A p r e c i s i o n planter for e x p e r i m e n t a l sugarbeet plots
G E R A L D E . C O E1
Received for publication July 31, 1972
2I n 1 9 7 1 , a J o h n D e e r e M o d e l 33 V e g e t a b l e P l a n t e r was modified at t h e Plant I n d u s t r y Station, Beltsville, M a r y l a n d for use in p l a n t i n g e x p e r i m e n t a l s u g a r b e e t plots. In 1972, t h e s a m e type p l a n t e r was modified at F a r g o , N o r t h Dakota with t h e a d d i t i o n of several features n o t f o u n d o n t h e Beltsville p l a n t e r . T h e p l a n t e r d e v e l o p e d a t Beltsville is d e s c r i b e d first, t h e n t h e i m p r o v e d F a r g o m o d e l .
E x p e r i m e n t a l s u g a r b e e t plots a r e usually p l a n t e d with h i g h seed rates necessitating a laborious blocking a n d singling o p e r a t i o n . Skoyen a n d M c F a r l a n e ( l )3 c o n s t r u c t e d a c o n e p l a n t e r for e x p e r i m e n t a l plots which r e d u c e d t h e a m o u n t o f seed n e e d e d for p l a n t i n g a n d t h e labor r e q u i r e d for t h i n n i n g a n d singling. A precision p l a n t e r allows t h e o p e r a t o r to select t h e hill spacing. O n l y occasionally a r e skips in t h e row c a u s e d by t h e failure of all cells to fill. O u r goal was t h e a v o i d a n c e of any h a n d labor in plots p l a n t e d with m o n o g e r m s u g a r b e e t seed except for h o e i n g of t h e alleyways between plots.
Adaptation of planter for experimental plots
To a d a p t this type of p l a n t e r to e x p e r i m e n t a l plots, a device was r e q u i r e d to i n s u r e a good cell fill with small q u a n t i t i e s of seed, a n d a n o t h e r device was n e e d e d for r a p i d a n d t h o r o u g h c l e a n - o u t a t t h e e n d of a plot.
O n the J o h n D e e r e M o d e l 3 3 p l a n t e r , t h e seed plate a n d h o p p e r a r e tilted at a 45° a n g l e . W h e n two or m o r e seeds lodge in a cell at t h e b o t t o m of t h e h o p p e r , all e x c e p t o n e fall off (with r a r e exceptions) as t h e cell m o v e s t o w a r d t h e a p e x of its trajectory a r o u n d t h e seed h o p - p e r . To solve t h e p r o b l e m of h a n d l i n g a small q u a n t i t y of seed, a m e t a l insert was built originally to fit inside t h e seed h o p p e r . T h i s was d i s c a r d e d in 1972 for a b e t t e r solution to this p r o b l e m which was conceived q u i t e i n d e p e n d e n t l y a n d a t a b o u t t h e s a m e t i m e a t b o t h
1Research Geneticist, Applied Plant Genetics Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, U.S.
D e p a r t m e n t of A g r i c u l t u r e , Beltsville, Maryland 2 0 7 0 5 .
2M e n t i o n of a t r a d e m a r k or p r o p r i e t a r y p r o d u c t does not constitute a g u a r a n t e e or w a r r a n t y of the p r o d u c t by t h e U.S. D e p a r t m e n t of Agriculture, a n d does not imply its a p p r o v a l to t h e exclusion of o t h e r p r o d u c t s that may also be suitable.
3N u m b e r s in p a r e n t h e s e s refer to literature cited.
