A method for growing plants includes both a seeder and a harvester both of which include arrangements for singulating the seeds and for measuring parameters of the seeds while singulated. This can be used for seeding selected seeds and for harvesting particular plants. The system operates by correlating information from the individual seeded seeds and from the harvested seeds in respect of a particular location on the growth medium and may include information relating the growth medium at the location. The location can be determined by seeding the plants in patterns which can be detected by a reader on the harvester. The system can be used to control selection of seeds to take into account soil conditions at the plant.

A method for growing plants includes both a seeder and a harvester both of which include arrangements for singulating the seeds and for measuring parameters of the seeds while singulated. This can be used for seeding selected seeds and for harvesting particular plants. The system operates by correlating information from the individual seeded seeds and from the harvested seeds in respect of a particular location on the growth medium and may include information relating the growth medium at the location. The location can be determined by seeding the plants in patterns which can be detected by a reader on the harvester. The system can be used to control selection of seeds to take into account soil conditions at the plant.

A method for growing plants includes both a seeder and a harvester both of which include arrangements for singulating the seeds and for measuring parameters of the seeds while singulated. This can be used for seeding selected seeds and for harvesting particular plants. The system operates by correlating information from the individual seeded seeds and from the harvested seeds in respect of a particular location on the growth medium and may include information relating the growth medium at the location. The location can be determined by seeding the plants in patterns which can be detected by a reader on the harvester. The system can be used to control selection of seeds to take into account soil conditions at the plant.

A field planting system for planting seeds of at least two plant genotypes in a field includes a multi-variety planter operable to plant the seeds of the at least two plant genotypes in the field. The field planting system also includes a controller in operable communication with the multi-variety planter. The controller is configured to receive georeferenced field information for the field and plant information for the at least two plant genotypes, and generate a planting map for the field based on the georeferenced field information and the plant information, the planting map including a planting pattern for interplanting the seeds of the at least two plant genotypes. The controller is further configured to monitor a location of the multi-variety planter in the field, and control the multi-variety planter to plant the seeds of the at least two plant genotypes in the field according to the planting map.

A self-propelled seeding vehicle includes a seed sorting and placement unit controlled by an on-board control system. The control system further controls a motive power unit operable to cause the vehicle to controllably traverse an area of ground to be seeded. The control system is further operable to control the sequential depositing of seeds independently of the speed of traversal of the ground by the vehicle.

A knife assembly mountable to a frame of a seeder comprises a knife shank having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the knife shank adapted to be directly or indirectly attached to the frame; a knife blade removably attached at or near the distal end of the knife shank; and a tube holder having a groove along a portion of its length, the groove designed to slidably receive a corresponding ridge on a flexible drop tube so that when a portion of the bottom of the flexible drop tube is worn, the flexible drop tube can be pulled from the bottom to slide down the groove and the worn portion can be cut off, the tube holder being attached at or near the distal end of the knife shank behind the knife blade so that both the knife blade and the flexible drop tube can be removed individually.

A method for growing plants includes both a seeder and a harvester both of which include arrangements for singulating the seeds and for measuring parameters of the seeds while singulated. This can be used for seeding selected seeds and for harvesting particular plants. The system operates by correlating information from the individual seeded seeds and from the harvested seeds in respect of a particular location on the growth medium and may include information relating the growth medium at the location. The location can be determined by seeding the plants in patterns which can be detected by a reader on the harvester. The system can be used to control selection of seeds to take into account soil conditions at the plant.

An agricultural seed planter is provided. The agricultural seed planter has a large diameter rotating planting wheel with fingers or teeth spaced around the periphery of the planting wheel. The teeth are positioned so as to achieve a spacing of the seeds when planted in the soil. The teeth have a small dimple in the end and an even smaller hole passing through the entire length. The dimple provides a place for the seed to sit in and the small hole allows positive or negative air pressure to be transmitted to the seed. The negative air pressure creates a vacuum suction that attaches the seed to the teeth, and the positive air pressure releases the seed from the teeth. In an example implementation, the wheel includes many individual mechanical modules that are linked together to form the wheel.

A method for placing seeds inside a growth substrate by a seed insertion device including the steps of: arranging the seed insertion device in contact with the growth substrate such that a tip of the seed insertion device penetrates through an outer surface of the growth substrate; creating a growth pocket inside the growth substrate with the seed insertion device; supplying seeds to the growth pocket of the growth substrate via the seed insertion device; removing the seed insertion device from contact with the growth substrate; and closing the growth pocket by elastic force of the growth substrate for forming a closed growth pocket such that the seeds remain in the closed growth pocket inside the growth substrate.

A knife assembly mountable to a frame of a seeder is provided comprising a knife shank having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the knife shank adapted to be directly or indirectly attached to the frame; a knife blade removably attached at or near the distal end of the knife shank; and a tube holder having a groove along a portion of its length, the groove designed to slidably receive a corresponding ridge on a flexible drop tube, the tube holder being attached at or near the distal end of the knife shank behind the knife blade so that both the knife blade and the flexible drop tube can be removed individually without disturbing the other elements of the knife assembly.