Engineering, Energy, Transport AIC

Vitalii YAROPUD – Doctor of Technical Sciences, Associate Professor, Dean of the Engineering and Technology Faculty, Vinnytsia National Agrarian University (3 Soniachna St., Vinnytsia, Ukraine, 21008, e-mail: yaropud77@gmail.com, https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0502-1356).
Oleksandr TYKHYY – Postgraduate Student in Industrial Mechanical Engineering of the Department of «Machinery and Equipment for Agricultural Production» of Vinnytsia National Agrarian University (3 Sonyachna St., Vinnytsia, 21008, Ukraine, e-mail: tdsunagro@gmail.com, https://orcid.org/0009-0000-0341-9008).

The article addresses a pressing scientific and technical problem–improving the operational stability of seed drill row units under conditions of variable field topography and heterogeneous soil physical-mechanical properties. Modern designs of ground-following and damping mechanisms are analyzed, along with their limitations in maintaining a consistent seed placement depth, as well as design solutions applicable to different types of openers. Particular attention is given to the shortcomings of traditional experimental studies, which do not fully reproduce the real dynamic processes of opener–soil interaction.
It is shown that a significant portion of existing designs loses efficiency at higher operating speeds or on uneven field sections, resulting in unstable seeding depth and reduced emergence uniformity. The analysis includes recent research findings related to opener wear, the influence of disk type on seeding quality, the development of combined working tools, and the use of sensor-based depth-control systems.
The study identifies the high potential of the Discrete Element Method (DEM) for simulating the dynamics of seed drill row units, as it enables evaluation of furrow formation processes, soil particle behavior, reactive forces, and opener motion stability without the need for numerous physical prototypes.
Based on the conducted analysis, a new structural and technological concept of a row unit is proposed, incorporating coordinated operation of the downforce mechanism, damping device, and depth-control system. This configuration provides effective vibration attenuation, reduced impact loads, and improved stability of seed placement depth. The developed design is justified for further optimization and verification using DEM simulation.