V O L . 17, N o . 3, A P R I L 1973 2 2 1
Beltsville, M a r y l a n d a n d F a r g o , N o r t h D a k o t a . T h e valley o f t h e p l a n t e r p l a t e was filled in w i t h plastic a u t o m o b i l e b o d y filler at Beltsville ( e p o x y a t F a r g o ) (Fig. 2 o f B u g b e e a n d P a z d e r n i k ' s p a p e r ) s o t h a t small s e e d q u a n t i t i e s w o u l d r i d e o u t n e x t t o t h e cells a n d d r o p i n t o t h e m . I n a d d i t i o n , a t Beltsville a p i e c e o f s p r i n g m e t a l was a t t a c h e d t o t h e s e e d h o p p e r s o t h a t i t w o u l d r i d e o n t o p o f t h e p l a n t e r p l a t e n e x t t o t h e cells a b o u t h a l f w a y b e t w e e n t h e l o w e r m o s t p o i n t o f t h e s e e d h o p p e r a n d t h e d r o p t u b e (Fig. 1). T h e p u r p o s e o f t h i s m e t a l t i n e i s t o c a u s e t h e excess s e e d s t o fall t o t h e l o w e r m o s t p o i n t o f t h e s e e d h o p p e r s o o n e r t h a n t h e y o t h e r w i s e w o u l d , t h e r e b y a s s u r i n g a b e t t e r cell fill a t t h e e n d o f t h e plot.
A n a l u m i n u m b a r f i l l e d t h e s p a c e a b o v e t h e l e d g e inside t h e s e e d
hopper.
Figure 1.—Metal tine installed in seed hopper to deflect excess seeds to bottom of hopper.
T h e i n s t a l l a t i o n o f a o n e - w a y o v e r r i d i n g c l u t c h was r e q u i r e d o n t h e s p r o c k e t e n d o f t h e s e e d h o p p e r t o p e r m i t r a p i d c l e a n - o u t o f excess s e e d s a t t h e e n d o f a p l o t . A f a u c e t h a n d l e was installed o n t h e o t h e r e n d o f t h e s e e d h o p p e r d r i v e s h a f t f o r m a n u a l t u r n i n g ( F i g u r e 2). T h e o v e r r i d i n g c l u t c h was a B e n d i x s t a r t e r d r i v e ( p a r t n u m b e r 4 8 0 1 1 0 )2.
2 Mention of a trademark or proprietary product does not constitute a guarantee or warranty of the product by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and does not imply its approval to the exclusion of other products that may also be suitable.
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Figure 2.—Steam valve handle installed on right end of seed hopper shaft for manually turning seed plate.
The keeper, spring, and washers were all removed, along with the bushing from inside the small end. The end of the seed hopper drive shaft was turned on a lathe to make it fit inside the smaller end of the starter drive. The proximal end of the sprocket holder was also turned to fit inside the larger end of the starter drive. Holes were drilled through both ends of the starter drive, the end of the seed hopper shaft and the proximal end of the sprocket holder. Hollow split pins inserted through these holes fastened these pieces together. The installation of the clutch moved the hopper shaft sprocket outward about 1 1/4 inches.
Spacers were required for the chain tightener and the chain guard, and an insert was required for the drive wheel sprocket holder in order to bring them in line with the seed hopper sprocket (Figure 3). A piece of galvanized pipe, fitted over the opposite end of the seed hopper shaft, extended it to a point outside the planter frame. A steam faucet handle was then attached to the outer end of the pipe.
Seeding operation
Accurate seed sizing is necessary to insure the occurrence of one
and only one seed per planter plate cell. Large polished seeds were
V O L . 17, No. 3, A P R I L 1973 223
Figure 3.—One-way overriding clutch installed on John Deere Model 33 vegetable planter unit, a - Beridix starter drive; b - spacer for chain tight- ener; c - spacers for chain guard; d - machined spacer for drive wheel sproc- ket.
s c r e e n e d t h r o u g h r o u n d h o l e s c r e e n s t o o b t a i n s e e d s f r o m 10/64 t o 1 1/64 of an i n c h in d i a m e t e r . S m a l l e r s e e d s w e r e s c r e e n e d to o b t a i n s e e d f r o m 8/64 t o 81/2/64 o f a n i n c h i n d i a m e t e r . O n l y s e e d o f a single size was u s e d i n a n e x p e r i m e n t . E x p e r i m e n t s w e r e a r r a n g e d i n t h e n u r s e r y s o t h a t a m i n i m u m n u m b e r o f s e e d p l a t e c h a n g e s was n e c e s - s a r y . F o u r p l a n t e r u n i t s w e r e p l a c e d o n a r e a r - m o u n t e d b a r o f t h e t r a c t o r . O n e a t t e n d a n t o p e r a t e d e a c h o f t h e s e u n i t s .
S i n g l e r o w p l o t s 2 0 f t l o n g w e r e p l a n t e d i n o u r n u r s e r y . A p a c k e t o f s e e d was p r e p a r e d for e a c h 2 0 f t p l o t . E a c h s e e d p a c k e t c o n t a i n e d t e n s e e d s m o r e t h a n t h e p l a n t e r p l a t e d e l i v e r e d while t h e p l a n t e r was t r a v e l i n g t h e l e n g t h o f t h e p l o t . T h e s e excess s e e d s w e r e " s p u n o u t " o f t h e s e e d h o p p e r a t t h e e n d o f t h e p l o t . Plots u p t o 4 0 o r 5 0 f t l o n g c a n b e p l a n t e d w i t h t h e s e a t t a c h m e n t s , b u t a n excess o f t e n s e e d s p e r p a c k e t i s n e e d e d t o i n s u r e p r o p e r cell f i l l a t t h e distal e n d o f t h e plot.
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Seed s p a c i n g is r e g u l a t e d by t h e size a n d c o m b i n a t i o n of s p r o c k e t s used. With a 54-cell plate, seeds may be spaced from 1.85 to 4.50 inches. With a 36 cell plate, seeds may be spaced from 2.75 to 6.8 inches. We spaced o u r l a r g e r sized seed 6.2 inches a n d o u r smaller seed 4.1 inches. T h i s was a p l a n t i n g r a t e of a p p r o x i m a t e l y 2 lbs p e r acre.
A t t h e b e g i n n i n g o f t h e plot t h e a t t e n d a n t p o u r e d t h e seeds f r o m his packet into t h e seed h o p p e r . H e t h e n t u r n e d the h o p p e r shaft m a n u a l l y with t h e faucet h a n d l e until t h e first filled cell of t h e seed plate r e a c h e d t h e t o p of t h e h o p p e r (i.e., t h e first seed was r e a d y to fall d o w n t h e seed tube). T h e t r a c t o r was d r i v e n t h e l e n g t h o f t h e plot.
Excess seeds w e r e s p u n o u t of t h e box m a n u a l l y . A p o i n t e d pot label was useful in assisting t h e last two or t h r e e seeds into t h e cells of t h e plate. W h e n all seeds w e r e s p u n o u t , seed from t h e n e x t packet was p o u r e d into t h e seed h o p p e r , a n d t h e p r o c e d u r e r e p e a t e d . N o space was s k i p p e d between plots, since " s p u n - o u t c l u m p s " of seedlings w e r e located in the alleys between plots. After t h e seedlings e m e r g e d , these c l u m p s w e r e r e m o v e d a l o n g with a d d i t i o n a l hills to c r e a t e 16-inch alleyways.
R e s u l t s
W h e n m o n o g e r m seed was p r o p e r l y sized, we o b t a i n e d from 90 to 9 6 % cell fill with only ten e x t r a seeds in t h e seed h o p p e r . T h i s may be c o m p a r e d t o 9 8 % cell f i l l w h e n t h e a t t a c h m e n t s a r e r e m o v e d from t h e box a n d large quantities of seed a r e u s e d for c o n t i n u o u s p l a n t i n g s . T h e r e w e r e almost no cells which d e l i v e r e d two seeds to t h e seed t u b e . W7hen p r o p e r l y sized m u l i t g e r m seeds w e r e used, cell fill was only a b o u t 8 5 % a s c o m p a r e d t o 9 6 % cell f i l l w h e n t h e a t t a c h m e n t s a r e r e m o v e d for c o n t i n u o u s p l a n t i n g s . T h e f i n a l stands o f beets w e r e satisfactory b o t h years this p l a n t e r was u s e d . T h e application of p r e e m e r g e n c e a n d p o s t e m e r g e n c e h e r b i c i d e s in c o n j u n c t i o n with this s e e d i n g m e t h o d resulted in t h e best weed c o n t r o l e v e r e x p e r i e n c e d in o u r n u r s e r y plots. No h o e i n g or cultivation was necessary before "lay- by" this year, t h e second y e a r of its use. W e e d control last year was s o m e w h a t less successful b u t still g o o d . T w o new factors c o n t r i b u t e d to t h e success of t h e herbicides: (1) q u i c k e r c o v e r a g e of the soil surface by t h e closer spaced s u g a r b e e t p l a n t s ; a n d (2) leaving t h e soil surface u n d i s t u r b e d , t h e r e b y n o t m o v i n g viable weed seeds u p w a r d from lower levels to a zone w h e r e they c o u l d g e r m i n a t e .
An e x p e r i m e n t was n o t set up in 1971 to d e t e r m i n e t h e effect of close seed s p a c i n g on yield. R e c o r d yields in 1971 w e r e probably a t t r i b u t a b l e to e x t r e m e l y favorable climatic c o n d i t i o n s .
Summary
A J o h n D e e r e M o d e l 33 V e g e t a b l e P l a n t e r was modified for preci- sion p l a n t i n g of e x p e r i m e n t a l n u r s e r y plots. An a t t a c h m e n t was con- s t r u c t e d for t h e inside of t h e seed h o p p e r p e r m i t t i n g t h e seed plate to
V O L . 17, No. 3, A P R I L 1973 225
fill p r o p e r l y w i t h s m a l l q u a n t i t i e s of s e e d . A o n e - w a y o v e r r i d i n g c l u t c h was i n s e r t e d i n t h e s e e d h o p p e r shaft o f e a c h p l a n t e r u n i t s o t h a t e a c h shaft c o u l d b e t u r n e d m a n u a l l y for c l e a n - o u t a t t h e e n d o f t h e p l o t s .
P l a n t i n g s t o final hill s p a c i n g s w e r e m a d e . S e e d i n m o s t e x p e r i - m e n t s w e r e s p a c e d 4.1 i n c h e s a p a r t , b u t t h e y w e r e s p a c e d 6.2 i n c h e s a p a r t i n a few e x p e r i m e n t s . S t a n d s w e r e s i n g l e d t o o n e p l a n t p e r hill b y h a n d p u l l i n g e x c e s s p l a n t s . Less t h a n 5 % o f t h e hills i n m o n o g e r m p l a n t i n g s c o n t a i n e d e x t r a s e e d l i n g s . W e e d c o n t r o l was g o o d i n 1971 a n d e x c e l l e n t i n 1 9 7 2 . T h e effect o f close p l a n t s p a c i n g o n yield was n o t d e t e r m i n e d .
A c k n o w l e d g e m e n t
T h e a u t h o r a c k n o w l e d g e s t h e e f f o r t s o f M r . T h o m a s P . Collins, A g r i c u l t u r a l R e s e a r c h S e r v i c e , U . S . D e p a r t m e n t o f A g r i c u l t u r e , Beltsville, M a r y l a n d , w h o d e s i g n e d a n d m a c h i n e d p a r t s a n d a s s e m b l e d t h e s e e d h o p p e r s for this m o d i f i e d p l a n t e r .
Literature Cited
(1) SKOYLN, I.O. a n d J. S. MCFARLANK. 1971. A plot seeder for sugarbeet field experiments. J. Am. Soc. Sugar Beet Technol. 16(5): 422-427.
A p r e c i s i o n p l a n t e r for s u g a r b e e t p l o t s1
W. M. BUGBEE AND K. J. PAZDERNIK2
Received for publication July 31, 1972
C o m m e r c i a l s u g a r b e e t p l a n t e r s c a p a b l e o f p r e c i s i o n p l a c e m e n t o f m o n o g e r m s e e d a r e u s e d t o p r o d u c e a s t a n d t h a t c a n easily b e t h i n n e d m a n u a l l y or m e c h a n i c a l l y . P l a n t i n g to a s t a n d is p o s s i b l e in t h e a b s e n c e o f soil c r u s t i n g , e x c e s s i v e w i n d , a n d s e e d l i n g d i s e a s e . T h i s r e p o r t d e s c r i b e s t h e m o d i f i c a t i o n o f a c o m m e r c i a l p r e c i s i o n p l a n t e r for u s e i n e x p e r i m e n t a l p l o t s .
