A seedling planter is configured to plant a plurality of seedlings in ground. The seedling planter includes a vehicle body, a seedling-storage unit, and a seedling-distribution unit. The seedlings are held together in the form of a seedling package that is stored within the seedling-storage unit. The seedling-distribution unit is configured to separate each seedling from the seedling package and plant each seedling in the ground as the vehicle body travels across the ground. A method includes forming the seedling package.

A seedling planter is configured to plant a plurality of seedlings in ground. The seedling planter includes a vehicle body, a seedling-storage unit, and a seedling-distribution unit. The seedlings are held together in the form of a seedling package that is stored within the seedling-storage unit. The seedling-distribution unit is configured to separate each seedling from the seedling package and plant each seedling in the ground as the vehicle body travels across the ground. A method includes forming the seedling package.

A planting unit for a seeding machine having a frame member and a seed meter mounted thereto. The seed meter has a housing and a metering member rotatably mounted therein. The metering member has a sidewall with an inner surface and an outer surface with a rim portion of the sidewall adjacent an outer edge of the sidewall. The inner surface of the side wall and the housing form a trough at a bottom portion of the metering member to hold a seed pool. A mechanical seed delivery system takes seed from the metering member and moves seed to a discharge location adjacent a seed furrow formed in soil beneath the seeding machine.

A planting unit for a seeding machine having a frame member and a seed meter mounted thereto. The seed meter has a housing and a metering member rotatably mounted therein. The metering member has a sidewall with an inner surface and an outer surface with a rim portion of the sidewall adjacent an outer edge of the sidewall. The inner surface of the side wall and the housing form a trough at a bottom portion of the metering member to hold a seed pool. A mechanical seed delivery system takes seed from the metering member and moves seed to a discharge location adjacent a seed furrow formed in soil beneath the seeding machine.

Rapid pulse programming of a seed, to obtain improved germination probability, and increased root mass, and crop yield, by illuminating the seed with radiation of a wavelength distribution from 300 nm to 20 microns, with a minimum average irradiance of 0.2 Watts/cm.sup.2 and a maximum average irradiance of 7 Watts/cm.sup.2, and having a narrow specific range of cumulative illumination energy from ½ Joules/cm.sup.2 to 3 Joules/cm2 or a higher transition point cumulative illumination energy, so as to specifically engage an irradiance-sensitive and energy-sensitive hidden stimulative exposure response in the seed and so as to avoid illumination of higher cumulative illumination energy that would cause a different and destructive exposure response in the seed. Preferred wavelengths include one or both of Medium Wavelength Infrared (MWIR) radiation and an Indigo Region Illumination Distribution (IRID), which may be applied to an illuminated agricultural planter.

The present invention discloses an opposite belt-type precise seeding device. The opposite belt-type precise seeding device comprises a seed metering tube consisting of a U-shaped shell and a cover plate, two conveying devices provided inside the seed metering tube in parallel, and a conveying plate provided at the lower end of the seed metering tube. The opposite belt-type precise seeding device belongs to the field of agricultural machinery. In a seeder, a tubular seed conveying tube is usually used for guiding movement of seeds, but the movement of the seeds in the seed conveying tube has certain randomness, so that the seed distance consistency of the seeds in a seed bed is reduced. Through control of the seeds by the conveying devices, the stable movement of the seeds is achieved and the seed distance consistency of the seeds in the seed bed is guaranteed.

The present invention discloses an opposite belt-type precise seeding device. The opposite belt-type precise seeding device comprises a seed metering tube consisting of a U-shaped shell and a cover plate, two conveying devices provided inside the seed metering tube in parallel, and a conveying plate provided at the lower end of the seed metering tube. The opposite belt-type precise seeding device belongs to the field of agricultural machinery. In a seeder, a tubular seed conveying tube is usually used for guiding movement of seeds, but the movement of the seeds in the seed conveying tube has certain randomness, so that the seed distance consistency of the seeds in a seed bed is reduced. Through control of the seeds by the conveying devices, the stable movement of the seeds is achieved and the seed distance consistency of the seeds in the seed bed is guaranteed.

An agricultural machine includes a seeding system having a seed transport mechanism configured to transport a seed along a transport route, a seed sensor configured to sense presence of the seed at a first location along the transport route, and a motor configured to drive movement of the seed transport mechanism to transport the seed from the first location to a second location in which the seed is released from the seed transport mechanism. A processing system is configured to track a position of the seed along the transport route based on an indication of the sensed presence of the seed at the first location and detected movement of the seed transport mechanism, and generate a motor operating parameter based on the tracked position of the seed and a target parameter for releasing the seed. The motor of the seeding system is operated based on the motor operating parameter.

A seeding robot includes a power supply, a frame, an opening device for creating a trench, a seed reservoir, and a seed dispensing apparatus configured to deposit seed in the trench from a dispense point. A pair of driven leading wheels are laterally offset to opposite sides of the dispense point. A trailing wheel is positioned behind, and aligned on a longitudinal axis with, the dispense point. The trailing wheel may serve a pressing function behind the seeding operation. Methods of autonomous seeding with such a robot are also disclosed.

A seeding robot includes a power supply, a frame, an opening device for creating a trench, a seed reservoir, and a seed dispensing apparatus configured to deposit seed in the trench from a dispense point. A pair of driven leading wheels are laterally offset to opposite sides of the dispense point. A trailing wheel is positioned behind, and aligned on a longitudinal axis with, the dispense point. The trailing wheel may serve a pressing function behind the seeding operation. Methods of autonomous seeding with such a robot are also disclosed.