What Is a Seeder?
Seeders are specialized equipment for sowing seeds in agriculture.
Seeders are a combination of a seed box, a device for delivering seeds, a device for making furrows in the soil, a device for burying seeds in the soil, and a device for covering and compacting the soil to cover the top of the seed box. Therefore, a single seeder can perform the process of making grooves in the soil, sowing seeds at regular intervals, and covering them with soil.
Types of Seeders
Seeders should be selected according to the type of seed and the environment of the cultivated area. Some models cannot handle seeds other than the corresponding size, so you need to pay attention to the size of the seeds to be handled. Recently, an increasing number of models can handle any seed size by changing the cassette.
Seeders are classified into three types according to the seeding method: strip seeding, point seeding, and scatter seeding.
1. Strip Seeding Type
Seeders are used for crops that are sown in strips along ridges. Seeders of the strip type can be used to sow seeds in stripes at regular intervals.
Although the machine body is large and not suitable for small fields, it is best suited for use in large fields because the greater the number of strips, the higher the work efficiency. It is used for sowing seeds of vegetables and grains.
2. Point Sowing Type
Point sowing seeders are used for direct sowing and point sowing crops. Point sowing seeders make it possible to sow the required number of seeds with pinpoint accuracy.
Since work can be done without bending down, the workload on the operator can be reduced. In addition, only the required amount of seed can be sown, eliminating the need for thinning. It is suitable for use in small-scale fields, and is mainly used for sowing vegetables and beans.
3. Scatter Sowing
Seeders are used to spread seeds thinly over an entire surface. Seeders with a scatter seeder can spread the seed evenly over a wide area.
There are portable human-powered sowing machines with a hand-cranked spinner, tractor-pulled broadcasters, and seedling type machines that sow seeds in seedling boxes. Because they are suitable for sowing seeds over a wide area, they are useful for saving labor in large fields. They are mainly used for sowing grass and grains.
How to Select Seeders
1. Whether the Machine Is Suitable for the Size of the Field and Crops to Be Cultivated
Seeders come in a wide variety of types, and the fields in which they can make the most of their characteristics vary from model to model.
Seeders vary in the way they sow seeds and the size of seeds they can handle. When introducing a seeder, be sure to select the most suitable machine based on the size of the field and the crops to be grown.
2. Is the Machine Suitable for the Intended Use?
Seeders are available in a wide range of types, but choosing a machine that is more sophisticated than necessary may result in a decrease in work efficiency.
For example, if you are using the machine in a home garden or a small farm, it is best to choose a model that is not complicated to operate and is easy to maintain. On the other hand, if the machine is to be used in a large farm, it may be worthwhile to install it if it improves work efficiency, even if the operation is a little complicated.
When choosing a seeder, it is important to select one that is suitable for the intended use.
Features of Seeders
Advantages
1. Improved Work Efficiency
The greatest advantage of seeders is that they reduce work time. Sowing seeds involves multiple processes, including furrowing, seeding, covering, and compaction. Seeders make it possible to perform these processes efficiently. Since different types of seeders have different functions, be sure to install the right type of seeder for the crop to be cultivated.
2. Constant Seeding
Seeders allow you to sow a constant amount of seed. This saves time and effort in thinning out the crop, since there is no need to worry about sowing more seed than necessary. It also helps reduce seed costs.
3. Reduction of Physical Burden
Manual seeding tends to put a heavy burden on the feet and legs. Seeders not only make it possible to sow seeds in a comfortable position but also shorten the time required for the work.
Disadvantages
1. Costly to Install
The introduction of seeders requires a considerable amount of cost. Choose the model carefully so that you can get the results that meet your objectives.
2. It Is Necessary to Consider Where to Place the Machine
Depending on the size of the seeders to be introduced, it may be necessary to consider the location of the seeders in advance. Seeders are mainly used only during the seeding season, so they must be placed somewhere. Depending on the size of the seeders, the placement of the seeders should be considered well in advance.