Mechanical Damage in Soybeans by Pneumatic Seeder

Research has advanced in the development of precision seed metering devices to ensure proper seed distribution at high speeds. However, little is known about the effect of increasing seeding speed, as well as seeding at different inclinations of the tractor-seeder unit, on the integrity and physiological quality of soybean seeds. This study aimed to identify the effect of travel speeds (5, 7, 9, 11, and 13 km h⁻¹) combined with three longitudinal inclinations of a pneumatic seed metering device (−11°, 0°, and 11°), simulating field conditions, on the distribution and integrity of soybean seeds. We used a 5 × 3 factorial design was used with an additional control treatment in which the seeds did not pass through the metering device. The variables evaluated included the percentage of spacing between individual seeds, germination, mechanical damage (tetrazolium test), and seedling emergence. The results demonstrated that increasing the speed did not prevent the spacing between individual seeds from falling below the minimum limit of 90% for pneumatic seed metering devices. The treatments did not affect germination compared to the control. Sowing on a slope caused the greatest mechanical damage to soybean seeds. All treatments significantly reduced plant emergence, except when the pneumatic metering device operated at an incline of 0° at 9 km h⁻¹.