DESIGN, DEVELOPMENT AND FIELD EVALUATION OF A PUNCH WHEEL FOR PLANTING ON A CONSERVATION TILLAGE SYSTEM

Applying the precision planters such as punch planters is one of the methods for increasing yield performance by retaining the conservation tillage advantages. In this study, a type of dibble punch planter with seed plate metering device was designed and constructed for corn planting, and wets tested in the field oil three soil conditions (tilled, untilled with no residue, untilled with wheat residue) and at three forward speeds (1.5, 3, 4.5 kmh(-1)). Then, the planter performance was evaluated with quality of feed index, miss index, multiple seed index, depth index and radius of contact cross section area in the field. Field test results showed that the second speed (3 kmh(-1)) has relatively higher feed index. Tire difference of feed index was not significant between tilled soil and untitled soil (with residue) and also between v1 & v2. Also, the difference between the different levels of soil conditions and,forward speeds was significant (p<0.01). It is concluded that optimum speed for applying this planter, was 3kmh(-1) and it is suitable for no-till systems which have residue.