African Journal of
Agricultural Research

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Agric. Res.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1991-637X
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJAR
  • Start Year: 2006
  • Published Articles: 6894

Full Length Research Paper

Billet metering mechanism of a sugarcane planter

Ariel Muncio Compagnon
  • Ariel Muncio Compagnon
  • Instituto Federal Goiano, Campus Ceres. Rod. 154 Km 03 Zona Rural, 76300-000, Ceres, Goiás, Brazil.
  • Google Scholar
Carlos Eduardo Angeli Furlani
  • Carlos Eduardo Angeli Furlani
  • Department of Rural Engineering, São Paulo State University, Jaboticabal Campus, São Paulo, Brazil.
  • Google Scholar
Rouverson Pereira da Silva
  • Rouverson Pereira da Silva
  • Department of Rural Engineering, São Paulo State University, Jaboticabal Campus, São Paulo, Brazil.
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Marcelo Tufaile Cassia
  • Marcelo Tufaile Cassia
  • Department of Rural Engineering, São Paulo State University, Jaboticabal Campus, São Paulo, Brazil.
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Fernando Henrique Arriel
  • Fernando Henrique Arriel
  • Instituto Federal Goiano, Campus Ceres. Rod. 154 Km 03 Zona Rural, 76300-000, Ceres, Goiás, Brazil.
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  •  Received: 14 May 2016
  •  Accepted: 08 July 2016
  •  Published: 22 September 2016

Abstract

Mechanical sugarcane planters simultaneously perform ploughing, fertiliser application, seedling metering and furrow covering operations. This study aimed to evaluate the billet metering quality and uniformity of a sugarcane planter and the total damage to buds. The experimental design used was completely randomised in a 2 x2 factorial arrangement totalling four treatments, which consisted of two planting speeds (5.0 and 6.5 km h-1) and two conveyor belt rotation speeds (50 and 100%, which corresponds to 45 and 85 rpm, respectively, in the conveyor belt pulley), with 20 replicates per treatment. The following parameters were evaluated: number of billets m-1, total buds m-1, viable buds m-1 and damaged buds (%). The planter metering mechanism exhibited uniform billet metering with low bud damage (5.9%). The increase in working speed decreased the number of billets (9.7 m-1), total buds (22.9 m-1) and viable buds (18.5 m-1). Furthermore, the increase in conveyor belt rotation speed also increased these parameters.

 

Key words: Statistical process control, agricultural mechanisation, planting speed, Saccharum officinarum.