WO2009072858A1

WO2009072858A1 - A row seeder for seeding granular seeds such as paddy or the like

Info

Publication number: WO2009072858A1
Application number: PCT/MY2008/000127
Authority: WO
Inventors: Chee Wan Chan
Original assignee: Institut Penyelidikan Dan Kemajuan Pertanian Malaysia (Mardi)
Priority date: 2007-12-05
Filing date: 2008-11-04
Publication date: 2009-06-11
Also published as: MY189131A

Abstract

A pneumatic wetland paddy row seeder comprising of a distributor head fitted with at least one flow rectifier for distribution of materials attached to a horizontal perforated pipe holding a receptacle at each perforation for further distribution of the said materials to a plurality of hose forming a drill assembly for depositing the said materials into the wet soil.

Description

A ROW SEEDER

FOR SEEDING GRANULAR SEEDS SUCH AS PADDY ORTHE LIKE

1. TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention generally relates to a row seeder, especially to a knapsack-powered row seeder for seeding granular seeds such as paddy and the like onto a field of wetland.

2. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Direct seeding by free broadcasting of paddy seed was adopted by many paddy farmers because of inadequate and expensive labour cost in transplanting. Manual and mechanical free-broadcasting of pre- germinated seed under puddle soil is the common practice. Free broadcasting seeding had caused many field management problems such as: inefficient nutrient application, ineffective weed, and pest and disease control, (especially weedy paddy and golden apple snail). Failure to effectively control weeds in broadcasted crop can result in a yield loss of io to 85 %. Manual weed control is effective but difficult to implement in broadcasted crops due to problems in field accessibility and weed identification at early stages of crop growth. This practice is also very labour intensive. Herbicides have been used but it has difficulties especially during the post-establishment phase of crop growth.

The advantages of seeding in rows are: accessibility, is easy to apply pesticides, herbicides and nutrients. There is less plant competition resulting in healthier plants than using free-broadcasting. It also allows early detection for intervention of golden apple snails. The effects of these better crop care practices can result in a higher crop yield than wetland manual free-broadcasting. Manual row seeding is very slow. Current tractor mounted seed drilling row machines are not suitable under puddle

SUBSTITUTE SHEET soil conditions as they are designed for dry land operation. Manually pulled row seeder is very slow and caused drudgery of pulling the seeder in wet and sticky fields.

The other advantages of row seeding to manual broadcasting are; more uniform, easier plant replacement, less plant competition and organized crop which allows easier crop management than free - broadcasting method currently practised by many farmers, hence a better yield potential and hence a better profit margin in the total cost of production.

Currently there are no available knapsack powered wetland paddy seeders. However, there are some commercially available flexible plastic hose with perforated pipe for seeding but are not able to seed in rows. They are also easily blown 'off-shape' or from the horizontal position by wind when operated in an open field such as the paddy field.

Therefore, there arises a need to provide a paddy row seeder that best operate on wetland. Additionally, the row seeder is powered with a knapsack so that it will be light and very portable so as to be able to be carried to any place.

3. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore the primary object of the present invention to provide a knapsack-powered row seeder to directly seed granular seeds such as paddy or the like onto a field of wetland.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a knapsack- powered row seeder that is lightweight can be easily assembled and un- assembled.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a knapsack-powered row seeder that has an acceptably high seeding and working rate.

These and other objects of the present invention is achieved by, A row seeder (l) for seeding granular seeds such as paddy or the like onto a field, said row seeder (l) comprising of: a knapsack powered blower (11); a detachable hopper (12) for containing said granular seeds; a pneumatic hose (13) in fluid connection from said knapsack powered blower (11) and said detachable hopper (12); a distributor head (14) at one end of said pneumatic hose (13), said distributor head (14) being fitted with at least one flow rectifier (15) for distribution of said granular seeds; and a distribution pipe (16) provided with a plurality of equally spaced apart perforation, said distribution pipe (16) adapted for connection to said distributor head (14) for further distribution of said granular seeds; characterised by said distribution pipe (16) being provided with a plurality of rubber hose (17) forming a drill assembly for depositing said granular seeds into said field.

