Conservation tillage is said to be the best solution for control of soil erosion. A new idea for precision planting in conservation tillage is the use of punch Planters which can plant through residue covers, slopes and in gravelly soils. These Planters not only provide precision depth and space between plants, but also set a suitable bed necessary for good seed emergence.Furthermore, these Planters eliminate thinning costs and reduce amount of seed needed per hectare. In the present research a dibble punch Planter with pneumatic seed metering device was designed and fabricated. These Planters punch holes at equal distances and depths in soil and then place a single seed in each hole and cover it. The laboratory and field tests were conducted to find the effects of forward speed and soil surface conditions on: multiple indexes, quality of feed index, miss index, precision, percent of holes with seed in them and planting depth means.The laboratory test was conducted in a completely randomized design with six levels of speed in eight replications. The field test was conducted in a 3×5 factorial completely randomized block design with five forward speed levels (1.7, 2.8, 4, 5.5 and 7 km/h) and three soil surface conditions: (tilled, wheat residue covered and notill) with five replications in a gravelly loam soil. According to the results of these experiments the increase of forward speeds resulted in increasing of multiple index, decreasing of quality of feed index, increase of precision, increase of miss index and decreasing the percent of holes with seed in them and somewhat reducing the planting depth means. The experiments indicated that soil surface conditions was not any effect on all parameters and this Planter can plant in three soil surface conditions well. Furthermore 5.5 km/h speeds was recommended as the best forward speed at the three soil surface conditions.

Iran with 127.9 tons of saffron holds the first rank in production of this crop throughout the world. A major portion of this production comes from Khorasan province with a yield of 4.8 kg/ha. Saffron bulbs are planted in the conventional way of using hand planting methods in Iran as well as in other countries of the world. This method reduces yield, and causes difficulties harvesting operations. To overcome some of those problems a planting machine was designed and constructed. The main concern was to design and construct a two-row bulb Planter to plant saffron bulbs in 20cm row spacings and 15cm planting depths without having the bulbs damaged. Four laboratory experiments were conducted to investigate the four important bulb properties of size, density, bulk density, and friction angle between bulbs and steel sheets. Many designs were considered before cup shape metering mechanism was selected and then the suitable cup constructed. The Conveyor belt (metering device) was equipped with a couple of two alternate cup rows, each cup carrying one bulb taken from the happer. Single bulbs from each of the two-cup row metering mechanisms fall into each one of the two previously constructed furrows. Finally the Planter was evaluated. Results indicated no damage of the bulbs. Percent bulbs with no diversion from the predetermined bulb spacing and final mean measured spacings were 77 and 85 respectively. Field capacity of Planter was 0.12 ha/hr at a speed of 3km/hr. When speed increased from 3 to 4 km/hr, number of bulbs sown per meter length decreased for about 14.2 percent.

In this research, the pneumatic Planter made in karaj Tarashkade company and the driller made in Dezful Sanatkaran company, was compared and evaluated. The independent variables include, the type of Planter at two levels (row crop Planter and driller), two types of seed bed (smooth bed and plowed land), three ground speed (3, 5 and 7 km/h), 4 seed type (tomato, onion, radish and lettuce). The dependent variables include the seed’ s lateral dispersion coefficient compared to the straight line, the seeds breakage percentage and the effect of metering devise on seed breakage and viability and the rate of seed shattering losses per hectare. In this test, a statistical software program MSTATC and split plot based on randomized complete block design with three replications was used. The results showed that: The optimal Index values for the rate of seeding per hectare is obtained was (0. 07 kg), seed’ s lateral dispersion coefficient in the straight line obtained (2. 5 mm), percentage of seeds breakage and effect of the metering device on viability after passing the metering device was (0%). Therefore with respect to the seed’ s lateral dispersion coefficient compared to the straight line and the rate of seed shattering losses per hectare index, row crop Planter is better than driller. With respect to the seeds breakage percentage index and due to the misalignment of the cell's seed Planters, row crop Planter had more breakage than driller. With respect to the effect of metering devise on seed viability index, there was no significant difference between the two Planters.

