How to avoid bushing in seeders

A simple project could be the solution to eliminate straw plugging between the planting rows of a no-till seeder.

One of the main obstacles to improving the quality of the direct planting system is the development and improvement of the soil attack and seeding finishing components of precision seeders.

The process of sowing directly into undisturbed soil with the presence of a layer of residue was undoubtedly the greatest advance in agriculture in relation to economic and environmental aspects. However, some adversities still make it difficult to implement the system and impair the efficiency of the seeders, among which excessive soil compaction and straw plugging between the seeder lines stand out.

Aiming at a solution to the problem of straw plugging in the seeder, a mechanism project was developed with the purpose of improving straw cutting, keeping it over the furrow where seeds and fertilizers are deposited, which will add numerous benefits for germination and seedling development.

BUSHING

Straw plugging in the seeder is a very common problem that causes a lot of inconvenience to the producer. It most often occurs between the machine chassis and the ground, as well as horizontally between the seeder lines, due to the uneven cutting of the straw layer. Araújo et al (2001) point out that the possibility of bushing occurring is greater when the volume of straw on the surface is greater than six tons per hectare (t/ha) and the spacing between rows is reduced, less than or equal to 50cm.

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE

In order to avoid wasting time with machine stops resulting from straw plugging, a mechanism was developed to be adapted next to the planting lines in order to improve the flow of straw under the seeder, preventing residues from accumulating between the planting lines.

FIELD TESTS

Mechanism coupling

The designed mechanism will be coupled to the existing structure of the seeder's planting line, with the aim of preventing straw plugging.

After coupling the mechanism to the seeder, field tests were carried out to analyze the behavior presented by the designed mechanism, under working conditions. The tests were carried out in a field with the presence of a layer of straw and residues on the soil surface from the corn crop previously implemented in the summer harvest. Very satisfactory results were found during the tests.

Providing greater safety for machine operators in the planting process is another important factor that the development of this project addressed. Most seeders produced in Brazil do not have a mechanism with the specific objective of preventing straw plugging. Therefore, when planting is carried out on clayey soils, high densities of vegetation cover or when the latter is not completely dry or green, the probability of problems arising with the unwanted accumulation of straw under the seeder is quite high. To avoid constantly stopping the machines to unbuckle the seeder, the solution found by operators is to carry out the process manually, using wooden stakes or hitting the straw with their own legs, with the machines in motion, which makes the highly dangerous action due to the numerous elements that transmit forces through rotating gears and chains, in addition to ground breakers that can cause damage to the physical integrity of the operator.

 

CONCLUSIONS

Avoiding straw plugging in seeders during the direct planting process, when implementing any crop, is of vital importance. Therefore, it is essential to implement a mechanism that helps prevent straw plugging in direct planting seeders available on the market.

With the prototype built and coupled to a seeder line, some field tests were carried out, such as mechanism fluctuation, performance in different relief configurations with the presence of layers of straw from summer crops (soybeans and corn), which were all successful. It remains to be carried out tests of the behavior of the mechanism on different compositions and layers of straw obtained with the implementation of winter crops, which should be carried out in the next agricultural harvest.

Daniel Augusto Decarli, José Antônio Portella, UPF

Article published in issue 165 of Cultivar Máquinas.