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1. INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND OF THE PROJECT

In the farming process, often used conventional seeding operation takes more time and more
labor. The seed feed rate is more but the time required for the total operation is more and the
total cost is increased due to labor, hiring of equipment. The conventional seed sowing machine
is less efficient, time consuming. Todays era is marching towards the rapid growth of all
sectors including the agricultural sector. To meet the future food demands, the farmers have to
implement the new techniques which will not affect the soil texture but will increase the overall
crop production.

Agriculture in India:

Agriculture in India has a significant history. Today, India ranks second worldwide in farm
output. Still, agriculture is demographically the broadest economic sector and plays a
significant role in the overall socio-economic fabric of India. The comparison between the
traditional sowing method and the new proposed machine which can perform a number of
Agricultural sector is changing the socio-economic environment of the population due to
liberalization and globalization. About 75% people are living in the rural area and are still
dependent on agriculture. About 43% of geographical area is used for agricultural activity.

The major occupation of the Indian rural people is agriculture and both men and women are
equally involved in the process. Agriculture has been the backbone of the Indian economy and
it will continue to remain so for a long time. It has to support almost 17% of world population
from 2.3% of world geographical area and 4.2% of worlds water resources. The present
cropping intensity of 137% has registered an increase of only 26% since 1950 51. The net sown
area is 142 Mha.

For the growth of Indian economy, mechanization is necessary. Agricultural mechanization
implies the use of various power sources and improved farm tools and equipment, with a view
to reduce the drudgery of the human beings and draught animals, enhance the cropping
intensity, precision and timelines of efficiency of utilisation of various crop inputs and reduce
the losses at different stages of crop production.The main purpose of mechanization in
agriculture is to improve the overall productivity and production.

Different studies also indicated that net human labour displacement in agricultural operations
was non-significant and it was more than compensated by increased demand for human labour
due to multiple cropping, greater intensity of cultivation and higher yields. Furthermore the
demand for non-farm labour for manufacture, servicing, distribution, repair and maintenance as
well as other complementary jobs substantially increased due to mechanization.

To sum up, agricultural mechanization studies had shown that farm mechanization
led to increase in inputs due to higher average cropping intensity, larger area and
increased the productivity of farm labour. Furthermore, farm mechanization
increased agricultural productivity and profitability on account of timeliness of
operations, better quality of work and more efficient utilization of crop inputs.
Planting is conventionally done manually which involves both animate (humans and draught
animals), this result in higher cost of cultivation and delay in planting.



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Sowing of Seeds :

Seed sowing is the basic block of crop cultivation,hence the agriculture. The basic function of
sowing operation is to sow the seed and fertilizer in rows at required depth and to maintain the
distance between the seeds and provide proper compaction over the seed.

Traditional Sowing Methods :

Traditional methods include broadcasting manually, opening furrows by a country plough and
dropping seeds by hand, known as 'Kera', and dropping seeds in the furrow through a
bamboo/metal funnel attached to a country plough (Pora). For sowing in small areas dibbling
i.e., making holes or slits by a stick or tool and dropping seeds by hand, is practised. Multirow
traditional seeding devices with manual metering of seeds are quite popular with
experienced farmers.

Traditional sowing methods include:
1) Broadcasting manually, opening furrows by a country plough and dropping seeds by hand.
2) Dropping seeds in the furrow through a bamboo/meta flannel attached to a country plough
(Pora).
3) For sowing in small areas dibbling i.e., making holes or slits by a stick or tool and dropping
seeds by hand.

Limitations Traditional sowing methods:

i) Uniformity in seed distribution cannot be achieved by manual planting. There can be an
uneven distribution of seeds in inter-row and intra-row.
ii) Poor control over depth of seed placement.
iii) It is necessary to sow at high seed rate sand bring the plant population to desired level by
thinning.
iv) Labour requirement is high because two persons are required for dropping seed and
fertilizer
thus it increases labour cost.
v) During kharif sowing, placement of seeds at uneven depth may result in poor emergence
because subsequent rains bring additional soil cover over the seed and affect plant
emergence.

Modern sowing methods :

Nowadays, seed sowing is done with the seed sowing machines in most of the agricultural
parts. As day by day the labor availability becomes the great concern for the farmers and labor
cost is more, this machine reduces the efforts and total cost of sowing the seeds and fertilizer
placement. Various types of seed sowing machines are available across the different parts of
the world. The major difference in different designs of these is in type of seed and fertilizer
metering and furrow openers.







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A SOWING MACHINE:

A sowing machine is a device that plants or sows the crops, it digs a furrow places the seed or
seeds into the furrow and covers it. Seed sowing machine ensures uniformity in seed
broadcasting and saves time and money.
A multiseed sowing machine is a type of sowing machine that is used to sow seeds of different
types either at a time or at different times.

A multiseed sowing machine has following advantages over traditional methods by achieving
the follwing:
Required row to row spacing.
Seed rate.
Seed to seed spacing.
Fertilizers placement varies from crop to crop.
Reduced sowing time, human efforts and labour cost.

History review:
1500 B.C. - The idea of dropping seeds through a tube first appeared in Mesopotomia.
In 1701 Jethro Tull invented the first seed drill.
Later on a TWO ROW SEED DRILL was invented to save time and labour by sowing
seeds in two rows at a time.
In 1902 12-row seed sowing machine was invented by Monitor Manufacturing
Company, Minneapolis, Minnesota ; but the accuracy of seed placement was poor.




























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2. LITERATURE SURVEY

In recent years, there has been an acute shortage of agricultural labourers during sowing season
due to increased employment opportunities in urban areas for rural youth.Due to non
availability of labour and work animals during sowing seasons, in many places the seed is sown
even when the soil is at a low moisture content which affects the germination, plan I.stand and
yield. Therefore in order to mechanize crop sowing operation under rainfed conditions, a
suitable seed sowing machine is vital as it places the seed in the zone of adequate moisture and
at desired depth. Also it gives proper seed rate, uniform distribution and correct placement of
seed resulting in higher yield and reduces human physical strain.

Comparitive performance of seeding devices with other sowing methods:

1. Crop yield

Studies in different parts of the country have shown that multiseeding devices introduced in
rainfed areas have increased crop yields by 10 to 20 percent over conventional methods of
seeding due to better plant establishment and proper application of inputs. In most parts of
Nortli India, multi seed-cum-fertilizer machines are used for sowing whereas seed drills are
found in use mostly in the Southern parts of the country.
The review is as follows:
By using three furrow bullock-drawn-multiseed sowing machine , wheat yield was boosted up
to 10.93 percent (average) higher using the same inputs and cultural practice when compared
with the behind the plough sowing (Mehta and Varshney, 1970).Vinod kumar and Rastogi
(1975) compared a bullock drawn Multi seed-cum-fertilizer machine with desi ploughing
techniques for wheal crop. They have reported that an increase in yield by about 10.5 percent
was achieved due to the use of Multi seed-cum-fertilizer machine.

Singh and Chancellor (1977) observed upto 26 percent more yield of wheat by using multi seed
machine at the farmer's field.

Sharma et al., (1984) reported that on an average increase in grain yield of wheat and gram was
24.92 per cent and 20 per cent respectively with the use of multiseed machine over traditional
method

Senapathi et al, (1988) observed thai manually operated Implement Factory Seed Drill has
caused 98 per cent higher yield of paddy when compared with broadcasting.

Shriclar et al., (1992) reported that the groundnut pod yield increase recorded was 23.76 per
cent in tractor drawn cultivator cum seed planter sowing as against the country plough sowing.

2. Energy saving:

It was reported that by using three row bullock drawn multi-seed machine for wheat crop, a
saving of 76.37 percent man hours and 59.92 per cent bullock-hours was obtained when
compared with the behind the plough sowing. (Mehta and Varshney, 1970)

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Singh (1971) revealed that by using a multi-seed drill for wheat crop, a saving of 69.96 per cent
in man-hours and 55.17 percent in bullock hours was achieved when compared, with the
conventional method.

Rastogi and Vinodkuinar (1974) conducted demonstration by using hand seed drill for bajra
sowing which resulted in 75.94 per cent saving in man-hours over the local method.
Vinodkumar and Rastogi (1975) reported that 69.76 percent.

By using tractor drawn multi-seed planter, 91 per cent saving in lime of sowing besides saving
of more than 42 man hour per ha were achieved (Anon. 1987).

Senapathi et al.(1988) observed that manually Operated Implement Factory Seed Drill obtained
an energy saving of 71 per cent when compared with broadcasting.

'I'he animal drawn mechanical sowing has resulted in 49.19 per cent savings in energy in
comparison with the traditional method of sowing wheat crop.(Sharma et al., 1989)

3 . Cost saving :

Singh (1971) reported that using a multi-seed drill for wheat crop reduced the cost of sowing by
roughly about one-fifth of the conventional method.

Rastogi and Vinod Kumar (1974) observed that an average increase of Rs.445/ ha in net. profit
was obtained by using hand seed drill for bajra sowing as against sowing behind the plough.

Sharma et al., (1989) concluded that using the animal drawn mechanical sowing has resulted in
49 per cent savings in the cost of operation in comparison with the traditional method of
sowing wheat crop. The overall benefit was Rs.671.75 / ha.

4. Plant population and seed germination:

Rastogi and Vinodkumar (1974) found that by using hand seed drill for bajra sowing an
average increase in plant population about 26.47 percent was obtained over the local method.

Sirohi (1980) reported that the germination of seed was uniform and was two days faster with
the use of seed drill as compared with the local method of sowing.













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3. PRESENT WORK




3.1 PROBLEM FORMULATION

No provision for Multi seeding in coventional machines ( i.e. sowing of different seeds
in different rows )
Seed and fertilizer flow rate cant be controlled.
A lot of time is needed for sowing of seeds by conventional methods.
No control over the depth of seed placement.
Seed and fertilizer sowing is erratic in nature and also accompanied by loss.
































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3.2 OBJECTIVES

Required row to row spacing can be achieved.
Seed rate can be controlled.
Seed to seed spacing and fertilizers placement varies from crop to crop can be achieved.
This machine reduces the sowing time and labour.
Variety of seed can be sown by this machine.
Proper utilization of seeds and fertilizers can be done with less loss.











































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3.3 METHODOLOGY

PRINCIPLE:- The multiseed sowing machine employs the use of series of gears on a single
shaft which guide the seeds to flow to the pipes extending to the furrows. The extent of
insertion of gears inside the seed feeder is adjustable according to the size of seeds to be sown
by a simple lever mechanism.The field is ploughed with the help of furrows and seeds are sown
into it.

Multiseed sowing machines are provided with seed and fertilizer boxes, metering
mechanism, furrow openers, covering devices, frame, ground drive system and controls for
variation of seed and fertilizer rates. The major difference in different designs of seed
drills/planters is in type of seed and fertilizer metering and furrow openers.


Details of these devices and their roles in achieving the above mentioned objectives are as
follows:

1. Seed Metering Devices:

Metering mechanism is the heart of sowing machine and its function is to distribute seeds
uniformly at the desired application rates. In planters it also controls seed spacings in a row.
A seed drill or planter may be required to drop the seeds at rates varying across wide range.
The most commonly used metering devices are fluted rollers. Axial or helical flutes
are machined or cast on an aluminium, cast iron or plastic roller. Rotation of fluted roller in a
housing, filled with seeds, causes the seeds to flow out from roller housing in a continuous
stream. Seed rate is controlled by changing exposed length of fluted roller in contact with
seeds and fairly accurate seed rate can be achieved for a variety of medium size seeds like
wheat, soybean, sunflower and safflower etc. However, metering of small seeds like mustard
and sesamum at 2 to 5 kg/ha seed rate is not accurate with normal size flutes, designed for
seed rates of 20 to 120 kg/ha. Therefore, fluted rollers with smaller size flutes were
developed. The roller is provided with 10 small flutes of 2x2 mm size approximately. Low seed
rates of 3 to 5 kg/ha can be achieved with this metering roller with an accuracy of 10 per cent.



FIG.1 SEED METERING DEVICE


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2. Seed feeder:
Seed rate can be controlled through the seed feeder. Also different sized seeds can be sowed
by adjusting the inserted length of metering device inside the seed feeder.

Fig : 2 SEED FEEDER Fig : 3 SEED TANK
2. Storage tank
A storage tank is there having two or three partitions to store different types of seeds and
fertilizers

3. Base Plate
A base plate is provided with a nut and bolt or some sliding arrangement for adjusting the
spacing between the furrows as per requirement. Thus, required row to row spacing can be
obtained, the pipes also pass from the metering device through these base plates.

4. Furrow Assembly
Seeds are broadcasted on the soil which results in the loss and damage of the seeds.
As the cost of seeds is more and cannot be affordable for the farmers so there is the need for the
proper placement of seeds in the soil. The shovel type of furrow opener is used for the furrow
opening.
The furrow assembly consists of:
Shank
Tube holder
Tubes for seed and fertilizer

Fig. 4 BASE PLATE Fig. 5 FURROW OPENER

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Types of Furrow Openers :

The design of furrow openers of seed drills varies to suit the soil conditions of particular
region. Most of the seed cum fertilizer drills are provided with pointed tool to form a narrow
slit in the soil for seed deposition.
Shovel type furrow opener
Pointed bar type furrow opener
Shoe type furrow opener

Depth control can be done by adjusting the furrow height either with the help of tractor or by
adjusting directly the furrows.





Fig : 6 PROPOSED ASSEMBLY OF MACHINE












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REFERENCES


Dransfield P S, Willatt T and Willis A H (1965), Soil to Implement Reaction Experienced
with Simple Tines at Various Angle Attack, Journal of Agriculture Engineering Research,
Vol. 9, No. 3, pp. 220-224.

Gupta V K, Vig A C and Ranjodh Singh (1970), Influence of Spacing, Time of
Sowing and Nitrogen Fertilization on the Yield of Wheat, Indian Journal of Agronomy, Vol.
15, pp. 251-253.

Iqbal N, Akbar N, Ali M, Sattar M and Ali L(2005), Effect of Seed Rate and Row
Spacing on Yield and Yield Components of Wheat, Journal of Agricultural
Research, Vol. 48, No. 2.

Mahesh R. Pundkar and A.K.Mahalle A Seed-Sowing Machine: A Review International
Journal of Engineering and Social Science, Volume3, Issue3, ISSN: 2249- 9482.

Aditya Kawadaskar, Dr. S. S. Chaudhari Review of Methods of Seed Sowing Concept of
Multi-Purpose Seed Sowing Machine, International journal of pure and applied research in
engineering and technology, 2013; Volume 1(8): 267-276.

Joginder Singh, Scope, Progress and Constraints of Farm Mechanization in India

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