Operational performance of a tractor-seeder according to the velocity and working depth

ABSTRACT The sowing process is one of the most important steps in agricultural production chain, requiring a good efficiency in order to avoid seed and plant population losses. In order to achieve a satisfactory performance of the seeder, the agricultural implement needs to be properly adjusted. Therefore, the present study aimed to verify both the operational performance and sowing quality of the agricultural equipment, depending on different working depths and different operating velocities. The experimental design was a factorial, with two theoretical velocities and three working depths. The velocity of 6.8 km h-1 achieved both a good operating consumption and a low fuel consumption per working area and when associated with working depth of 0.05 m provided better operational performance. However, the operating velocity of 4.8 km h-1 made it possible to increase the number of normal spacing of seeds, an improved quality of sowing and the possibility of greater population