The present invention is a row seeder (1) for seeding granular seeds such as paddy or the like onto a field, preferably wet field. The row seeder (1) uses existing knapsack-powered blower (11) found in the market as the power source. A detachable hopper (12) is provided for containing the granular seeds and is in fluid connection to the knapsack powered blower (11) through a pneumatic hose (13). At the end of the hose (13) a distributor head (14) fitted with at least one flow rectifier (15) is provided for controlling even distribution of the granular seeds to both sides of a

SUBSTITUTE SHEET distribution pipe (16). The distribution pipe (16) is provided with a plurality of equally spaced-apart perforation where each perforation will have a rubber hose (17) forming a drill assembly for depositing the granular seeds into the soil. Each perforation is also equipped with a receptacle (18) for trapping a pre-determined amount of the granular seeds to fall into the rubber hose (17).

Preferably the knapsack-powered blower (11) is carried by two operators, one at each end. Both ends of the apparatus are strapped to the first operator and the second operator respectively and they operate it along the field where the seeds are to be seeded. The directions of seeding are in rows.

Preferably this apparatus can also be mounted on a prime mover for seeding vast field not practical for manual operation.

The present invention is a low initial investment to the farmers and in addition many of them will find it easy to use since they are familiar with knapsack-powered blower. The seeder also gives a high working capacity, is lightweight, low cost, durable and ergonomically designed.

Currently, the knapsack-powered blower is a popular machine owned by many farmers, custom operators, farmers' organizations, group farming and estate farming operators. The innovative design of this knapsack-powered row seeder attachment allows easy field operation under unfavorable soft paddy fields and on-farm accessibility faced by pedestrian and 4-wheel tractors which is a big constraint in many of the Malaysian farms. The ease of field operation coupled with the attractive work rate will make it useful for many farmers to use it. Furthermore, there is a huge potential for its use in countries having similar paddy production method as Malaysia.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET 4- BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred embodiment of the invention will be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. i is a perspective view of a row seeder according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view of the pneumatic hose joined to the horizontal perforated pipe showing the T-joint and the position of three rectifiers. Each rectifier consists of two cross plates at the axle.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the float at each lower end of the apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a receptacle. One side is open and the other side is partially covered with a plate.

5. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring now to FIG. i is a perspective view of a row seeder according to one embodiment of the present invention. In the broadest aspect of the present invention, the row seeder (1) comprises a knapsack-powered blower (11), a detachable hopper (12), main conduit (13), a detachable hopper (12), a distributor head (14) and a distribution pipe (16). The unique feature of the present invention is the provision of outlet conduit (17) made of rubber hose forming a drill assembly that enables the granular seeds to be deposited into the soft ground.

The knapsack-powered blower (11) is a standard machine available in the market. In fact, many farmers are having the machines mainly for spraying pesticides and herbicides and to a certain extent fungicides. The detachable hopper (12) is also a standard fixture where any type of hopper that can handle granular materials may be used. The hopper is of the type having an inlet for introducing the granular materials and an outlet for discharging the materials. The main conduit (13) preferably a pneumatic hose connects the knapsack-powered blower (11) to the outlet of the hopper (12) and to the distributor head (14). The granular seeds that fall into the outlet of the hopper (12) will be blown away through the main

SUBSTITUTE SHEET conduit (13) into the distributor head (14) having a T-shape and to the distribution pipe (16) for discharging into the soil. The distributor head (14) is fitted with at least one flow rectifier (15) for evenly distributing the granular seed flow into the distribution pipe (16). The distribution pipe (16) is provided with a plurality of perforation (not shown) and each perforation is provided with a receptacle (18) for trapping a pre-determined amount of flowing granular seeds. An outlet conduit (17) is fitted to every perforation forming a drill assembly for depositing the granular seeds into the wet field. Additionally, the row seeder (1) is provided with a frame (19) and a float (19A) at each end of the frame (19) to support and facilitate the row seeder (1) to be moved around on the wet land.

