Performance Evaluation and Seed Pattern Characteristics Study of Cup Feed Metering Seed Drill for Black Gram Seeds

摘要

Proper design of cup in cup feed metering seed drill is very much important to enhance the performance of a seed drill. Earlier the cups used were of semi circular type. Due to vibration and shock, the seed retention and release for these cups were poor. So the cups were modified to cylindrical at top and conical at the bottom. An experimental test rig ivas developed in the laboratory in the Department of farm Machinery and Power, OUAT, Bhubaneswar to evaluate the best suitable dimensions of cup forthe black gram variety PU-30. Five different sizes of cups of 7.41mm, 4.74mm, 3.29mm, 2.42mm and 1.85mm depths loith diameters of 4mm, 5mm, 6mm, 7mm and 8mm respectively were prepared keeping the volume constant and were used for the study. The five different peripheral speeds of the cup discs were chosen to 6.28 m/min, 9.42 m/min, 12.55 m/min, 18.84 m/ min and 23.56 m/min. The belt speed was calculated and maintained to study the seed rate deviation, seed distribution and seed damage. It was found thatthe dimensions of cup i.e. 6 mm x 2.89 mm was found to be best and was used successfully up to a peripheral speed of 18.84 m/min and an overall efficiency of 79.94 per cent. The above dimensions of the cup may be taken to develop a suitable seed drill for use in the field condition for sowing of black gram seeds.