Seeder for a Crop Growth System
Assignee10691976 Canada Ltd.
InventorsDavid Prystupa, John Pacak
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for growing plants includes both a seeder and a harvester both of which include arrangements for singulating the seeds and for measuring parameters of the seeds while singulated. This can be used for seeding selected seeds and for harvesting particular plants. The system operates by correlating information from the individual seeded seeds and from the harvested seeds in respect of a particular location on the growth medium and may include information relating the growth medium at the location. The location can be determined by seeding the plants in patterns which can be detected by a reader on the harvester. The system can be used to control selection of seeds to take into account soil conditions at the plant.
Claims17
A seeding apparatus for applying seeds to a growth medium comprising:
- a storage container for seeds;
- a supply duct for transferring the seeds from the container;
- a singulation device for separating the seeds one from the next in a singulated stream;
- a control device;
- and a transfer member for transferring the singulated seeds to the growth medium;
- wherein the control device generates at least two scenarios for plant growth at each location in the growth medium, using a growth model selects the option that best fits user requirements, and issues control signals that cause the seed to be placed at said location.
The seeding apparatus according to claim 13 wherein each sensing devices is arranged to obtain information on the growth medium at a location related to a width of a canopy and/or root zone of an individual plant in the crop so that seeding of each plant is associated with information obtained in respect of the individual plant.
The seeding apparatus according to claim 14 wherein each sensing device is arranged to obtain information on the growth medium at a location related to a width of a canopy and/or root zone of an individual plant in the crop so that seeding of each plant is associated with information obtained in respect of the individual plant.
A seeding apparatus for applying seeds to a growth medium comprising:
- a storage container for seeds;
- a supply duct for transferring the seeds from the container;
- a singulation device for separating the seeds one from the next in a singulated stream;
- a control device;
- and a transfer member for transferring the singulated seeds to the growth medium;
- wherein the control device selects seeds to be planted at least in part responsive to an input from an external requirement for a particular product.
The seeding apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the singulation device comprises:
- a duct along which the seeds pass;
- an assembly for rotating the duct about an axis such that centrifugal forces generated by the rotation act to drive the seed along the duct and to cause pressure on the seed against a wall of the duct to slide along the wall;
A seeding apparatus for applying seeds to a growth medium comprising:
- a storage container for seeds;
- a supply duct for transferring the seeds from the container;
- a singulation device for separating the seeds one from the next in a singulated stream;
- a control device;
- and a transfer member for transferring the singulated seeds to the growth medium;
- wherein there is provided a plurality of seeding devices mounted at spaced positions across the seeding apparatus and wherein each seeding device is associated with a respective one of a plurality of sensing devices each obtaining information relating to conditions of the growth medium at the respective seeding device.
The seeding apparatus according to claim 18 wherein each sensing device is arranged to obtain information on the growth medium at a location related to a width of a canopy and/or root zone of an individual plant in the crop so that seeding of each plant is associated with information obtained in respect of the individual plant.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.