In this study an innovatively designed tractor-mounted, ground-wheel driven, triple unit, row crop precision Planter capable of planting three rows of garlic (Allium sativum L.) cloves on each raised bed was designed, fabricated and tested. The major components of this Planter include; chassis and transport wheels, lister-bedder unit, seed hopper, seed metering drum, sweeper, knocker, seed tube, furrow openers and seed coverers. The metering drums and sweepers are driven by two ground wheels through a chain drive system. Laboratory evaluation of the Planter components, especially the seed metering mechanism revealed a satisfactory performance of the Planter components, except a few modifications which were needed before conducting field tests. The performance parameters measured/calculated during the field tests included: seeding mass rate, seeding depth, seed spacing, miss index, and multiple index and seed damage. The results showed that the new machine is capable of planting 220,000 plants ha-1 at the seeding depth and spacing of 12.3 and 22.7 cm, respectively. Also, miss index, multiple index and seed damage were measured as 12.23, 2.43 and 1.41 percent, respectively.

Saffron is one of the most critical and valuable medicinal plants. The lack of mechanized planting of saffron corm and the high costs of labor in the limited planting time is one of the problems in the cultivation of this medicinal plant. The present study aimed to construct and evaluate a machine that can plant saffron corm at the desired intervals without having the corms damaged. For this purpose, first, a five-row Planter machine with the ability to plant 5 to 10 tons of saffron corms per hectare was designed and developed. Then, under field conditions, two container volumes (full and half full) and two planting velocities (3 and 6 km/h) were examined using different planting indices. In the machine's structure, a continuous flow spoon chain feeder was installed in the bottom of the corms container and led the corms to the furrowers by five outlet ducts. The results of saffron corm Planter evaluation performed in field conditions showed that the efficiency of the spoon chain feeder is suitable. The measurement of planting traits showed that with increasing velocity and decreasing the container volume, the distribution uniformity of corms around the mean of the obtained distances and around the set distance, uniformity of corm depth and feed quality index decrease; but the none-planting and multiple-planting indices and coefficient of variation of intervals increase. This machine can be replaced by labor and it is better to use it at a speed of 3 km/h and with a modified container.

In order to evaluate different Planters for mechanized sugarbeet planting, this study was conducted in Khorasan province (Jovein area). Field tests were conducted using strip plot design. Experimental factors consisted of: i) planting methods with Tarashkadeh vaccum Planter (a1) Rau vaccum Planter (a2) and Accord plate-type mechanical Planter (a3) and ii) forward speeds with planting speed at 4 km/h (b1) and planting speed at 6 km/h (b2). In this study root yield, sugar porcent, Planter wheel slippage, seed damage, seed germination, plant stand, seed consumption and drilled seed distribution were measured. It was shown that Planter type had significant effect on yield at 5% probability level. Maximum yield was obtained using Rau Planter with 4 km/h forward speed (96.67 ton/ha). Planter type and planting speed also had significant effect on germination at 1% probability level, but their interaction was not significant. Tarashkadeh vaccum Planter with 4 km/h forward speed had maximum seed germination (77.67%). Coefficients of seed distribution were measured for all Planters and Tarashkadeh vaccum Planter with 4 km/h forward speed had maximum seed distribution uniformity in adjusted distances (56.89%) and in average distances (58.62%). Consequently pneumatic Planters had better performance than mechanical Planters and Tarashkadeh vaccum Planter was better than other pneumatic Planters.

