Precision SeedingPrecision Seeding

Matt BraunMatt Braun

Soil 4213Soil 4213

Precision SeedingPrecision Seeding

Definition: Definition: Placing of desired numbers of Placing of desired numbers of seeds at a precise depth and spacing.seeds at a precise depth and spacing.

Seeding accuracy is not a substitute for Seeding accuracy is not a substitute for proper land preparation, water/nutrient/pest proper land preparation, water/nutrient/pest management, and seed quality necessary to management, and seed quality necessary to obtain a good stand.obtain a good stand.

Plant Is At Optimum Spot For Growth And Plant Is At Optimum Spot For Growth And DevelopmentDevelopment

Reduced Seed Cost Reduced Seed Cost Greater Crop Uniformity Due To Equal Greater Crop Uniformity Due To Equal

Seed Spacing.Seed Spacing. Even Crop Emergence Across Field Even Crop Emergence Across Field Economic BenefitEconomic Benefit

i.e. More PROFIT i.e. More PROFIT

BenefitsBenefits

Examine PlanterExamine Planter

Level PlanterLevel Planter Check Bushings, Check Bushings,

Bearings, Drive Bearings, Drive ChainsChains

Calibrate MetersCalibrate Meters Check Disc OpenersCheck Disc Openers Seed TubesSeed Tubes Closing WheelsClosing Wheels Examine Monitors Examine Monitors

and Sensorsand Sensors

Seed Tube WearSeed Tube Wear

• Worn Tubes Can Cause Slower Seed Delivery and Uneven Spacing

Checking MetersChecking Meters

Meter Max Plus SystemMeter Max Plus System System mounts your meter System mounts your meter

on a stand, fill it with the on a stand, fill it with the type and size of seed you type and size of seed you plan to plant, and then plan to plant, and then simply count the number of simply count the number of times there is an empty cell times there is an empty cell and the number of time it and the number of time it picks up two or more seeds picks up two or more seeds (a double or a triple). (a double or a triple).

MetersMeters

Planting SpeedPlanting Speed

Speed of planting will depend on the Speed of planting will depend on the seeder, but operation of a seeder above seeder, but operation of a seeder above recommended speeds results in reduced recommended speeds results in reduced uniformity, seed scatter, and poor stands uniformity, seed scatter, and poor stands

Guidance SystemGuidance System

Delbert Armstrong of Winterville, North Delbert Armstrong of Winterville, North CarolinaCarolina Able to watch planter with auto steerAble to watch planter with auto steer Reduces operator stressReduces operator stress Reduces overlap Reduces overlap Less wear and tear on your equipmentLess wear and tear on your equipment

Use of GPS/GIS can shut of rows at Use of GPS/GIS can shut of rows at proper time and alter seeding rateproper time and alter seeding rate

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT??WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT??

Pioneer StudyPioneer Study

Looked at four fields in 2001, plant spacing standard deviations ranged from 3.2 to 6.9 inches. Improving the plant spacing standard deviation from its original level down to zero predicted grain yield increases of 7 to 19 bu/acre. The results of this study suggest that if the within-row plant spacing standard deviation could be improved by only one inch, the resulting yield benefit would be about 3.4 bu/acre

Other StudiesOther Studies

Field survey data collected from 354 fields Field survey data collected from 354 fields in Indiana and Ohio during 1987-1996 in Indiana and Ohio during 1987-1996 suggested that the average commercial suggested that the average commercial field of corn had a Standard Deviation of field of corn had a Standard Deviation of about 4.5 inches and ranged from slightly about 4.5 inches and ranged from slightly less than 2.5 inches to more than 10 less than 2.5 inches to more than 10 inches inches

Spacing VariabilitySpacing Variability

R.L. Nelson, Purdue UniversityR.L. Nelson, Purdue University The results of field research suggested that The results of field research suggested that

yield loss due to uneven plant spacing yield loss due to uneven plant spacing averaged 2.5 averaged 2.5 bushels per acrebushels per acre per inch per inch increase in Standard Deviation of plant increase in Standard Deviation of plant spacing. spacing.

The magnitude of yield loss observed over 8 The magnitude of yield loss observed over 8 site-years ranged from 1.2 to 4.5 bpa per inch site-years ranged from 1.2 to 4.5 bpa per inch of SD. of SD.

Spacing VariabilitySpacing Variability

Other research reported no relationship Other research reported no relationship with row spacing variabilitywith row spacing variability

Purdue investigated with goal of determing Purdue investigated with goal of determing whether varying levels of plant spacing whether varying levels of plant spacing variability influence corn grain yield in variability influence corn grain yield in fields planted to a single seeding rate. fields planted to a single seeding rate.

Created artificial STD Created artificial STD w/ in rows. w/ in rows.

Targeted seeding rate Targeted seeding rate was 34,848 SPAwas 34,848 SPA

Created Standard Created Standard Deviations of Deviations of 0,2,4,6,8 in. each row0,2,4,6,8 in. each row

ResultsResults

The results of large-scale The results of large-scale field research during field research during 2004 indicate that uneven 2004 indicate that uneven plant spacing within rows plant spacing within rows decreases corn grain decreases corn grain yield at a rate of yield at a rate of approximately 2.2 approximately 2.2 bushels per acre for bushels per acre for every inch increase in every inch increase in standard deviation of standard deviation of plant-to-plant spacing.plant-to-plant spacing.

Targeted Targeted STDSTD

Grain Grain YieldYield

00 192.4192.4

22 191.8191.8

44 188.2188.2

66 183.6183.6

88 178.5178.5

ReferencesReferences

www.precisionseeding.netwww.precisionseeding.net www.precisionplanting.comwww.precisionplanting.com http://www.pioneer.com/http://www.pioneer.com/ http://www.agry.purdue.edu/ext/corn/reseahttp://www.agry.purdue.edu/ext/corn/resea

rch/psv/Update2004.htmlrch/psv/Update2004.html