Calibration of rice seed parameters and simulation of dry direct-seeding based on the discrete element method

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1004-1524.20241129

Acta Agriculturae Zhejiangensis ›› 2025, Vol. 37 ›› Issue (11): 2376-2386.DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1004-1524.20241129

• Biosystems Engineering • Previous Articles Next Articles

Calibration of rice seed parameters and simulation of dry direct-seeding based on the discrete element method

YANG Jinhao¹(), JIANG Jie²^,³^,^*(), LIU Hang¹, LI Fuqiang¹

1. School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China
2. School of Engineering, Honghe University, Honghe 661199, Yunnan, China
3. High Altitude Agricultural Machinery Mechatronics Technology Research and Application Engineering Research Center, Honghe University, Honghe 661199, Yunnan, China

Received:2024-12-30 Online:2025-11-25 Published:2025-12-08

Abstract

Abstract:

To address the technical requirements for precision hill-drop seeding and post-film-mulching sowing in dry direct-seeded rice systems in Yunnan, this study aimed to design a suitable seeding device. First, the triaxial size of rice seeds was measured, and the seed density was calculated as 1 036 kg·m^-3. Compression tests conducted using a universal testing machine yielded a Poisson’s ratio of 0.3 and a shear modulus of 108 MPa for the seeds. Subsequently, Nylon-66 was selected as the seeding device material, and a physical test bench was constructed to determine the contact parameters between rice seeds and Nylon-66: collision restitution coefficient was 0.48, static friction coefficient was 0.53, and rolling friction coefficient was 0.07. Then, a discrete element model of rice seeds was established, and contact parameters between seeds were calibrated using EDEM and Design-Expert software, resulting in an optimal parameter set: collision restitution coefficient was 0.34, static friction coefficient was 0.66, and rolling friction coefficient was 0.078. Based on this, a seeding device was designed, and simulations of the seed pickup and discharge processes were performed, identifying an optimal rotational speed range of 90-110(°)·s^-1. A seeding device made of Nylon-66 was fabricated and tested on a seeding bench. The results demonstrated that the seeding device performs well in both hill-forming and film-mulching sowing effects, meeting the agronomic requirements for dry direct-seeded rice.

Key words: dry direct-seeded rice, discrete element method, parameter calibration, simulation, seeding device

CLC Number:

YANG Jinhao, JIANG Jie, LIU Hang, LI Fuqiang. Calibration of rice seed parameters and simulation of dry direct-seeding based on the discrete element method[J]. Acta Agriculturae Zhejiangensis, 2025, 37(11): 2376-2386.

Figures/Tables 22

Table 1 Triaxial size of rice seeds mm

尺寸 Size	最大值 Maximum	最小值 Minimum	平均值 Average value
长Length	9.72	8.44	9.18
宽Width	2.90	2.46	2.66
厚Thickness	2.24	1.70	2.00

Fig.1 Uniaxial compression test of universal testing machine 1, The flat test head of the universal testing machine; 2, Test rice seed.

Fig.2 Inclined plane crash test bench 1 is a nylon inclined plate; 2 is a sand-laying plate.

Fig.3 Test bench for coefficient of static friction 1 is the inclinometer; 2 is the rice seed; 3 is the nylon plate; θ is the angle of the inclinometer when the rice seed slides.

Fig.4 Rolling friction factor test bench 1 is the inclinometer; 2 is the nylon plate; 3 is the rice seed ball. Y denotes the initial height of the rice seed ball; X indicates the displacement of the rice seed ball rolling on the inclined plate; L represents the displacement of the rice seed ball rolling on the flat plate; β denotes the inclination angle of the inclined plate, (°).

Fig.5 Stacking test bench 1 is the funnel; 2 is the rice seed pile; 3 is the nylon plate.

Fig.6 Accumulation of rice seeds and image processing

Table 2 Stacking angle table

序号 No.	左侧角度 Left side angle/(°)	右侧角度 Right side angle/(°)
1	32.28	32.17
2	32.52	32.65
3	31.84	31.45
4	31.52	32.58
5	32.24	32.92
6	32.16	29.91
7	32.00	31.70
8	30.84	32.48
9	32.63	32.26
10	31.23	31.70
平均Average	31.93	31.98

Fig.7 Rice seed model

Fig.8 Stacking simulation test bench

Table 3 Plackett-Burman test parameters

参数 Parameter	低水平(-1) Low(-1)	高水平(+1) High(+1)
X₁	0.30	0.80
X₂	0.25	0.80
X₃	0.30	0.13
X₄	0.30	0.60
X₅	0.30	0.75
X₆	0.01	0.15

Table 4 Plackett-Burman tests and results

序号No.	X₁	X₂	X₃	X₄	X₅	X₆	ϑ/(°)
1	-1	-1	-1	-1	-1	-1	8.16
2	1	1	-1	1	1	1	38.21
3	1	-1	-1	-1	1	-1	33.24
4	-1	1	1	1	-1	-1	13.26
5	1	1	-1	-1.	-1	1	27.53
6	1	1	1	-1	-1	-1	17.58
7	-1	1	1	-1	1	1	40.93
8	1	-1	1	1	1	-1	21.15
9	-1	-1	1	-1	1	1	37.93
10	1	-1	1	1	-1	1	19.07
11	-1	1	-1	1	1	-1	26.34
12	-1	-1	-1	1	-1	1	14.83

