DEVELOPMENT OF SUGAR CANE PLANTER

1995 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary

• Project/Area Number: 06660318
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for General Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Research Field: 農業機械学
• Research Institution: KAGOSHIMA UNIVERSITY
• Principal Investigator: MIYABE Yoshiteru Kagoshima Univ., Faculty of Agri., Professor, 農学部, 教授 (30041643)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): IWASAKI Koichi Kagoshima Univ., Faculty of Agri., Assoc.Professor, 農学部, 助教授 (90232652)
• Project Period (FY): 1994 – 1995
• Keywords: Sugar cane / Planter / Seedling draw out / Planting ratio / Planting posture / Seedling with two germs

Research Abstract

For the development of the mechanization system in sugar cane cultivation which is one of the main crop in Nansei-shotou islands, Kagoshima prefecture and Okinawa prefecture, automatic planter of sugar cane seedling with two germs was developed and researched and the following results were obtained.
1.Development and performance of cutting device for sugar cane seedling with two germs : To obtain seedling in 20cm length from detrashing plant, a stopper was attached to high speed cutter. For the plant of bending ratio under 3, two to three detrashing plant could be cut continuously. The cut seedlings were 20cm<plus-minus>2cm and 1500 pieces per hour (2.2h/10a) were cut vertically in section and almost all seeding were in good condition without fine spl
2.Development and performance of draw out device for sugar cane seedling : Two parallel polyurethane rollers with 30cm in length and 20cm in diameter were used for draw out device. At the rolling speed of 10.5 to 11.5cm/s on outer surface, roller clearance of 16mm and the vibration ratio of 6c/s, the draw out device showed best performance for the planting velocity of 0.4 to 0.6 m/s. Any damage was seen and the direction of the seedlings were good.
3.Development and performance of planting device : Under the draw out device, planting device was developed which transport each seedling with channel attached conveyer and seedlings were dropped on the seeding bed. This device showed a good leveling performance at vibrating rate of 6 to 15 c/s and vibrating amplitude of 12mm and the draw out ratio of 104 to 106% seemed to be best at any operating velocity.
4.Planting accuracy and capacity : The final planting ratio was 98% with planting depth 18.0cm, planting pitch 3.0cm and calculated field capacity 22.5a/h and seedling were ina good posture. With these results, the developed sugar cane planter seemed to have enough capability in actual usage on the field. Further resaech about the durability of the draw out roll is expected.