Seed cum fertilizer Drill

1. Agro Machine
Engineering
Mr. Matin A. Shaikh M.E. Design
Mr. Matin A. Shaikh

2. Course objectives:
 To explore various agro machinery related operations such as
ploughing, harrowing, threshing etc.
 To learn the working mechanisms of different agro machines.
 To make the student to know about design aspects of different
agro machines.
Mr. Matin A. Shaikh

3. Course outcomes:
After completion of this course, a student will be able to
 Distinguish between various agro operations such as ploughing,
harrowing, threshing etc.
 Select and design mechanism for various agro machines
Mr. Matin A. Shaikh

4. Chapter No. 5
Sowing Planting and Fertilizer
Application Equipment
 Sowing is the process of planting seeds.
 Seeding or sowing is an art of placing seeds in the soil to have good germination in the
field. A perfect seeding gives
 a. Correct amount of seed per unit area.
 b. Correct depth at which seed is placed in the soil.
 c. Correct spacing between row-to-row and plant-to-plant.
 Sowing methods:
(i) Broadcasting (ii) Dibbling
(iii) Drilling (iv) Seed dropping behind the plough
(v) Transplanting (vi) Hill dropping
(vii) Check row planting
Mr. Matin A. Shaikh

5.  (i) Broadcasting: Broadcasting is the process of random scattering of seed on the
surface of seedbeds. It can be done manually or mechanically both.
Mr. Matin A. Shaikh

6.  (ii) Dibbling: Dibbling is the process of placing and seeds in holes made in seedbed
and covering them. In this method, seeds are placed in holes make at definite
depth at fixed spacing. The equipment used for dibbling is called dibbler. It is a
conical instrument used to make proper holes in the field.
Mr. Matin A. Shaikh

7. Mr. Matin A. Shaikh

8.  (iii) Drilling: Drilling consists of dropping the seeds in furrow lines in a continuous
flow and covering them with soil. Seed metering may be done either manually or
mechanically. The number of rows planted may be one or more. This method is very
helpful in achieving proper depth, proper spacing and proper amount of seed to be
sown in the field. Drilling can be done by
(1) Sowing behind the plough
(2) Bullock drawn seed drills
(3) Tractor drawn seed drills.
Mr. Matin A. Shaikh

9.  (iv) Seed dropping behind the plough: It is very common method used in villages.
It is used for seed like maize, gram, peas, wheat and barley. A man drops seeds in
the furrow behind the plough.
Maize – मका gram - हरभरा peas - वाटाणा wheat - गहू barley - सातू
Mr. Matin A. Shaikh

10.  (v) Transplanting: Transplanting consists of preparing seedlings in nursery and
then planting these seedlings in the prepared field. It is commonly done for
paddy, vegetable and flowers. It is very time consuming operation. Equipment for
placing plants in the soil is called transplanter.
Mr. Matin A. Shaikh

11.  (vi) Hill dropping: In this method, seeds are dropped at fixed spacing and not in
a continuous stream. Thus the spacing between plant to plant in a row is
constant. In case of drills, the seeds are dropped in continuous stream and the
spacing between plant to plant in a row is not constant.
Mr. Matin A. Shaikh

12.  (vii) Check row planting: It is a method of planting, in which row-to-row and
plant-to-plant distance is uniform. In this method, seeds are planted precisely
along straight parallel furrows. The rows are always in two perpendicular
directions. A machine used for check row planting is called check row planter.
Mr. Matin A. Shaikh

13.  SEED DRILL:
Seed drill is a machine for placing the seeds in a continuous flow in furrows at
uniform rate and at controlled depth with or without the arrangement of covering
them with soil.
Function of seed drill: Seed drill performs the following functions
i) To carry the seeds.
ii) To open furrow to an uniform depth
iii) To meter the seeds
iv) To place the seed in furrows in an acceptable pattern
v) To cover the seeds and compact the soil around the seed.
 Seed cum fertilizer drill:
Seed drills, fitted with fertilizer dropping attachment, distribute the fertilizer
uniformly on the ground. It is called seed cum fertilizer drill. Such a drill has a large
seed box which is divided lengthwise into two compartments, one for seed and
another for fertilizers. Seed drill may be classified as
(i) Bullock drawn (ii) Tractor drawn.Mr. Matin A. Shaikh

14. 1. Seed hopper 2. Fertilizer Hopper
3. Seed Metering Device 4. Furrow Opener 5.
Ground wheel 6. Seed Tube 7.
Fertilizer Tube 8. Frame
Mr. Matin A. Shaikh

15. Mr. Matin A. Shaikh

16. Mr. Matin A. Shaikh

17. SEED METERING MECHANISM
 The mechanism of a seed drill or fertilizer distributor which delivers seeds or
fertilizers from the hopper at selected rates is called seed metering mechanism.
Seed metering mechanism may be of several types:
 (a) Fluted feed type
 (b) Internal double run type
 (c) Cup feed type
Mr. Matin A. Shaikh