Table 5 Significance analysis of Plackett-Burman test parameters

参数 Parameter	效应 Effect	均方和 Sum of square	影响率 Impact rate/%	显著性排序 Sgnificant sorting
X₁	2.555 00	19.584 10	1.475 27	5
X₂	4.911 67	72.373 40	5.451 91	4
X₃	0.268 333	0.216 00	0.016 27	6
X₄	-5.418 33	88.075 00	6.634 71	3
X₅	16.228 30	790.076 00	59.576 70	1
X₆	9.795 00	287.826 00	21.682 00	2

Table 6 Steepest climb test

序号No.	X₄	X₅	X₆	ϑ/(°)	ξ /%
1	0.65	0.25	0.02	13.17	58.79
2	0.55	0.4	0.04	23.34	26.95
3	0.45	0.55	0.06	27.21	14.85
4	0.35	0.70	0.08	31.71	0.75
5	0.25	0.85	0.10	35.18	10.09

Table 7 Box-Behnken trial design and results

序号No.	X₄	X₅	X₆	ϑ /(°)	ξ /%
1	0	1	1	34.26	7.23
2	0	-1	1	32.26	2.18
3	1	0.	1	32.57	1.94
4	1	1	0	33.71	5.49
5	0	1	-1	31.64	0.99
6	-1	1	0	34.01	6.43
7	0	0	0	32.14	0.59
8	1	-1	0	29.57	7.46
9	-1	0	1	34.57	8.18
10	0	0	0	32.74	2.47
11	-1	-1	0	31.84	0.36
12	0	0	0	31.51	1.39
13	-1	0	-1	30.06	5.93
14	0	-1	-1	27.33	14.46
15	0	0	0	31.66	0.91
16	1	0	-1	29.98	6.17
17	0	0	0	32.18	0.70

Table 8 Analysis of variance of the Box-Behnken test model

来源 Source	平方和 Sum of squares	自由度 Degree of freedom	均方 Mean square	p值 p value
模型Model	54.510 0	9	6.060 0	<0.000 1
X₄	2.700 0	1	2.700 0	0.003 4
X₅	19.910 0	1	19.910 0	<0.000 1
X₆	26.830 0	1	26.830 0	<0.000 1
X₄X₅	0.970 2	1	0.970 2	0.035 1
X₄X₆	0.921 6	1	0.921 6	0.038 7
X₅X₆	1.330 0	1	1.330 0	0.018 4
$X 42$	0.457 1	1	0.457 1	0.116 8
$X 52$	0.036 4	1	0.036 4	0.629 1
$X 62$	1.420 0	1	1.420 0	0.016 1
残差Residual	1.000 0	7
失拟项Lack of fit	0.055 3	3	0.078 1	0.968 5
纯误差Pure error	0.944 7	4	0.236 2
总和Cor total	55.510 0	16

Table 8 Analysis of variance of the Box-Behnken test model

来源 Source	平方和 Sum of squares	自由度 Degree of freedom	均方 Mean square	p值 p value
模型Model	54.510 0	9	6.060 0	<0.000 1
X₄	2.700 0	1	2.700 0	0.003 4
X₅	19.910 0	1	19.910 0	<0.000 1
X₆	26.830 0	1	26.830 0	<0.000 1
X₄X₅	0.970 2	1	0.970 2	0.035 1
X₄X₆	0.921 6	1	0.921 6	0.038 7
X₅X₆	1.330 0	1	1.330 0	0.018 4
$X 42$	0.457 1	1	0.457 1	0.116 8
$X 52$	0.036 4	1	0.036 4	0.629 1
$X 62$	1.420 0	1	1.420 0	0.016 1
残差Residual	1.000 0	7
失拟项Lack of fit	0.055 3	3	0.078 1	0.968 5
纯误差Pure error	0.944 7	4	0.236 2
总和Cor total	55.510 0	16

Fig.9 Parts of the seeding device 1, Cam; 2, Shell; 3, Seed tray; 4, Membrane guide tube.

Fig.10 Seeding device simulation a, Seed charging process; b, Seed picking process; c, Seed delivery process.

Table 9 Optimization simulation test of seed trough

尺寸 Size/mm	取种速度 Seed retrieval speed/[(°)·s^-1]	合格穴率 Qualified rate/%
9.5	60	68
	90	71
	120	74
9.7	60	76
	90	81
	120	83
1.0	60	70
	90	73
	120	73

Table 10 Seeding simulation results

取种速度 Seed retrieval speed/ [(°)·s^-1]	2粒稻种穴占比 Proportion of 2-seed holes/%	合格穴占比 Proportion of qualified holes/%	6粒稻种穴占比 Proportion of 6-seed holes/%
60	2	75	23
90	5	81	15
110	7	84	9
120	12	82	6

Fig.11 Seeding device test bench 1, Seed device; 2, Mulch film; 3, Soil layer.

Table 11 Results of seed row experiment

取种速度 Seed retrieval speed/[(°)·s^-1]	合格穴率 Qualified rate/%	刺膜合格率 Puncture pass rate/%
90	83	95
100	86	93
110	86	90

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Calibration of rice seed parameters and simulation of dry direct-seeding based on the discrete element method

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