مرکز منطقه ای اطلاع رساني علوم و فناوري - Development of Prediction Functions for a Maximized Precision Seeding Performance Based on Optimized Variables

Abstract :

the objective of this study was to develop prediction functions for the variables that affect precision seeding performance. The variables considered were the amount of vacuum, peripheral speed and the diameter of the holes on vacuum plate. On the other hand, these variables are significantly affected by physical properties of the seeds and govern the seeding phenomenon that is the capture, release and incorporation of seeds into the soil. Experiments using Central Composite Design which is one of the designs in Response Surface Methodology (RSM) were conducted in the lab and different seeds were used to meet the objective. Hence, using different seeds with different physical and aerodynamic properties such as sphericity, thousand seed mass, projected area, terminal velocity, mean particle diameter and coefficient of friction of material on metal are expected to contribute the development of prediction models for a maximized seeding performance. According to results of the statistical analyses, hole diameter and vacuum pressure models were developed while no significant model was developed for the peripheral the speed of the vacuum plate. The appropriate hole diameter was found to be the function of mean particle diameter and sphericity with a coefficient of determination of 92.69%, while vacuum pressure was correlated to sphericity and terminal velocity (R^2=76.74 %). The developed models were verified by the use of different seeds and seed distribution was evaluated.