Corn seeding process fault cause analysis based on a theoretical and experimental approach

Contemporary trends have set the need for high precision systems in agricultural operations, but it is the seeding technology in the first place that must satisfy the toughest demands to achieve the highest possible profit. The improvement of seeding precision is impossible without knowledge of the working principles of all parts of a singulation mechanism and all factors which influence the seeding errors. The evolution of a seeder depended crucially on the improvement of the testing methodology and techniques. This paper presents a photo-electronic device which monitors the seed flow at free fall after leaving the seeding mechanism. An air blowing seeding mechanism was used to simulate the seeding. Its performances were tested with seven varieties of corn seed, two seeding plates, two different air flow rates, and four different speeds of revolution of the seeding plate. A full factorial design was used to determine the significance of influence of four input factors and interactions of two of them. Data validation was done by comparing the values calculated according to visual analysis of high-speed camera recordings and photo-electronic system data where a strong relationship was achieved (R2 > 0.99). It was determined that the speed of revolution of the seeding plate had the greatest influence on the varying distance between the consecutive seeds, while the seed variety exerted the least influence. The pressure of air flow and the variety of the seeds had the most significant influence on the variation of quality of feed index, although, the type and speed of revolution of the seeding plate were also statistically significant parameters. The occurrence of miss and multiple seed were caused by air flow pressure, variety of the seeds, type of the seeding plate, i.e., speed of revolution of the seeding plate. The applied optimization method can be a useful tool for finding the best possible combination of input parameters observed in the test in order to fulfill the criteria which vary depending on the user's needs.