Smart Strip-Till One-Pass Machine: Winter Wheat Sowing Accuracy Assessment

Abstract

Modern agricultural machines are subject to requirements that result from developments in plant cultivation technology and environmental care. Agricultural practice demands multifunctional machines that perform several agrotechnical treatments in a single pass. Automated and digitalised management of machines and their working parts is also becoming standard. A strip-till one-pass machine was designed that automatically regulates and monitors sowing rate and depths and the application of fertiliser to loosened soil strips. Among other things, an electro-hydraulic depth regulator with a built-in linear potentiometer and an overload sensor was used. Laboratory and field tests assessed the accuracy of the rate and depth of sowing wheat grain and fertiliser application by the innovative machine. This study confirmed the machine’s high quality of wheat sowing. The accuracy of the operating parameters was not less than 97% in laboratory tests and 92% in field conditions. The field emergence capacity of wheat was 88% and its sowing density can be considered good. The machine provides uniform operation of all 11 multifunctional assemblies (units, sections of loosening-applying tines and sowing coulters). The coefficient of variation (CV) of grain sowing and granular fertiliser application by individual assemblies was in the range of 4.27–7.29% and 3.74–6.90%, respectively. The sowing depth accuracy expressed as an accuracy coefficient (DA) was 87.33–93.67% with CV 4.62–9.65%. The machine’s introduction onto the market can facilitate field cultivation of plants in accordance with the principles of conservation agriculture and Agriculture 4.0.