c



c 

 

To achieve the target of the National Agricultural Policy and follow the vision of our Prime
Ministry, the rate of the development in agricultural sector must be balanced with the
development of other sectors. As such, the use of machineries in the agriculture sector is
becoming necessary.

Corn or maize is the most popular cereal after rice and wheat. Beside be the sources of food for
human, corn also are the main source of protein for feeding in livestock. Nowadays, livestock
sector still import the livestock feed from other country to supply the feed necessaries in
Malaysia. If this problem can be solved, it will increase the country economy and reduce the
currency exchange because we reduce the feed import.

Malaysia still have a lot of land can be develops for agriculture sector. So that the crop such as
corn can be developing to support the local demand, even also can be export to other country.
Beside that if this effort have supported from youth it will be supported national policy and
reduce the unemployment. The machineries also can be applied in this sector to make this sector
be more effective and easy. By using the machineries in this sector it can save a lot of factor such
as time of working, manpower and avoid the environmental effects.

cc     

There are many types of corn in the world and many methods can be used in planting process.
Since the corn was plants by using the seeds, so many applications were used to make the seed
sow in the ground. The planting operation is one of the most important cultural practices
associated with crop production.

Corn cultivation in Malaysia is usually in small sale production by farmer. It will be plant
between rubber tree, palm oil and other as cash crop for own use. However there is still corn
cultivation in big scale such as states at east coast of Peninsular Malaysia. There are three major
types of corn were planted in Malaysia.

Flint type - Have small seed size, hard and smooth surface at seed.

Dent type - Have bigger trunk, cob and seed than other types.

Sweet type -The seed will shrink when drying. Have sweet taste.
There have three major method of seeding. The first method is drill seeding, where the seed are
dropped randomly into the furrows with certain lateral distance. The second method is the hill
dropping, where the seeds will be dropped at about equal distance each dropped in rows. On
these two methods, the seeds are sow in the furrow, then the seeds are covered with the soil and
covered soil is pressed. The last method is broadcasting. This method will applied by the seeds
are scattered randomly over the surface of the field. This method is easiest method than the other
methods, but the main problems for this method are difficult to make maintaining such as weed
maintaining.

So that, we need more efficient method to solve this problem like using the commercial
equipment imported from other country. However, we need to know the performances and the
efficiency of the equipment to operate in this country first. Because our country have different
soil, weather, climate and landform.

!" 

This project mainly focused on testing and evaluation of commercial seed planter for corn seed
and applied at Taman Pertanian Universiti (TPU) farm at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM). The
objectives of this project are:

To test and determine the performance of seeding planting equipment known as Vacuum planter
GASPARDO SP DORADA model.

To differentiate the performance of seed planter between GASPARDO SP DORADA


 c
#

$ 
% #

In this chapter some aspect about sweet corn and implementation of seeding will be discussed.
This also involves history, revolution, classification, and components at the implements of seed
planter. Beside that the definition of theoretical field capacity, effective field capacity and field
efficiency.

c  

The physical properties of sweet corn u

 seed were determined as function of moisture
content in the range of 11.54-19.74% dry basis (db). The average length, width and thickness
were 10.56 mm, 7.91 mm and 3.45 mm, at a moisture content of 11.54% db.

   &c  &  ' 

The field capacity of a farm machine is the rate at which it perform its primary function like the
number of acres that can be disked per hour or the number of tons of hay that can be baled per
hour. Measurement or estimates of machines capacities are used to schedule field operations,
power units and labor and estimate operation cost.

The most common measure of field capacity for agriculture machineries is expressed in acres
covered per hour of operation. The effective field capacity (EFC) of machine in the field can be
easily calculated by dividing the acres completed by the hour of actual field time. Recording
acres and hour for several fields over the whole seasons can be used to find an average field
capacity in differing terrain and weather conditions.

Calculation Effective Field Capacity

Theoretical Field Capacity (TCF) depends on the full operating width of the machine and the
average travel speed in the field. It represents the maximum possible field capacity that can be
obtained at the given field speed when the full operation width of the machines is being used. It
can be calculated from equation



     
å
    
 
A machine could not obtain its TCF for very long periods of time. The ratio actual or effective
field capacity (ECF) to TCF is called the machine¶s field efficiency (FE). Field efficiency is
expressed as the percentage of a machine¶s TCF actually achieved under real conditions. It
accounts for failure to utilize the full operating width of the machine and many other time delays.
These might include turning, idle travel across headlands, filling seed, emptying grain tanks,
checking a machine¶s performance and making adjustments. FE and EFC can be measure by
using this equation:




    
å



    å
 


History of Seed Planter Revolution

Definition of cultivations is to put the seed into the soil at some depth suggest. So that, the time
and cultivations method will be effect germinate and growth of the seed.

