Laboratory and field tests of an experimental seeder for close seeding of lawn grasses: determining the quality indicators

Abstract

Continuous sowing is preferable over row (line), close-row, cross, and broadcast sowing due to economic and agronomic reasons. Lawn grasses sometimes have to be sown in areas with complex configurations. The proposed experimental seeder for the continuous sowing of lawn grasses, equipped with a seeding unit of the coil type, has passed bench tests, but it is necessary to check its performance quality in the field conditions. In order to verify the quality indicators of continuous sowing of lawn grasses under the straight-line and curvilinear motion modes, the authors conducted laboratory and field tests of the experimental seeder according to GOST 31345-2017 at the field station of Russian State Agrarian University – Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy using lawn mixture “Gazon Bystriy [Quick Lawn]” as a test sample. The quality indicators of the seeding unit and the main parts of the seeder – relative field germination of seeds and the width of the seeded strip – were checked after the emergence of full sprouts and counting the number of plants on the sites of 0.25 m² , located along different trajectories of the seeder. The results of laboratory-field tests showed that relative field germination of seeds amounted to 83 to 96% at different trajectories. The width of the seeded strip behind the seeder was 90.8 cm. The non-uniformity index of total seeding by sprouts amounted to 5.61% with the standard of 9%. The study results have confirmed that the seeding unit does not reduce the quality of seed material and the developed seeder is suitable for continuous sowing of lawn grasses.