There is a need for improvement in the agriculture sector, which can be achieved by using advanced technological methods for farming processes like digging, sowing irrigation, etc. Automation reduces labor costs and improves overall productivity without affecting the quality of soil. The seed-sowing machine is a key component of the agricultural field. The various techniques used in Pakistan for seed sowing and fertilizer placement are manual, ox, and tractor operator. The manual and ox operator techniques are time-consuming and productivity is low. Also, the fossil fuel used by the tractor causes emissions to the atmosphere which is hazardous in some quantity.
The main aim of this project is to create a green technology for seed sowing which will be easily operated over solar power by farmers and at low operating cost. Thus, solar operated automatic seed-sowing machines will help the farmers of those remote areas of country where fuel is not available easily. Hence our prominent aim of this project Solar operated automatic seed-sowing machine is to fulfill tasks like digging, seed sowing, and fertilizing by using non-conventional energy sources. At the same time by using solar energy environmental pollution can also be reduced. Thus, aiming to save the revenue of government & also the most demanded fossil fuel.
For a long time, it has been thought that atomic energy would be a solution to the growing energy problem, but in recent times solar energy has proved to be an efficient, more secure, and safe way of providing energy. Concepts related to solar energy have constantly been under heavy research and development. The basic objective is to optimize the energy produced from photovoltaic cells, by making the overall systems more efficient and cost-effective. A seed-sowing machine is a device that helps in the sowing of seeds in a desired position hence assisting the farmers in saving time and money.
The basic objective of the sowing operation is to put the seed and fertilizer in rows at a desired depth and seed-to-seed spacing, cover the seeds with soil, and provide proper compaction over the seed. As the population of India continues to grow, the demand for produce grows as well. Hence, there is a greater need for multiple cropping on the farms and this in turn requires efficient and high capacity machines.
The mechanization of the agricultural industry in Pakistan is still in a stage of infancy due to the need for more knowledge and the unavailability of advanced tools and machinery. Seed-sowing machine saves time and labor requirements, thus saving a lot of money and assuring proper seed broadcasting. In addition, saving the operation time, labor and energy are other advantages to be derived by using improved machinery for these operations. A traditional method of seed sowing has many disadvantages. This project is about the different types of methods of seed sowing in the soil and developing a multifunctional seed-sowing machine that can perform simultaneous operations in a single pass.
It has been replaced by a complicated gear system with a Hall Effect sensor for easier and costlier seed sowing and also reduces the need for labor. The Hall Effect sensor converts rotation into the distance for which the seed sows at a particular distance. Also, there is an adjustable system for sowing at different distances. By using this machine, the sowing can be done row by row and distance will be maintained.
The seed-sowing machine is a key component of the agriculture field. High-precision pneumatic planters have been developed for many varieties of crops, for a wide range of seed sizes, resulting in uniform seed distribution along the travel path, in seed spacing.
In this machine solar panel is used to capture solar energy and then it is converted into electrical energy which in turn is used to charge a 12V battery, which then gives the necessary power to a shunt wound DC motor. This power is then transmitted to the DC motor to drive the wheels. To further reduce labor dependency, IR sensors are used to maneuver robots in the field.
The conventional method is less efficient and time-consuming. To meet the future food demand, the farmers have to implement the new technique which will not affect the soil texture but will increase the crop production. To overcome the drawbacks of the conventional method we developing the seed-sowing machine which can perform different operations?
In this machine a solar panel is used to consume solar energy and this energy is converted into electrical energy. The electrical energy is stored inside a 12V battery of capacity 7 Amp Hour, which then gives the necessary power to a DC motor. This power is then transmitted to the rear-driven shaft through the chain and sprocket system.
The whole machinery can work on solar power without the use of fossil fuel which cause pollution to the environment. The power will be transmitted to the driven shaft which will be controlled by a DC Motor speed controller operated by the desired speed farmer requires.
The soil digger tool is mounted on the chassis with an angle of 35° concerning the ground. This was decided by comparing the actual plough tool used by farmers which has a suitable angle varying between 15° to 50° depending upon the depth of cut.
Two hoppers are located on either side of the vehicle from which the seeds are passed to a sowing mechanism.
The seeds coming from the hopper are picked up by a fan-type arrangement which lifts the seeds from one side and then drops them on the other side of a U-shaped vessel. Then those seeds are dropped on the ground through a circular opening. This mechanism is connected to the driven shaft of the vehicle due to which it rotates simultaneously.
To put the soil back on the seeds a plate adjuster is used which cover the same previously dug soil back on the seeds. This was decided by taking into consideration the direction of flow of soil when it will be dug.
This is a semi-automatic machine that is equipped with a four-wheel drive system. The seed-sowing machine is developed at a very low cost. It is cheap and easily affordable for rural farmers. It is maintenance free and various adjustments can be made with ease for continuous operation.
The recommended row-to-row spacing, seed rate, seed-to-seed spacing, and depth of seed placement can vary from crop to crop and for different agroclimatic conditions to achieve optimum yields. In the future, this machine can become more automated by:
> Using remote control, the machine can be made fully automatic.
> Multi hoppers can be used for sowing large farms.
> Seed spacing sensors can be used for accurate spacing.
> A water sprinkling system can be added to it.