1.    Aulin, V. V. (2015). Tribophysical principles of increasing the wear resistance of parts and working bodies of agricultural machinery (Doctoral dissertation abstract). Khmelnytskyi National University. [in Ukrainian].
2.    Makarenko, D. O. (2018). Increasing the durability of the parallelogram mechanism of seeding complexes by changing the design of movable joints (PhD dissertation). DDAEU; CNTU. [in Ukrainian].
3.    Precision Planting. (n.d.). DeltaForce: Automated downforce control. URL: https://www.precisionplanting.com/products/planters/deltaforce [in English].
4.    Kirkegaard Nielsen, S., Nørremark, M., & Green, O. (2015). Sensor and control for consistent seed drill coulter depth. In Proceedings of the 20th International Soil Tillage Research Organization Conference (ISTRO), Nanjing, China. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compag.2016.07.029 [in English].
5.    Wu, S., Dou, Z., Fei, S., Shi, F., Zhang, X., Liu, Z., & Huang, D. (2025). Structural design and parameter optimization of in-row deep fertilizer application device for maize. Agriculture, 15(18), 1934. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15181934 [in English].
6.    Yaseen, M. U., Ahmad, S., Ahmad, M., Long, J. M., Raza, H. A., Iftekhar, H., Ameer, S., & Ogunbiyi, D. (2024). A multi-function novel crop seeder for the management of residues and mechanized sowing of wheat in a single path. AgriEngineering, 6(3), 2445–2469. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/agriengineering6030143 [in English].
7.    Salo, V. M., & Luzan, O. R. (2010). Selection of improvement directions for direct-drilling seed drill coulters for cereal crops. Design, Production and Operation of Agricultural Machines, 40(2), 271–277. [in Ukrainian].
8.    Kyrychenko, R. V., Bakum, M. V., Kozii, O. B., & Lubchenko, Ye. V. (2025). Results of field studies of double-disc coulters for mini-till cereal sowing. Scientific Bulletin of Tavria State Agrotechnological University, 15(1), 53–60. DOI: https://doi.org/10.32782/2220-8674-2025-25-1-5. [in Ukrainian].
9.    Roșu, B., Voicu, G., Constantin, G.-A., Tudor, P., & Ștefan, E.-M. (2024). Aspects regarding the physical parameters and wear in the work process of the disc openers for seeding machines. Agriculture, 14(7), 1066. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14071066 [in English].
10.    Paczkowska, M., Selech, J., & Piasecki, A. (2016). Effect of surface treatment on abrasive wear resistance of seeder coulter flap. Surface Review and Letters, 23. [in English].
11.    Bai, X., Lin, J., Lu, C., & Hu, Y. (2014). Analysis and experiment on working performance of disc coulter for no-tillage seeder. Transactions of the Chinese Society of Agricultural Engineering, 30, 1–9. [in English].
12.    Aikins, K. A., Ucgul, M., Barr, J. B., Awuah, E., Antille, D. L., Jensen, T. A., & Desbiolles, J. M. A. (2023). Review of discrete element method simulations of soil tillage and furrow opening. Agriculture, 13(3), 541. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13030541 [in English].
13.    Yaropud, V. M., & Datsiuk, D. A. (2021). Ways to improve the seeding apparatus of a selection seeder for small-seed crops. Vibrations in Engineering and Technology, 1(100), 156–166. DOI: https://doi.org/10.37128/2306-8744-2021-1-15. [in Ukrainian].
14.    Aliiev, E. B. (2023). Numerical modeling of agro-industrial production processes. Agrarian Science. DOI: https://doi.org/10.31073/978-966-540-584-9. [in Ukrainian].
15.    Aliev, E. B., Bandura, V. M., Pryshliak, V. M., Yaropud, V. M., & Trukhanska, O. O. (2018). Modeling of mechanical and technological processes of the agricultural industry. INMATEH – Agricultural Engineering, 54(1), 95–104. [in English].
16.    Yaropud, V., Aliiev, E., & Datsiuk, D. (2021). Methods of numerical modeling of sowing apparatus of selection seeder of small-seed crops. Machinery and Energetics, 12(3), 121–127. DOI: https://doi.org/10.31548/machenergy2021.03.121 [in English].
17.    Malasli, M. Z., & Celik, A. (2023). Effects of the disc and tilt angle of a single disc-type furrow opener of a no-till seeder on residue distribution and the furrow profile. Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry, 47(6), 1025–1042. DOI: https://doi.org/10.55730/1300-011X.3146 [in English].
18.    Yaropud, V. M., & Datsiuk, D. A. (2023). Study of seed motion in the distributor of the seeding apparatus of a selection seeder for small-seed crops. Agricultural Machines, 49, 7–14. DOI: https://doi.org/10.36910/acm.vi49.945. [in Ukrainian].
19.    Yaropud, V. M., Hovorukha, V. B., & Datsiuk, D. A. (2023). Experimental research of the dispenser of the seeding apparatus of a selection seeder for small-seed crops. Engineering, Energy, Transport of AIC, 3(122), 43–52. DOI: https://doi.org/10.37128/2520-6168-2023-3-5. [in Ukrainian].
20.    Sugirbay, A., Zhao, K., Liu, G., Hu, G., Chen, J., Mustafin, Z., Iskakov, R., Kakabayev, N., Muratkhan, M., Khan, V., Chen, Y., & Zhang, S. (2023). Double disc coulter for a zero-till seeder simultaneously applying granular fertilizers and wheat seeds. Agriculture, 13(5), 1102. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13051102 [in English].
21.    Roșu, O. B., Voicu, G., Coman, G., Constantin, G.-A., Paraschiv, G., Tudor, P., & Marin, E. (2024). Metallographic structure and hardness of steel for sowing machines disc coulters: Review and research. ISB-INMATEH Agricultural and Mechanical Engineering, 290–297. [in English].
22.    Cujbescu, D., Găgeanu, I., Persu, C., Matache, M., Vlăduț, V., Voicea, I., Paraschiv, G., Biriș, S. Ș., Ungureanu, N., Voicu, G., & Ipate, G. (2021). Simulation of sowing precision in laboratory conditions. Applied Sciences, 11(14), 6264. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/app11146264 [in English].
23.    Sun, K., He, C., Zhou, Q., Yu, X., Dong, Q., Wang, W., Chen, Y., Li, M., Xia, X., Wang, Y., & Zhou, L. (2024). Influence mechanism of soil covering and compaction process on maize sowing uniformity based on DEM–MBD coupling. Agronomy, 14(12), 2883. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14122883 [in English].
24.    Maraveas, C., Tsigkas, N., & Bartzanas, T. (2025). Agricultural process simulation using discrete element method: A review. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 237, 110733. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compag.2025.110733 [in English].
25.    Zhou, L., Ma, Y., Zhou, H., Niu, K., Zhao, B., Wei, L., Bai, S., Zheng, Y., & Zhang, W. (2023). Design and test of sowing depth measurement and control system for no-till corn seeder based on integrated electro-hydraulic drive. Applied Sciences, 13(10), 5823. https://doi.org/10.3390/app13105823 [in English].
26.    Demetra. (2024). Sivalkа Zernotukova SZD-360. URL: https://demetra-site.com.ua/products/sejalka-zernotukovaja-szd-360-szd-360. [in Ukrainian].
27.    Derkach, O. D., Makarenko, D. O., Muranov, Ye. S., & Lobodenko, A. V. (2021). Increasing the durability of movable joints of seeders through the use of advanced structural materials. Scientific Bulletin of Tavria State Agrotechnological University, 11(2). [in Ukrainian].
28.    Yaropud, V. M., & Datsiuk, D. A. (2024). Innovative methods of increasing the efficiency of selecting plants. Engineering, Energy, Transport of AIC, 3(126), 48–57. DOI: https://doi.org/10.37128/2520-6168-2024-3-5 [in English].
29.    Yang, J., Wu, H., Guo, A., Rugerinyange, R., Liu, C., Zhao, Z., Han, W., & Yin, L. (2024). Performance optimization and simulation test of no-tillage corn precision planter based on DEM. Machines, 12(7), 465. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/machines12070465 [in English].
30.    Aminzadeh, R. (2014). Modified design of a precision planter for a robotic assistant farmer (Master’s thesis). University of Saskatchewan. [in English].
31.    Aduov, M., Nukusheva, S., Kaspakov, E., Isenov, K., Volodya, K., & Tulegenov, T. (2020). Seed drills with combined coulters in no-till technology under soil and climatic conditions of Kazakhstan. Agriculturae Scandinavica, Section B – Soil & Plant Science, 70(6), 525–531. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09064710.2020.1784994 [in English].
32.    Li, S., Hu, M., Liu, Y., & Li, Y. (2024). DEM parameters of slope cultivated purple soil in Southwest China and interaction mechanism between a very narrow tine. Scientific Reports, 14, 18089. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-69269-8 [in English].
33.    Novytskyi, A. V., & Derhai, R. Yu. (2019). Performance of shoe-type coulters of grain seeders with strengthened shoes under operating conditions. In Proceedings of the XV International Scientific Conference “Rational Use of Energy in Engineering. TechEnergy 2019” (pp. 87–89). NUBiP of Ukraine. [in Ukrainian].