| Abstract | The aim of North Clarence Innovative Planting Group was to produce an efficient billet planter for a dual row cane system that provided minimal working hours and labour, thus reducing costs, and having minimal impact on the farming environment. Consequently this will increase profit margins. The dual row billet planter was to be compared to the conventional method of a Hodge dual row planter. The design concept was based around building a unit that was self propelled, compact, and required minimal working labour. Design materials sourced were to be recycled to reduce cost. Materials were sourced locally and interstate with approximately 60 % of the design being recycled materials, parts or machinery. The trial site was chosen for consistency of soil type and drainage. Northern New South Wales do not irrigate fields therefore watering was achieved through rainfall. The plantings were completed the same day with both dual row cane planters planting identical cane variety in the trial site. Planting of the trial was completed within several hours with all aspects of planting identical between the two planting machines i.e row spacing, planting depth, chemical application and water rate. Both machines were fitted with Global Positioning Systems to eliminate human error providing precision and accuracy within the cane rows. During the planting process, the self propelled unit revealed to be more user friendly than the conventional dual row planter. As it was shorter in length, it had a smaller turning circle, which was more beneficial within the trial site headlands. Being shorter also allowed easier inspection and monitoring of the working machine. This monitoring process was also aided with rearward facing cameras. The design provided greater carrying capacity of cane billets within the holding bin which consequently provided longer planting times and less refilling. Therefore saving time and fuel consumption. In comparison to the conventional dual row planter, collected data of planting rates, eye count, set placement and billet feeding/metering/delivery were similar between the two machines, concluding that there is no vast difference in planting success; i.e strike rate and/or set placement. In comparison of finances of the two machines, a total of $65,506.43 (inc GST) was spent in constructing the project. Current prices of a conventional dual row Hodge cane planter alone, are, (at time of printing) $74,000 ( inc GST). This consequently requires a tractor to pull the machine. This values the unit to an estimated total of $175,00 (pending on the make and model of the tractor), thus making a difference of approximately $100,000 between the two units. |
