Effect of Rotational Speed and Length of the Fluted-Roll Seed Metering Device on the Performance of Pre-germinated Paddy Seeder Unit

摘要

Metering device is the most important component of a seed planter which effectively influences on crop yield and yield components. Therefore it is necessary to determine important parameters that affected on the performance of metering device. In this study a fluted-roller seed metering device with upside feed mechanism was used and effects of such important parameters as variety (Hashemi, Binam, Hasani), length (3,4,5,6 and 7 cm) and rotational speed (5,10,15,20 and 25 rpm) of metering unit was investigated on the seed flow rate, variations of seed flow rate and percent of damaged seed. Results of this study indicated that the seed flow rate of pre-germinated paddy significantly (P<0.01) affected by variety, rotational speed, length of the fluted-roller metering unit and their interactions. For each type of paddy variety, the seed flow rate increased with increasing in length and rotational speed of metering device from 3 to 7 cm and 5 to 25 rpm, respectively. The average seed flow rate of Hashemi (2.91sg) was higher than Binam (2.66 sg) and Hasani (2.44 sg). The lower variations of seed flow rate were achieved as the rotational speed and length of the metering unit increased. There was a significant effect of rotational speed (P<0.01) and variety (P<0.05) on the damaged pre-germinated seeds. The percent of damaged was varied from 6.56 to 10.69 %, 5.98 to 13.25 % and 5.91 to 12.73% for Hashemi, Binam and Hasani, respectively as the rotational speed of metering unit increased from 5 to 25 rpm.