DESIGN, MODELING, AND EXPERIMENTAL EVALUATION OF A DOUBLE-DISC OPENER FOR NO-TILL PLANTERS INCORPORATING A SUPPORT CUTTING MECHANISM.
Abstract
To address the limitations of single-disc openers in cutting straw under moist soil conditions, this study evaluates the performance of a double-disc furrowing and straw-cutting opener for no-till planters based on the support-cutting principle. A discrete element method (DEM) simulation was employed to analyze the interaction between straw, soil, and the opener under varying soil moisture levels (12%, 16%, and 20%). A single-factor test revealed a strong inverse relationship between soil moisture and the number of broken straw bonds, with the most efficient cutting occurring in drier conditions. A quadratic orthogonal simulation was conducted to optimize the structural parameters—entry angle, entry gap angle, and shovel tip margin—resulting in an optimal configuration of 49°, 0°, and 10 mm, respectively. Simulation validation showed only a 5.6% deviation from predicted values. Field experiments confirmed the simulation outcomes, yielding a 72.1% average straw cut-off rate and a furrow depth stability coefficient of 91.2%. These findings demonstrate that the proposed double-disc opener, guided by simulation-driven optimization, significantly enhances seeding quality in high-residue no-till systems.
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