Abstract
The main objective of this study was to develop and evaluate an ordinal feed-forward control system for seeding depth regulation applied for conservation tillage systems utilizing a conventional seeder. The conventional seeder was fitted with a hydraulics-based control system that placed seeds at the correct seeding depth based on the soil profile. Field tests conducted in four years evaluated the seeding depth performance of the control system under conservation tillage systems. The results of this study indicate that seeding depth regulation was effective at root mean square error (RMSE) of 4.79mm seeding depth with a mean delay of 0.3s with a standard deviation (SD) of 0.16s. The control system was capable of handling soil surface undulations 75.0mm above and below the soil surface at 1.0m/s tractor speed. Field tests showed significant differences on the seeding depth between controlled and uncontrolled rows.
