Development of a manual seeder prototype

In this research, a hand-pulled (manual) seeder prototype was manufactured for seeding small seeds. Seeding performance of developed seeder was tested on field conditions using onion seeds. Field trials were carried out at the forward speeds of 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 m/s. The seeding operation was conducted on a well-tilled soil condition. Horizontal and vertical distributions within the soil were determined. In order to determine the distribution of seeds in the horizontal plane, the seed spacings were measured and to determine seed distribution on vertical plane seeding depth was measured. The mean emergence time and emergence rate index values were calculated to determine the emergence period of seedlings. According to the results of research; forward speed of 1.0 m/s was more appropriate in terms of seed distribution in the horizontal plane. The use of the seeder at all three forward speeds is appropriate in terms of seeding depth distribution. The effect of the forward speed of the developed seeder on the mean emergence time, emergence rate index and percentage of emergence was not statistically important. Percentage of emergence was between 77 and 78%.