Determining the instant downforce for furrow opener types on direct seeding machine

This study was done to determine the instant downforce on field and soil bin conditions and crop emergence values on field condition of four different types (hoe, chisel, double disc and inverted T) of furrow openers which were mounted on a direct seeding machine on different stubble and soil moisture conditions. The study was conducted in Çukurova University Agriculture Faculty Research Farm for two years (2012-2013). A four rowed pneumatic direct seeding machine which is commonly used in Çukurova Region was used in the study. The study was set up in randomized blocks in separated parcels with three replicates on 5.25 da irrigable area. Standing residue, flat residue, %25 residue cover, %50 residue cover and %75 residue cover were used and two soil moisture contents were chosen. The results show that the inverted T type furrow opener gives the best results in mean emergence date, emergence rate index and the percentage of emergence. The highest mean downforces (5319.4 N and 5196.2 N) of two years were determined on hoe type furrow opener. The lowest mean downforces (4960.2 N and 4820.5 N) of two years were determined on inverted T type furrow opener.