Development of the technology and technical means of direct sowing for dryland farming conditions

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Direct sowing of grain crops helps to significantly increase field germination and, consequently, the yield capacity under conditions of extreme moisture deficit. In this regard, the development of the direct sowing technology applied to the conditions of the South Urals, where severe droughts recur periodically, is a relevant task. AIM: Increase of grain crops yield capacity in conditions of arid farming with the development of direct sowing technology that provides seed embedding in the moistened soil layer. METHODS: Statistical data on hydrothermal conditions of crop cultivation in the South Urals were collected and analyzed. Laboratory and laboratory-field experiments were planned and conducted. RESULTS: It has been found that droughts in the South Urals occur quite often. The moistened soil layers, in which it is necessary to embed seeds, are at a depth of 8...10 cm at these periods of time. Traditional sowing technologies are not capable of providing seed embedding in moist soil with the condition of high field germination. On the basis of the analysis of methods of direct sowing of grain crops, the technology, assuming seed embedding in moistened soil layer, is proposed. The design of a combined sowing section is developed and it consists of a support wheel, a slotted disk, a hoe coulter and a packer wheel. The design of the section considers the parallel-link attachment to the frame of the sowing facility, which ensures a stable depth of seed placement. Laboratory and laboratory-field experiments were helpful in determining the energy performance of the sowing section, as well as agrotechnical and energy indicators of the sowing facility. CONCLUSION: It was experimentally found that the application of the developed technology of direct sowing helps to increase the field germination by 21.7% in comparison with the basic technology, the yield capacity increase is 9.2 c/ha.