SOWING SEED BY SUPERSONIC IMPINGEMENT WITH THE GROUND

摘要

PCT No. PCT/GB93/00012 Sec. 371 Date Aug. 29, 1994 Sec. 102(e) Date Aug. 29, 1994 PCT Filed Jan. 7, 1993 PCT Pub. No. WO93/13641 PCT Pub. Date Jul. 22, 1993.A method of sowing seed (including fertilized pellets, particles, crystals and the like) including accelerating the seed to a speed in the supersonic range and directing the so moving seed to impinge on penetrable sowing ground so that the seed penetrates the ground to approximately the desired depth. The operation is carried out in a relatively low pressure environment and a feature of the operation is that the seed can penetrate the ground without substantial damage to the seed. Appropriate apparatus is provide to accelerate the seed to the supersonic speed range in a low pressure environment, and in one example this includes a rotor wheel receiving seed appropriately from a supply source, a sufficient rotary speed being imparted to the wheel for the necessary acceleration of the seed which is discharged via an outlet in the wheel. Alternative apparatus includes a low pressure fluid source for seed acceleration via a ducting system and in another example electrostatically charged seed is accelerated by an electrical conductor system.