18.  (a) Fluted feed type : It is a seed metering device with adjustable fluted roller
to collect and deliver the seeds into the seed tube. The roller carries grooves
throughout its periphery. It rotates with the axle over which it is mounted
throws the grains out on the adjustable gate from where it falls into the seed
tube.
Mr. Matin A. Shaikh

19.  (b) Internal double run type: It is a seed metering device in which the feed
wheel is provided with fine and coarse ribbed flanges. It has double faced
wheel. Internal double-run type roller one face has a larger opening for larger
seeds and the other face has smaller opening for smaller seeds.
Mr. Matin A. Shaikh

20.  (c) Cup feed type: It is a mechanism consisting of cups or spoons on the
periphery of a vertical rotating disc which picks up the seeds from the hopper
and delivers them into the seed tubes.
Mr. Matin A. Shaikh

21. Fertilizer Metering Mechanism:
 For fertilizer application followings are the metering devices:
 (a)Spur Wheel
 (b)Serrated Disc
 (c) Star Wheel
Mr. Matin A. Shaikh

22.  (a) Spur Wheel: A wheel provided 6-12 spur used as fertilizer metering device.
The spur wheel is made of aluminum casting mounted on shaft. In this
mechanism equally spaced cells on the periphery disc.
Mr. Matin A. Shaikh

23.  (b) Serrated Disc: It is a mechanism in which fertilizer are collected and
delivered by the serration ( V shaped point) on the periphery of the circular
Mr. Matin A. Shaikh

24.  (c) Star Wheel: A horizontal disc carrying the stars on the periphery meter the
fertilizer and eliminating gravitational effects . This system gets drive from a
of bevel gear and pinion.
Mr. Matin A. Shaikh

25. Furrow Openers:
 The furrow openers are provided in a seed drill for opening a furrow. The seed
tube conducts the seed from the feed mechanism into the boot from where
they fall into the furrows.
 (1) Shovel Type- Shovel type openers are best suited for stony or root infested
fields. These shovels are bolted to the flat iron shanks at the point where boots
are fitted which carry the end of the seed tubes.
Mr. Matin A. Shaikh

26.  (2) Shoe Type- It works well in trashy soils where the seed beds are not
smoothly prepared. They are made from two flat pieces of steel welded
together to from a cutting edge.
Mr. Matin A. Shaikh

27.  (3) Disc Type- It is furrow opener consisting of one concave disc.
Mr. Matin A. Shaikh

28. Field Adjustment & Operations:
 Seeding or Sowing is an art of placing seed in the soil to harvest good
germination in the field. A perfect seeding gives:
 A. Correct amount of seed per unit area.
 B. Correct depth at which seed is placed in the soil.
 C. Correct spacing between row to row and plan to plant.
 Also fertilizer should not come in contact with seed. This can be obtained by
carrying out the following procedure;
1 Hitching 2. Filling the seed and fertilizer boxes
3. Checking the metering device 4. Seed rate and seed spacing
5. Checking the drive wheel 6. Depth of Planting
7. Fertilizer Placement 8. Tyres
Mr. Matin A. Shaikh

29. Continued…..
 Hitching: Apply Std. hitching procedure for mounted implements. Reverse the
tractor to seed cum fertilizer drill. Attach the left link, then right link and then top
link.
 Filling the seed and fertilizer boxes: Fill the seed and fertilizer boxes ¾ of its
capacity.
 Checking the metering device: Lift the equipment and rotate the drive wheel to
ensure that seed and fertilizer are falling freely from the metering device, seed tube
into furrow openers.
 Seed rate and seed spacing: Determine the number of seed per hectare
recommended for the region and crop being considered.
 Checking the drive wheel: Check the drive wheel is touching the ground fully, if not
adjust the top link. Then continue driving the tractor for about 10meter distance and
stop again. Check to see the drop of seed and fertilizer.
 Depth of Planting: The depth of planting depends upon the condition of soil and
type of crop being planted. Deep planting is usually done in cloddy seedbed. If the
desired depth is not obtained adjust the position of lever till the desired depth of
planting is obtained.
Mr. Matin A. Shaikh

30.  Fertilizer Placement: The fertilizer attachment deposite fertilizer in
one or two bands at the side of seed planted because contact of
fertilizer with seed tend to depress, delay the germination of seed.
Recommended fertilizer placement is 2-3 inch to side of row and 3-4
inch below the surface of soil.
 Tyres: If the rubber tyre are provided check the manufacturers
recommendation about the tyre size and air pressure.
Continued…..
Mr. Matin A. Shaikh

31. Mr. Matin A. Shaikh