Development and test of no-tillage fertilization planter with embedded spoon disc helm wheel

Abstract: Conservation tillage technology, which originated in Western developed countries, is an advanced agricultural production technology. Development of the precision no-till maize planter was the key to extend conservation tillage technology. The seed-metering device was an important part of the planter and was a core determinant of seeder characteristics and working performance. At present in China, precision seed-metering devices can be divided into mechanical devices and pneumatic devices. With the development of technology, China also gave birth to a number of new seed-metering devices. But the Western developed countries augmented the precision seeder with new agricultural high technologies including satellite positioning systems, geographic information systems, expert intelligence systems, and remote-sensing technology. Those advances moved seeding technology toward higher precision, variable-rate capabilities, high efficiency, and intelligent controls. But in view of China's national conditions, intelligent planters have not been widely popularized or adopted.During the process of seeding, the seeds collided with the seeds tube and opener. Due to the combined effect of the collision and the machine moving forward, seed deposition was random, reducing seeding uniformity. To solve this problem, a no-tillage fertilization planter with embedded spoon disc helm wheel was developed. It was mainly composed of a rotary blade type seeding mechanism with a trimming device and an embedded spoon disc helm wheel dibbler. The rotary blade type seeding mechanism with trimming device was composed of a rotor and a rotary tillage straight cutter. The rotary cutter was arranged in front of the seeding and fertilizing rows, each row corresponding to two rotary cutters, and the rotation speed was 380 r/min. The embedded spoon disc helm wheel dibbler was integrated by the steering wheel of the dibble and the dipper disk seeding device, which has the advantage of throwing seeds at designated points with the steering wheel of the dibble accurately taking the seeds. Sowing corn seeds at uniform intervals was realized. The device reduces the seed falling distance and positions the seeds more accurately. During the work process，the rotary blade type seeding mechanism with a trimming device cleans up the seeding belt and at the same time cuts the surface. Then the opener and fertilizer feeder complete the fertilization, and the embedded spoon disc helm wheel dibbler completes the precision seeding. Finally, compaction by the press wheel completes the no-tillage seeding process. This paper introduced the method of determining the parameters of the helm wheel disc. A modal analysis of the helm wheel disc was carried out with ANSYS and gave the first 4 modal shapes in order to improve its structure. The result of field tests showed that the coefficients of variation of sowing fertilizer cover depth were 23.2% and 20.2%. The qualified rate of plant spacing was 96%, and the germination rate was 95%. The slip ratio was 5%. The passing ability of the seeder satisfied the agronomic requirements. Through field tests in full compliance with national standards, it fully met the actual production requirement, laying a foundation for the development of maize no-tillage planter research.