LONGITUDINAL DISTRIBUTION OF FERTILIZERS BY METERING IN LINE SEEDER-FERTILIZERS

Abstract

This study sought to determine and compare the performance of five fertilizer metering mechanism in line seederfertilizers with respect to longitudinal distribution, utilizing three fertilizers at different flow rates. The experiments were performed at the Laboratory of Research and Development of Agricultural Machinery (LASERG) of the Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM). The metering mechanisms evaluated included three auger-type elements, including two with flow regulation system and another with gravity discharge, one model with fluted cylinder and another with a star wheel. Three fertilizers were use, one a 02-20-20 granule mixture, another a 16-16-16 granulated mixture and one 00-15-30 blending mash. Flow rates used were 6, 18 and 31 g s-1. The variable response observed was the coefficient of variation of the flows observed, considering the predetermined distribution ratio. It was observed that on average, considering all fertilizers and flows, the coefficients of variation of all metering mechanisms evaluated exceeded 30%, characterized as unsatisfactory performance of the models evaluated. The auger metering mechanism with transverse discharge flow regulation and the fluted cylinder presented the lowest variations, follow by the overflow and side discharge auger, auger with gravity discharge and the star wheel.