Until year 1940, cultivation of seed will be execute with method broadcasting on the soil and
after that will be close with some of harrows. After that, this method advances to cultivation in
the row method by using one implement to plant the seed. This implement made by wood barrel
with making holes at surrounding of the barrel to drop the seeds. At the Pennsylvania, William
T. Pernock is the first person had created the corn planter machine.

Classification of Seed Planter

Planter equipment can be classified as hand seeder, broadcasting planter, seed drill and
specialized planter. Here are the classifications of planter equipment.

Hand seeder

During using hand seeder, the farmer will use one mark to get the straight line in the field. This
is also to make sure not to prevent miss place or overlap each row. Some of farmer will distribute
the seed by using two or their hand, where at one side to grip the seed and other hand to bring the
gunny suck contain with seeds at their shoulder.

Turner and Johnson were explaining one way hand planter method by using hard paper tube
combine to edge of gunny fulfill with seed. The seed will exit from gunny through tube and
discharge valve and the function of this valve as outlet controller. This valve will spin in the tube
during the farmer walk across the field.
Broadcasting Seeder

The seeder will broadcast the seed on the ground. The seed was plant did not have specific
distance and row on the ground. Usually, this seeder type did not have furrow opener and
covering device. Soil covering operation will be doing in other operation. By using this method it
will waste the seeds and make difficult during monitoring, weed maintaining and harvesting
operations. However by using this way, it is fast and easy to done.

One of broadcasting seeder unit is hand violin with spinning disc at the horizontal axis for
broadcast seed from container by using centrifugal force. This disc is connected with at rotator
be like bow and arrow. Hand silicone planter is a broadcast using shaft can give more uniform
seed broadcasting. Hand push broadcasting planter have wheel to drive spinning brush to
broadcast the seed through adjustable opener at the bottom of the seed box.

Seed drill

This type operation will make the seed to plant in site the shallow furrow in the bed and after that
will be covering with soil b using same implement. Getmen and Eastmen have reported that
drilling is the easiest method. At the one seed drill, one iron rod will be use as furrow opener.
The seed will be fall from container through seed tube to the furrow. After that the seed will be
covering using wheel at the back of the seed tube.

Soil drilling is the ordinary machine that already use in India, China and Mesopotamia (Hopfen
H.J). China seed drill have two or three seed tube by using the easy principle. One rod disturber
will be vibrate and connecting through the container. This is to make sure that the flow of the
seed into the tube is uniform between the other tube during the driller shacked.

Seed Planter Equipment

Seed planting equipment has been design to take out one or two seed into the furrow at some
distance row. The distance of row can be adjust depend on seed type. In pneumatic planter
machine (Show), the seed will be suck by force had produce by fan and the seed will stick on the
spinning plate with the certain diameter hole. The plate spin in front direction to bring the seed
together and at the other place the seed will be drop. At this place, there is not having the suction
forces. The distance of seed drop determine by timing belt or chain distributor.

The planter equipments discussions just now are hand handling. Mounted planter machine can be
categories like drill planter and row planter.
Classification of Seeder Applicators by Travelling Types

Seeders applicators can be divide into several types such as:

a)p Man operated types

b)p Self propelled type
c)p Walking tractor-mounted type
d)p Riding tractor-mounted type
e)p Trailed type

Planter Component

Planting unit

The planting unit is the main devices to operate the planting process in the planter machine. The
planting unit is a combination of various components in different function. Figure shows the
planting unit for SP DORADA

Adjustable Selector

Adjustable selector is one of component in planting unit. The function of this component is to
control the number of seed outlet. We can select the scale 1-12. This selector will control size of
the suction hole. More seed will be stuck to disc if the suction hole is big.

Seed disc

Seed disc is a component to select and bring the seed to drop part. There are many classification
of seed disc. It is depend on sizes of seed will be use. Usually, for corn seed the disc will be use
is 26 holes with 5.5 mm diameter. The seed disc can be shown as figure below. This disc seed
can be change for other size of seed.

Seed planter

GASPARDO SP is vacuum and pneumatic type. It is because the planter uses pneumatic
mechanization to operate the planting process. The source of the vacuum is the fan. This fan
powered by PTO from the tractor.
 c
 

 
$()

The project was focus on testing and evaluation of corn seed planting equipment located at UPM.
So, two tests were carried out for this project:

a)p aboratory Test

b)p Field Test

The lab test was done to

Determine the Efficiency of Dropped Seed from Seed Planter

In this test two matters will be discussed is the number of seed drop and the distance between of
the seed. To determine the dropped of seed from seed planter, there are two method to be used.
The first is static method and the second is a movement method. Before that theoretical and
requirement from manual operator about seed spacing of the implements must to be know first.

For the requirement from manual operator, some aspect must be taken such as the number of
holes on the seed disc, number of teeth, position of gear and gear ratio in the gearbox. The ratio
is the gear from seed driving wheel and the gear of the seed disc. The gearbox type and seed
driving wheel show in Figure. The adjusting of seed distance can show as gearbox ratio table as
show below:

The theoretical is from the basic mathematical concept. So that¶s gets some data from the
implement like the diameter of seed driving wheel or seed gear transmission wheel. From that
can calculate the length of the wheel can travel for one circumference of wheel. This is
theoretical using the circumference equation to get the wheel circumference.



   !  "


First make sure one marks at the seed driving wheel, than rotate the wheel for one rotation.
Determine and record the numbers of seeds were drop. Than divided the number of seed with the
length of wheel circumference. So, we can get the actual distance between each seed drop. After
that, we compare with the recommended from manual operator. The method use was static
method.


   "
#
   
$  
  "
The movement method, the implement only can be used were GASPARDO SP DORADA
model. Another model cannot be used because this implement did not have ability to make the
planter unit to hanging like the latest model. This is important because during the process the
implement will be drag and so that, all the components of the planter must be fully hanging to
avoid it from damage. So for this testing only data from GASPARDO SP DORADA model can
be determined.

Determine the Distance between Each Row

To determine the distance between the rows, we must use the measurement tape. To measure the
distance between the planting units we used the measurement tape. For the GASPADO the
distance for each row is 75cm because the t distance between each planter unit is 75cm. However
the test must be run to determine the distance between the rows. The movement method also was
to determine the distance between the rows.

Field Test

The field test would be applied at TPU farm. The area of the test must be satisfy and before
operate the field test some requirements must be satisfied such as:

a)p The field already done the tillage process

b)p The field also must be dry condition due to lowest strength

Determine the depth of seed

This process must be identified before start the testing. The depth of soil tested is 15 cm.
Because the depth of seeding is not exceed 15 cm. The recommended depth of seed during the
seed planting is 3-5 cm only.

Condition of Operation

First we can determine the distance for each seed. We need to dig the soil after the seed have sow
into the soil to find the seed if the seed is already covered by the soil. But be careful to dig the
soil because to avoid to remove the seed together with the seed. After that we need to measure
the depth of the seed seeding also. Measure the depth of the seed by using the measurement tape.

Than, we can also measure the distance spacing of the row by using the measurement tape to
measure the distance.

Determine the Effective Working Width

The effective working width can be obtained by dividing the width of the plot by the number of
passes of the implement.
After Planting Process

After two week the seed already germinate growth. So that we can see the young corn plant
already growth, the height of the young corn plant is between 5-10 cm. From that we can know
where the seed drop one or two seed for one place. So that we can calculate how many seed drop
for one seed or two seed in one row.

Time of operation

Record the time started and finishes the test. Also need top record the time needed to finish one
trip of seeding. Beside that, we can also calculate the required time for one trip and total time for
one plot of field. The time of tractor needed to make turning after end one plot to change another
plot also taken. The time can be measure by using the stop watch.

Condition of Power Source

To determine the power sources we need to know and determine the power of the tractor. Than
we must know the rated engine horse power, selected gear and speed in RPM of power take off
(PTO).

To determine driving speed we must marked at the starting point before the tractor start to move.
The distance which is mark out for driving speed determination is 100m. When the tractor is start
to move, take note the time taken to drive the distance. By using formula, we can determine the
driving speed:

 #

%   '()
#
%
&   
 å
 *+,

Theoretical Field Capacity (TFC)

Field Efficiency (FE)

TO determine the field efficiency, we must have the effectiveness of field capacity and
theoretical field capacity. Field efficiency is in percentage unit. Field efficiency can be determine
using this equation.




    
å