Producers must pay attention to the coefficient of variation and singularity when planting the off-season

When starting a harvest, the producer always hopes to have maximum productivity, but for these expectations to be converted into reality, a lot of attention is needed, especially with planting. In the case of off-season corn, it is no different, and for there to be a homogeneous distribution of seeds in the soil, extra care is essential. This is what will guarantee a linear harvest with good productivity in the future.

In order for there to actually be this much-desired homogeneity in planting, the producer needs to pay attention to two important points: the Coefficient of Variation (CV) and singularity. According to Luiz Lamardo Silva, electrical engineer and electronic products manager at J.Assy, there are two main objectives when planting: minimizing the occurrence of failures or doubles during planting, which is what measures singularity, and ensuring adequate spacing constant between seeds, which is what C.V. measures. “For example, let's say that the ideal rate for a seed is 10 seeds per meter, then the product not only wants to prevent failures or doubles from occurring, but also wants one to fall seed every 10 cm and not that 10 seeds fall in the first 10 centimeters and the other 90 centimeters have nothing”, he explains.

The CV will measure exactly this issue, how homogeneous and standard the distribution of seeds is in the soil. With poor spacing, the use will be much lower. “Two plants too close together will compete for water, light and soil nutrients and one will compromise the development of the other, resulting in a loss of productivity in the crop”, says the expert. “There are studies that show that for every 10% increase in C.V. there is a loss of 1,5 bags/ha”, he adds.

Singulation is a concept that comes from the word singular, that is, it means putting one seed in the soil at a time without flaws or doubles. Failures in planting are as bad as poor distribution, after all, that area no longer has the desired population. In the case of doubles it is the same thing, the producer will spend more seed and produce less. “One thing is to have a good distribution and the other is to maintain the desired population, and singulation will look at that. In other words, it is related to the percentage of failures and doubles that occur during planting”, highlights Lamardo.

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With J.Assy seed distributors, the producer will have an excellent distribution, with little variation, which minimizes the coefficient of variation. Both Titanium Elétric and Selenium Elétric are compatible with ISOBUS (agricultural communication protocol, to standardize and make the use of implements compatible), and with completely wireless control. Furthermore, off-the-shelf seed sensors can be connected directly to the electrical line, eliminating the need for all the wiring that would normally be done to reach the standard monitor. Therefore, the farmer does not need to worry about cable bursting, oxidized connector, among other problems that commonly occur.

According to the engineer, with the sensors connected to the J.Assy equipment, the producer can see in real time on the screen what the individual C.V. of each planting line is, and also the average of the machine. “We also show the percentage of failures and doubles and it is even possible to program limits for alerts. With this information in real time, the farmer can stop and correct the problem there, immediately at the time of planting”, says the professional.

General care

In addition to paying attention to the points already highlighted, and even using the best technologies and dosers on the market, to have good success and a satisfactory result at the end of planting, it is also necessary to pay attention to the adjustment of the machine. It is essential to pay extra attention, especially with the driver and the vacuum adjustment.

Too little vacuum, for example, can result in a lot of failures, while too much vacuum can start to double. “From a distribution point of view, sometimes the conductor is cracked or has accumulated dirt, or the line pressure is not well adjusted, which leads to vibration; things that go beyond controlling the doser system but rather the characteristics and adjustments of the machine, which is why attention is needed to all variables”, concludes the electronic products manager at J.Assy.