Optimization of Design Parameters of Pneumatic Plug Tray Seeding Mechanism for Cabbage Seed

Abstract

The present study was conducted to optimize the mouth piece diameter and suction pressure of plug tray seeding mechanism of pneumatic seeder for cabbage seeding. The seeding mechanism consisted of a seeding pipe with hypodermic needles as seed picking units, a cut-off device for supplying/cutting suction, a pressure regulating assembly consisting of a vacuum gauge and pressure control valve, and a suction unit. The seeding unit was connected to the pressure regulating assembly by a flexible pipe for easy operation. The responses namely, per cent miss, per cent multiple, per cent single, output, and seed damage were determined in the laboratory for different levels of mouthpiece diameter and suction pressure. Mouthpiece diameter of 0.84 mm and suction pressure of 5.9 kPa were found suitable for cabbage seeding with 92.88% singles and 69 cell.min-1 output capacity. As germination percentage was not affected by the mouthpiece diameter and suction pressure, the quality of the seeds could be expected to remain unaltered.