Evaluating uniformity of seed distribution with an experimental seeder: solid sowing of lawn grasses

Abstract

Solid seeding should ensure uniform distribution of seeds over the cultivated area. The experimental seeder SV‑0.9, developed and improved by the authors, is equipped with a coil type seed-feeding device. It provides variable seed supply from each pair of coils of the seed-feeding device and ensures uniform seeding when following a straight path and a curved path. For solid sowing, it is necessary to provide uniform seed distribution over the cultivated area. For this purpose, two indicators can be used: the seeding uniformity factor and the average feeding area of a plant. The Gazon Bystriy lawn grass mixture was used to test the experimental seeder for determining the indicators of seed distribution uniformity. The tests were carried out under laboratory conditions. During the experiment, seeds were fed into the seed box and the seeding rate was set at 3.5 kg/100 m². Paper tape was marked into 10x10 cm squares and further divided into centimetre cells. The prepared tape was covered with glue. The seeds were sown on the sticky tape while the seeder was moving. The uniformity of seed distribution over the area was evaluated by counting the seeds in the square cells. According to the experiment results, it was found that the seeding uniformity factor ranged between 0.92 and 0.96, which corresponds to the indicators of GOST 31345‑2017, and the average feeding area per plant was 0.48 to 0.56 cm². The laboratory results prove the possibility of solid sowing by the SV‑0.9 seeder at a seeding rate of 3.5 kg/100 m².