage planting of corn in Iran. Soil & Tillage Research 93: 152-161.
19. Staggenborg, S. A., Taylor, R. K., and Maddux, L. D., 2004. Effect of planter speed and seed firmers on corn stand establishment. Applied Engineering in Agriculture 20(5): 573−580.
20. Stipesevic, B., Jug, D., Jug, I., Zugec, I., Stosic, M., and Kolar, D., 2009. Influence of different soil tillage systems on soybean yield and yield components. Journal of Agricultural Machinery Science 5(3): 263-267.
21. Sunderman, D., 1964. Seedling Emergence of Winter Wheats and ist Association With Depth of Sowing, Coleptile Length under Various Conditions and Plant Height. Agron. J. 56(1): 23-25
22. Tessier, S., Saxton, K. E., Papendick, R. I.,and Hyde, G. M., 1991. Zero‐tillage furrow opener effects on seed environment and wheat emergence. Soil Tillage Res. 21(3‐4): 347‐360.
23. Topakci, M., Karayel, D., Çanakci, M., Furat, S., and Uzun, B., 2011. Sesame hill dropping performance of a vacuum seeder for different tillage practices. Applied Engineering in Agriculture 27(2): 203-209.
24. Wanjura, D. F., and Hudspeth, E. B., 1969. Performance of vacuum wheels metering individual cottonseed. Transactions of the ASAE 12(6): 775-777.