Assessment of the influence of the adjustment parameters of the slot seeding unit on the probability of seed cramping

BACKGROUND: One of the promising areas for improving seeding machines is the introduction into production of overpressure devices, the use of which not only improves the quality of operation of seeders at significant operating speeds, but also expands their functionality, including through universalization. Rational parameters and operating modes of sowing devices largely depend on the technological properties of the seed. So, for example, it is obvious that the probability of seeds being pinched by the sowing disk of a universal slot-type device of excess pressure de-pends on the ratio of their thickness and the radial size of the dosing slot (which can be varied within a certain range). Thus, determining the dimensional characteristics of agricultural crop seeds is an urgent task, the solution of which will help to increase the efficiency of the settings of sowing devices of sowing machines. AIMS: assessment of the influence of the size of the radial gap between the housing and the seeding disk of a universal slotted excess pressure apparatus on the probability of seed jamming. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was carried out on the example of spring barley seeds of the Vakula variety, harvested in 2022. At the first stage, using an electronic caliper, the sizes of seeds were determined with an accuracy of 0.01 mm (sample - 300 pieces), after which their main statistical characteristics were calculated. At the second stage, a method was proposed for determining the probability of seed pinching between the body of the apparatus and the working edge of the sowing disk using previously obtained data, assuming a normal distribution of seed thickness values. RESULTS: It was found that in the case under consideration, the radial size of the dosing slit of about 1.9 mm can be considered rational. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed method can be applied to seeds of other varieties of various crops.