Research and development of integrated soybean and corn seeder with positive heat

Currently, China's soybean production has basically achieved mechanization in the plowing, land preparation, and sowing operations. In 2020, the comprehensive mechanization rate of soybean cultivation and harvesting in China reached 86.7%, an increase of 1.18 percentage points from the previous year. Among them, the levels of machine tillage, machine sowing, and machine harvesting reached 90.1%, 87.4%, and 81.8%, respectively. But there is still a certain gap compared to developed countries.

Recently, the National Agricultural Technology Center formulated the "2022 National Soybean and Corn Strip Composite Planting Technology Plan" (referred to as the plan). The Plan points out that this technology adopts the compound planting of corn and soybean belts, which not only fully utilizes the edge row advantage of high position crop corn, expands the light receiving space of low position crop soybean, realizes inter annual rotation between corn and soybean belts, but also is suitable for mechanized operations such as machine sowing, machine management, and machine harvesting, achieving harmonious coexistence of soybean and corn and double harvest in the same plot of land. The Plan also specifies eight key technical points, including variety selection, mode ratio, mechanical sowing, scientific fertilization, chemical regulation, disease and pest control, weed control, and mechanical harvesting.

In addition, the Agricultural Mechanization Management Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs has organized the Agricultural Mechanization General Station of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and the Expert Guidance Group for the Promotion of Full Process Mechanization of Crop Production to develop the "Application Guidelines for Supporting Machinery for Soybean and Corn Strip Composite Planting". It requires localities to study and refine the supporting plans and operational technical specifications for soybean and corn strip composite planting machinery according to local conditions, regions, and modes, strengthen training and guidance, and provide effective equipment support and guarantee for improving the quality and efficiency of soybean and corn strip composite planting. In order to meet the equipment required for the planting process of the local soybean corn strip composite planting mode, there has been a surge in research and development of integrated soybean corn seeders in many places recently.

Coordinates - Shijiazhuang, Hebei

On January 24, 2022, experts and professors in the efficient production machinery and equipment service position, as well as experts and researchers in the full mechanization position of the Hebei Province Modern Industrial Technology System Corn Innovation Team, visited the enterprise and inspected the 5-row, 6-row, and 7-row seeders of Shijiazhuang Shunnong Agricultural Machinery Co., Ltd. Together with the enterprise's technical personnel, they discussed the suitable mechanized soybean corn strip composite planting technology and the soybean corn integrated seeder scheme. This seeder can achieve multiple soybean and corn simultaneous sowing and compound sowing modes on one seeder, realizing compound 1+X+1 type (soybean centered, corn on both sides) or 2+2+2 type (corn centered, soybean on both sides) integrated precision sowing of soybean and corn, improving sowing accuracy and operational efficiency.

Coordinates - Hangjinhou Banner, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region

On January 8, 2022, a demonstration of the soybean corn strip composite planting and seeding machine developed and manufactured by the company was held at Dabo Agricultural Machinery Company in Hangjinhou Banner. The soybean corn strip composite planting and sowing machine is commissioned by Baotou Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Bureau and developed and manufactured by Dabo Agricultural Machinery Company. According to the requirements of agricultural machinery and agronomy integration, it has demonstrated the operation of a single corn plant in one hole and three soybean plants in one hole. Through the operation demonstration, this model can basically meet the agricultural production needs of Baotou area. At the same time, according to the agronomic requirements of the "4+4" planting mode in Bayannur City, namely: corn adopts a one hole double plant planting mode, selecting dense and compact varieties, soybean adopts a one hole three plant planting mode, selecting limited pod bearing and negative tolerant varieties, Dabo Agricultural Machinery Company will further develop and improve the soybean corn strip composite planting seeder to meet the planting needs of the Hetao Irrigation District.

Coordinates - Yucheng City, Dezhou, Shandong

In order to help achieve mechanization of the strip intercropping mode of soybeans and corn, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Yucheng City organized a large number of agricultural machinery experts to study and improve with agricultural machinery enterprises, and developed a new integrated seeder. Compared with the original seeder, although the speed of the turntable during sowing has not changed, the sowing density has increased, which can reach the standard of 10-12 cm spacing between corn plants and 8-10 cm spacing between soybean plants for strip composite planting. This new type of seeder will be put into operation at the end of March and beginning of April this year. In the future, farmers can use the new seeder to improve planting efficiency and yield, while greatly reducing labor costs.

At present, agricultural and rural departments at all levels in various regions are attaching great importance to the guarantee of supporting agricultural machinery and equipment for compound planting. The development and promotion of related new machinery may reach a peak this year.

Note: This article is compiled and published by Agricultural Machinery Network (www.nongjx. com), with sources including the website of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Dabo Agricultural Machinery, and Lightning News