Design and Development of an Automated Seed Planter for Precision Agriculture

The design and development of an automated seed planter for precision agriculture is presented in this study, with the objective of improving seed placement accuracy, depth uniformity, and operational efficiency while reducing dependence on manual labor. The planter integrates a mechanically driven seed metering system with a microcontroller-based control unit to synchronize seed release with ground wheel motion. The system was modeled using SolidWorks, fabricated from locally sourced materials, and experimentally evaluated through field trials conducted on a 20 m × 10 m tilled plot using maize seeds. Field results showed a mean seed spacing accuracy of 89%, planting depth uniformity of 92%, and an overall field efficiency of 87% at an operating speed of 3.2 km/h. The planter achieved an effective field capacity of 0.126 ha/h with minimal seed wastage. These results demonstrate that the developed planter provides reliable and precise seed placement suitable for small and medium-scale farming applications. The study confirms that low-cost automation can effectively support precision agriculture practices in resource-limited settings.