Impact – 1902 model 12-run seed drill Combination of a modern air seeder and hoe drill The invention of the seed drill considerably enhanced germination. The seed drill utilized a series of runners with the same spacing as the furrows created by the plowing.
- Before the seed was dropped, these runners, or drills, opened the furrow to a uniform depth.
- Behind the drills was a series of presses consisting of metal discs that cut down the sides of the trench where the seeds had been planted and covered them.
- This innovation enabled farmers to precisely control the planting depth of their seeds.
This increased level of control meant fewer seeds germinated early or late, and seeds were able to take full advantage of available soil moisture in a seedbed that had been properly prepared. As a result, farmers were able to use less seed while experiencing higher yields compared to the broadcast method.
- The seed drill enables farmers to sow seeds in well-spaced rows at precise depths and seed rates; each tube creates a hole at a precise depth, drops in one or more seeds, and plugs the hole.
- This innovation provides farmers with greater control over the planting depth and the ability to cover the seeds without having to backtrack.
The result is an increased germination rate and a significantly enhanced crop yield (up to eight times ). Additionally, the use of a seed drill facilitates weed control. Because broadcast seeding produces a random assortment of growing plants, it is difficult to control weeds by means other than hand weeding.
Was the seed drill productive?
The Seed Planter Industrious Revolution The seed drill was a significant innovation that allowed seeds to be planted in the ground rather than on the surface, where they would be blown away or eaten by animals. This innovation dramatically increased crop yields by simply planting seeds in the soil.
Jethro Tull invented the seed drill in 1701, and its scientific approach to agriculture ushered in what historians now refer to as the agricultural revolution. He utilized technology and science to create a more efficient method of planting.
Describe a seed drill.
How is a Seed Drill Operated? A seed drill sows seeds in a straight, constant-depth furrow at precise intervals. As it passes over the furrow, the soil is reapplied to the seeds. The seed drill consists of a seed hopper, plow, and harrows, and can be pulled by a horse or tractor or manually pushed.
- Jethro Tull of England invented the seed drill in 1701.
- Before the invention of the drill, farmers broadcast seed by hand, a process known as “drilling.” The invention of the seed drill made it possible for farmers to plant seeds at a constant depth and distance apart, resulting in increased seed germination and crop yields.
Additionally, straight rows of plants could be mechanically cultivated much more efficiently than plants grown from seeds spread by hand. Modern seed drills vary in complexity, but they all contain the same fundamental components. The front of the seed drill is equipped with a plow attachment that cuts through the soil as the drill advances, creating a straight furrow of constant depth.
A seed hopper, which typically consists of a rotating perforated barrel or series of cups, holds a reservoir of seeds and drops them into the furrow one by one. Mounted on the rear of the seed drill, the harrows push soil back onto the seeds that are seated in the furrow. This assembly can be combined serially to create seed drills that can plant up to sixteen rows of seeds simultaneously.
MUCH MORE IN REFERENCE. How Does a Seed Drill Operate?