In the preferred embodiment, seed and/ or fertilizer or similar particulate material is fed by a knapsack-powered blower (11) from a hopper (12) to a main conduit (13) through which air passes at a rate sufficient to ensure that the material is picked up by the air stream and transported. A T-distributor head (14) receives the material and delivers it pneumatically to a plurality of receptacles (18) fitted at each perforation along the distribution pipe (16). The distributor head (14) has cross rectifiers (15) to distribute the material. A plurality of outlet conduit (17) extends from each receptacle (18) to the outlet to seed the granular seeds. Each receptacle (18) is designed to concentrate the material centrally so that it strikes the receptacle (18) surface plate (18A) centrally and is thus spread evenly to all of the outlet conduits (17) extending downward from the two long horizontal distribution pipe (16) pipes thus ensuring even distribution of the seeds. The receptacle plate (18A) is joined to the receptacle (18) by a spring-like member (18B) or equivalent firmly threaded fittings or glued on. This controls the flow of the granular seeds to the outlet conduits.

The row seeder (1) is supported by a rectangular frame (19). An operator at either end of the assembly carries a strap (19B) which is

SUBSTITUTE SHEET attached to the rectangular frame (19) and adjusted by a tensioning cable (19C). Each end of the sides of the assembly rests on a float (19A) which slides on the wet soil.

The row seeder (1) of the present invention is specially suited for operation under wet and puddle soil surface. The field needs to be rotovated twice in the wet at one week interval followed by drainage and subsequent leveling and smoothing using a 2-metre wooden plank drawn behind a 12-horse power pedestrian power tiller or equivalent machine.

The next day after field drainage and leveling, paddy seeds which have been soaked for 8 hours and air dried for another 8 hours are seeded.

The field operation requires three workers of which two are for feeding and carrying the assembly and one to help in refilling the feeds. Before seeding, bags of soaked seeds are placed at refilling locations. The knapsack-powered blower discharge is set at negative link fifth position to discharge 1.3 kg/min of soaked seed which is equivalent to 60 kg seed/ha with a walking speed of 0.7 m/s. The two workers holding the pipe of the frame must maintain the row seeder attachment outlets above the sticky mud surface, as any mud which sticks onto the outlets will result in ineffective seeding. This is easily done with the two floats at the base of the frame by sliding on the soil surface. It is best to seed along the long side of the field to reduce the number of turnings at the headland. The work rate is comparable to the manual free broadcasting and 40 times faster than the manual row seeding method as shown in the following table.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET Labour comparison between seed drill, free broadcast and the present invention to direct seed iom x 30 m plot of moist/wet paddy field.

Labour comparison to direct seed iom x 30 m plot of moist/wet paddy field

*8 hours per man-day

SUBSTITUTE SHEET

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

l. A row seeder (l) for seeding granular seeds such as paddy or the like onto a field, said row seeder (i) comprising of: a knapsack powered blower (11); a detachable hopper (12) for containing said granular seeds; a pneumatic hose (13) in fluid connection from said knapsack powered blower (11) and said detachable hopper (12); a distributor head (14) at one end of said pneumatic hose (13), said distributor head (14) being fitted with at least one flow rectifier (15) for distribution of said granular seeds; and a distribution pipe (16) provided with a plurality of equally spaced apart perforation, said distribution pipe (16) is adapted for connection to said distributor head (14) for further distribution of said granular seeds; characterised by said distribution pipe (16) being provided with a plurality of rubber hose (17) forming a drill assembly for depositing said granular seeds into said field.

2. A row seeder as claimed in Claim 1, further characterised by said plurality of rubber hose (17) projecting outwardly from each perforation along said distribution pipe (16).

3. A row seeder as claimed in Claim 1, further characterised by each of said plurality of rubber hose (17) having a receptacle (18) embedded in said perforation to control granular seeds passing to each drill.

4. A row seeder as claimed in Claim 1, where each end of said distribution pipe (16) is supported by a frame resting on a float (19).

SUBSTITUTE SHEET

5- A row seeder as claimed in Claim l, where each end of said distribution pipe (16) is fixed to a tension cord and a strap for mounting onto a mover.

6. A row seeder as in as claimed in Claim 5, where the mover is comprising of human, animal, pedestrian tractor or wheeled tractor.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET