Vertical tillage and vertical seeding for conservation agriculture

保护性农业是可持续粮食生产的关键。在保护性农业中，30%至100%的作物残留物留在田间，用于土壤侵蚀保护、土壤肥力和环境保护（最大限度地减少养分挥发、径流和淋失）。但由于田间残留过多，导致传统耕作和播种设备堵塞，影响作物出苗率和产量。为了解决这个问题，北美的农民最近提出了垂直耕作（VT）的概念，目前农业设备制造商正在开发这种设备。作为另一个解决方案，申请人最近提出了垂直播种（VS）的概念。VT和VS都是独特和通用的方法，旨在处理大量作物残留，同时提高田间效率和降低能源消耗。迄今为止，关于VT和VS的研究很少。提出的战略计划是与两家大型加拿大制造商（Buhler Versatile Inc.和Atom-Jet Group）合作开发VT和VS机器。目标是在残留物覆盖率达到100%的田地中操作这些机器，并将田地效率提高2倍。为了满足快速变化的全球市场，VT和VS机器将通过使用离散元素建模（DEM）的虚拟测试，采用“快速原型”方法开发。传统上，农业机械的原型制造过程包括设计-制造-测试的多个周期。快速原型方法的主要优点是设计和测试是虚拟完成的，不需要原型或实际测试。这将缩短60%的原型制作时间。七(7)名研究生将由11名团队成员培训，包括教职员工、工业研究人员、工程师和技术人员。这个项目的成果包括领先的技术，新的VT和VS机器，可能还有制造商的新生产线（意味着新的工作岗位），以及高素质的就业准备毕业生。所有这些都将极大地有利于加拿大的可持续农业、食品安全、环境和经济。****

Conservation agriculture is the key to sustainable food production. In conservation agriculture, 30 to 100% of crop residue is left in the fields for soil erosion protection, soil fertility, and environmental protection (minimising nutrient volatilisation, runoff, and leaching). However, excessive residue in the field causes plugging of traditional tillage and seeding equipment, which adversely affects crop emergence and yield. To solve this problem, the vertical tillage (VT) concept was recently proposed by farmers in North America, and equipment for this is now being developed by agricultural equipment manufactures. As an additional solution, the applicant has recently proposed the concept of vertical seeding (VS). Both VT and VS are unique and universal approaches that aim to deal with heavy crop residue, while increasing field efficiency and lowering energy consumption. To date, little research has been done on VT and VS. The proposed strategic plan is to team up with two large Canadian manufacturers (Buhler Versatile Inc. and Atom-Jet Group) to develop VT and VS machines. The goal is to operate these machines in fields WITH RESIDUE COVER UP TO 100%, and increase field efficiency by A FACTOR OF 2. To meet the rapidly changing global market, VT and VS machines will be developed using a "rapid prototyping" approach through virtual testing using discrete element modeling (DEM). Traditionally, the prototyping process of agricultural machinery involves multiple cycles of design-fabrication-testing. The major advantage of the rapid prototyping approach is that design and testing are done virtually, and no prototypes or real testing are needed. This will SHORTEN THE PROTOTYPING TIME BY 60%. Seven (7) graduate students will be trained by 11 team members, including faculty members and industrial researchers, engineers, and technical staff. The outcomes from this project include leading edge technologies, new VT and VS machines, and possibly new production lines at the manufacturers (meaning new jobs), and highly qualified job-ready graduates. All these will greatly benefit Canadian sustainable agriculture, food security, the environment, and the economy.****