One method of seed placement into the soil as regards no-till system is the use of punch planting by which one can plant through a considerable depth of surface residue. The study was conducted using a 2x3 split-plot experimental design of three replications. The factors considered were two types of plantes (conventional Planter vs. hinging pneumatic Punch Planter) and three levels of wheat residue (0, 30 and 60%). Field study was conducted to compare the effects of type of Planter and wheat residue on indices of com planting. The analysis of the obtained data indicated that types of Planter and different levels of wheat residue exert meaningful effects on miss, quality of feed and precision indices. Furthermore, results show that by augment of wheat residue, miss and precision indices are increased while the quality of feed index follows a descending trend. These factors do not exert any significant effects on multiple index. Also the results showed that different levels of wheat residue lay significant effects on emergence rate, shoot and root height, shoot and root dry weight, vigour Seed 1 and 2 and as well on relative growth rate indices. The types of Planter have significant effects on emergence rate; root height and on root dry weight. The most appropriate performance of a hinging pneumatic punch Planter is finally recommended in a field that is under the coverage of 30% residue.

Objective: In recent years, farmers have shown great interest to using native drill Planter rather than complex Planters to grow vegetables.Methods: In this study, we tested a native Planter Independent variables were the two types of substrate surface (asphalt and plowed field), three ground speed (3, 5 and 7 kph) and four types of seeds (tomatoes, onions, radishes and lettuce). Dependent variables were the seed’s lateral dispersion coefficient compared to the straight line, seed shedding rate per unit area. effect Percentage of metering device on seed viability, and breakage percentage of seeds after crossing the metering device.Results: The results showed that, the rate of seed shedding per hectare declines in all seeds along with increasing ground speed. However the lateral dispersion coefficient of the straight line planting has increasing trend along with increasing ground speed and the both parameters are lower in asphalt’s substrate surface than the cultivated ground. breakage percentage of seeds and effect Percentage of metering device on the viability of seeds after passing through the Planter are also very low. It assume that use of the Planter in front of method of hand cultivation reduce some costs such as costs of seed’s purchase.

The most widely used machine for precision sowing of cucumber and sorghum seeds is considered as the vacuum type. The performance and distribution accuracy of the vacuum type metering unit is of great importance. Therefore, the experiments at three pressures of 25, 35, 45 mbar and two levels of forward speed in the ranges of 3 to 4.5 km/h and 6 to 8.5 km/h were conducted and multiple planting, feeding quality and miss planting determined. In the meantime, a motion model is constructed using Kalman filter to track and draw the seed trajectories. Based on the analysis of seeds falling trajectories, it was found that there was a close relationship between seeds’ falling trajectories and uniformity of seeding. The optimum levels of vacuum pressure and forward speed for precision seeding were found to be 35 mbar, 3 to 4.5 km/h, and 35 mbar, 3 to 4.5 km/h for cucumber and sorghum seeds, respectively. Finally, it was perceived that with increase in forward speed at inappropriate vacuum pressure, percentage of deviated seeds from a straight movement was increased, which caused decrease of seed distribution uniformity.

In order to develop the pasture, soil conservation and increasing the soil infiltration by using the applicable methods such as agricultural machinery and no tillage or minimum tillage system are very important. In this regard, the husk properties as herbal mulch, and also the physical properties of species including Secale montanum, Festuca arundinacea and Bromus tomentellus, were studied. A mulch-Planter was designed and then constructed, to place a band of mulch into the soil simply. Also planting seeds for developing of pasture land could provide an appropriate seed bed in the soil. For this purpose, a mechanism was constructed and installed on the machine, which could be able to plant seeds. The other advantage of mulch-Planter was attaching to tractor three-point hitch, and used in no tillage system. The results of farm practices showed that using the machine was acceptable. This machine used two levels 1162 and 1744kg/ha of mulch and 6.7 to 18kg/hectare of species seeds. The forward speed of machine was 4km/h and the required energy was low. Three kinds of species, three amounts of mulch, and two depths of seed planting were examined. The results of the agronomic operations and application of mulch-Planter with no tillage practices showed that the machine was efficient. At last, analysis of the data including number of growing plants and percentage of plant emerging showed that there was significant difference among factors. Use of mulch on species of Secale montanum seemed to be not advisable.