A review: Study of the different types of metering mechanism used in seed drill and planter
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Precision seed placement plays a vital role in achieving optimum crop establishment, efficient utilization of agricultural inputs, and higher crop productivity. The performance of seed drills and planters largely depends on the seed metering mechanism, which regulates the discharge of seeds at the desired rate and spacing. Uniform seed distribution minimizes intra-row competition and improves germination, emergence, and crop growth. In recent years, seed metering technology has evolved from conventional mechanical devices to advanced pneumatic, electronic, and mechatronic systems integrated with sensors and intelligent control units. This review summarizes the different types of seed metering mechanisms used in seed drills and planters, including mechanical, pneumatic, electronic/mechatronic, controlled, and crop-specific systems. Their constructional features, operating principles, technical specifications, performance indices, advantages, limitations, and applications reported in the literature are discussed. A comparative assessment of different metering mechanisms based on seed spacing accuracy, operating speed, power requirement, adaptability, and automation level is also presented. The review highlights recent developments in electrically driven and sensor-based metering systems for precision agriculture and identifies future research directions toward intelligent, energy-efficient, and high-speed seed metering technologies.
Institution: Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth
Language: English
Subfield: Mechanical Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W7214224864