Field performance optimization and experimental study of an integrated mobile platform for precision rice seeding operations

Objective Direct-seeded rice in Northeast China’s cold regions demands extremely high seeding quality, but black soil adhesion and low-temperature environments cause existing seeding technologies to fail. This study aimed to establish an optimized parameter combination suitable for black soil conditions to ensure grain production by addressing the special requirements of cold-region dry direct-seeded rice in Northeast China. Methods A specially designed 2BQX-2 seeder was selected and field experiments were conducted in typical black soil areas of Heilongjiang Province. An L₁₆(4 4 ) orthogonal experimental design and response surface methodology (RSM) were employed to systematically optimize four key parameters: push rod operating speed (1.5–3.0 km/h), soil moisture content (18–24%), seeding depth (15–30 mm), and opener inclination angle (42–48°). Seeding qualification rate, coefficient of variation, and failure rate were used as evaluation indicators. Results The optimal parameter combination was: push rod speed 2.2 km/h, soil moisture content 21%, seeding depth 20 mm, and opener inclination angle 45d°. Under these conditions, the seeding qualification rate reached 95.0%, coefficient of variation was 13.7%, and failure rate decreased by 34% from 0.53 times/hm 2 to 0.35 times/hm 2 . Parameter interaction analysis revealed extremely significant interaction between push rod speed and soil moisture content ( p < 0.001, F = 12.35), and significant interaction between soil moisture content and seeding depth ( p = 0.018), revealing the complexity of the seeding system under black soil conditions. Conclusion This study provides a scientific parameter optimization scheme for precision seeding of cold-region dry direct-seeded rice in Northeast China, with significant implications for improving seeding efficiency and ensuring food security.