'Cooperative investigations of ARS and the North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station.
Approved by the Director, North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station as Journal Series Article 527.
Mention of a trademark or proprietary product does not constitute a guarantee or warranty of the product by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and does not imply its approval to the exclusion of other products that may also be suitable.
2Plant Pathologist and Biological Aid, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Ag- riculture, Fargo, North Dakota.
226 JOURNAL OF THE A. S. S. B. T.
A John Deere Model 33 vegetable planter was selected, because its inclined seed box could be altered to permit removal of excess seed at the end of each plot. The seed box was raised about 14 inches (36 cm) by mounting it on a inch (3-mm) steel plate 5 ¼ inches (13.3 cm) wide (Fig. 1, C, top). The seed-drop tube was lengthened and supported by 1.5-inch (38-mm) channel iron and aligned with the seed-drop port of the hopper. The hopper could then be tipped to empty excess seed (Fig. 1, bottom). The driven sprocket, which had a slotted hole, was mounted on the hopper axle with a spring-loaded thumb screw. The driven sprocket could be disengaged from the hopper axle and the seed plate turned by rotating a handle mounted on the axle opposite the sprocket end (Fig. 2, top). This allowed the positioning of seed over the drop tube when a new plot began.
Seed plates were modified. Cell fill was poor when small quantities (30-60) of seed were used in stock plates, because the seed rode in the valley of the plate. This valley was filled with epoxy up to the cells (Fig.
2, bottom), so that even small quantities of seed would ride directly over the cells. Groups of three cells also were filled with epoxy to give 18 open cells. This plate will space-plant at ten different settings, ranging from 5.5 inches to 13.5 inches between seeds. In practice, cell fill was complete until only 6-10 seed remained.
Uniform seed size was essential for desirable stands. A commercial lot of seed was resized through round-hole screens to obtain seed of two sizes: seed that passed through a number 9 (9/64 inch = 3.57 mm) screen and remained on a number 8 (8/64 inch, 3.16 mm) screen, and seed that passed through a number 8 screen and remained on a number 7 (7/64 inch, 2.78 mm) screen. When a John Deere number 31029 planting plate (Fig. 2) was used for planting 8/64 seed, and the spacing was set at 5.5 (14 cm) or 7.9 (20 cm) inches between seed, the stand count ranged from 14 to 42 plants/100 ft (30.5 m). When 7/64-inch seed was used, some of the cells contained two seeds. The final stand ranged from 68 to 94 plants/100 ft, of which 45-62% were doubles. Final stands of 100-120 plants/100 ft are desired in our area.
The poor results of these attempts to plant to a stand were caused by soil crusting and uneven seedbed. Better stands resulted when 8/64-inch seed was used, and a 31189 planting plate was set at 3.4 inches (8.6 cm) between the seed. The frequency of two seed/cell was greater here than with 7/64-inch seed and a 31029 plate. The stand ranged from 102 to 342 plants/100 ft, of which 43-97% were doubles.
This seed size and plate combination seems most desirable to insure an
adequate stand in the Red River Valley of North Dakota and Min-
nesota, where soil crusting and wind often are problems. In the ab-
sence of these limiting factors, and with the use of high-quality seed,
this planter would be capable of planting to a stand. Tractor speeds can
vary from 1.5 to 2.5 miles/hr (2.4 to 4.0 km/m), depending on seed
spacing.
VOL. 17, No. 3, APRIL 1973 227
Figure 1.—(Top). Modified planter assembly in operating position; A:
steel disc welded to hopper shaft to serve as a handle to turn the planter plate when the driven sprocket is disengaged; B. lever used to disengage driven sprocket; C. steel plate used to support the hopper about 14 inches above the original site.
(Bottom). Assembly with hopper tipped to remove excess seed.
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Figure 2.—(Top). Spring-mounted driven sprocket disengaged from the hopper axle so the seed plate can be turned to position seed over the drop tube.
(Bottom). Seed plate filled with epoxy up to the cells.
VOL. 17, No. 3, APRIL 1973 229