Efficient maize cultivation: pre-sowing seed inoculationsystem – optimal nozzle pressure and diameter

M.S. Shelest¹, M.L. Shuliak¹, A.O. Butenko²*, O.M. Bakumenko³, V.M. Zubko¹, O.M. Datsko², I.M. Masyk², V.M. Yatsenko², K.H. Sirovitskiy¹ and S.V. Rieznik⁴

¹Sumy National Agrarian University, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Department of Agroengineering, 160 H. Kondratieva Str., UA40021 Sumy, Ukraine
²Sumy National Agrarian University, Faculty of Agrotechnologies and Natural Resource Management, Department of Agrotechnologies and Soil Science, 160 H. Kondratieva Str., UA40021 Sumy, Ukraine
³Sumy National Agrarian University, Faculty of Agrotechnologies and Natural Resource Management, Department of Crop Protection, 160 H. Kondratieva Str., UA40021 Sumy, UA40021 Sumy, Ukraine
⁴State Biotechnological University, Faculty of Agronomy and Crop Protection, Department of Soil Science, 44 Alchevsky Str., UA61002 Kharkiv, Ukraine
*Correspondence: andb201727@ukr.net

Abstract:

Inoculation, as a technological operation, is currently underestimated, yet it has repeatedly proven its effectiveness. Its application in production or scientific research typically leads to improvements in yield, grain quality, or plant biometric parameters under study. However, the inoculation process itself is not standardized by any legislative act, so farmers rely solely on recommendations from manufacturers of inoculants and carry out this operation using, so to say, makeshift means. Therefore, a system of at-planting inoculation has been developed, which involves conducting this operation directly in the field. Hence, the aim of this study was to investigate the parameters of pressure and nozzle diameter that would provide the optimal amount of inoculant on the seeds and would be as close as possible to the manufacturer’s recommendations. To conduct the study, a system model was created in which nozzles with diameters of 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5 mm were investigated under pressures of 3, 4, 5 and 6 atm. The optimal amount of working solution per 1 ton of seeds was calculated for conducting the operation in the usual way, and the amount of liquid reaching 1,000 maize seeds was determined. Thus, the optimal pressure and nozzle diameter were identified. With a pressure of 3 atm in the system, none of the nozzles provide the required amount of working fluid. A similar situation occurs with a nozzle diameter of 0.2 mm. However, at higher pressure in the system and with other nozzle diameters, it is still possible to provide the necessary amount of liquid. Therefore, for the at-planting inoculation system, it is advisable to use a pressure of 4 atm and a nozzle diameter of 0.4 mm.

Key words:

000-seed weight, 1, density, inoculation system, optimal operating parameters, planter, seeder, tilled crops, Zea mays

Increasing the effectiveness of aggregates for planting sugar beet stecklings to receive elite seeds

O. Kostenko¹, H. Lapenko¹, Ye. Prasolov¹, T. Lapenko¹ and A. Kalinichenko²*

¹Poltava State Agrarian Academy, Engineering and Technological Faculty, Department of Life Safety, 1/3, Skovorody street UA36003 Poltava, Ukraine
²University of Opole, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Technology, Institute of Technical Sciences, Dmowskiego street 7–9, PL45–759 Opole, Poland
*Correspondence: akalinichenko@uni.opole.pl

Abstract:

Planting sugar beet stecklings with planting machine is one of the stages in the technological process of producing elite seeds. The analysis of the experience of using planting units for planting stecklings showed a number of disadvantages: poor quality of planting stecklings without spacing stability and the absence of parameter control; unregulated applying nutrients and granules of water preservation to the roots negatively affect the development of plants. The aggregate having openers of the planting device was designed, and the system of supplying the spray of nutrients and growth stimulator is envisaged. The technological process is conducted in the following way: during the movement of equilateral triangles of the planting cones mechanism the root is planted in the soil. To eliminate the drawbacks while planting stecklings, the openers of the planting device for the roots having the diameter of 50–120 mm were designed. Owing to them free falling roots in the soil is ensured and their lifting together with the cone to the soil surface is prevented. The research has shown that root plant spacing depends on the angular and forward velocities of the device.
The draft resistance of furrow openers and soil compaction depend on the furrow width and depth and the distance between the axes of quadrangles and the unit rear compaction wheels.
Improving the planter, taking into account biological peculiarities of plant development, meeting the requirements of energy saving and economic expediency was proved.

Key words: