Design and Development of Tractor-Drawn Wheat Seed Drill

Cereals, pulses, and oilseeds are examples of primary agricultural products in Ethiopia that provide household income, are staple foods for the population, and contribute to the country's foreign exchange earnings. Ethiopia is the largest producer of wheat in sub-Saharan Africa. It occupies about 1.80 million hectares annually and the main wheat growing areas of Ethiopia are the highlands of the central, south-eastern and northwest parts of the country. Even though it is the major food crops for the majority of the country’s population, wheat productivity per hectare is low yield as compared to other world wheat producing countries. This study was undertaken to design and develop a prototype of seed drill capable of sowing wheat seeds and applying fertilizer at predetermined row spacing and depths. The developed seed drill machine, consisting of a frame, seed hopper, seed metering devices, seed tube/spout, adjustable furrow opener, and drive wheels. The design of the drill components were based on the functional requirement and principal operation. The physical properties of wheat seed and fertilizer, agronomic requirements for wheat seed and fertilizer drill (125 kg and 150 kg per hectare), respectively and the row spacing of 20 cm were considered for design and development of the seed drill. Therefore, the suggested machine design was cost-effective to manufacture and exhibits greater design simplicity compared to alternatives.