UDC 635.1/.8: 631.331
https://doi.org/10.25630/PAV.2026.60.57.006
Yanchenko A.V., Azopkov M.I., Fedosov A.Yu., Menshikh A.M.
The article provides a review of hand-operated seeders used in small-scale farming, breeding, and primary seed production. The relevance of the topic is due to the fact that, despite the widespread mechanization of agricultural production, hand sowing remains in demand on small-sized plots — in greenhouses, breeding nurseries, and small farms, where the use of large machinery is impossible or economically impractical. At the same time, most existing hand seeders suffer from typical disadvantages: inconvenient ergonomics, excessive weight, and uneven seed distribution, which leads to over-densification or sparsity of seedlings and reduced yields. Special attention is paid to sowing experimental plots, which is a key and most vulnerable operation in breeding seed production. In the early stages of breeding, when the amount of unique seed material is minimal, any deviation from agrotechnical requirements can lead to the complete loss of the sample. In this regard, the use of mechanized sowing implements capable of ensuring sowing accuracy becomes technologically necessary. The article systematizes operational requirements for hand seeders: compactness and maneuverability, ensuring varietal purity, preserving seed quality, minimizing material losses, stability of technological parameters, and integration into the overall field work scheme. An analysis of modern models of hand seeders is carried out. The SR-1M seeder with a coil-type sowing apparatus is considered, its advantages (low weight of 14 kg, maneuverability) and disadvantages (limited versatility, low sowing accuracy — out of 10 points only 7 contain one seed each) are noted. The bobbin-type seeder with paper tape being developed at Tver State Agricultural Academy is analyzed, which provides high sowing accuracy but has disadvantages in the form of tape breakage and significant preparation time. Seeders with a cone-type sowing apparatus with a covering belt («Klen-1», SH-20, Rowseed 1R) are considered, which are distinguished by high accuracy of portion sowing and smooth adjustment of row length, but have a significant disadvantage — weight from 30 to 45 kg, which creates physical strain on the operator and reduces maneuverability.
Key words: hand seeder, seed production, cone sowing apparatus, coil sowing apparatus, sowing accuracy, seeding rate, small-scale farming
Yanchenko A.V., Cand. Sci. (Agr.), senior research fellow, ARRIVG – a branch of the FSBSI FSVC. E-mail: laboratoria2008@yandex.ru
Azopkov M.I., Cand. Sci. (Agr.), senior research fellow, ARRIVG – a branch of the FSBSI FSVC. E-mail: max.az62@yandex.ru
Fedosov A.Yu., junior research fellow, ARRIVG – a branch of the FSBSI FSVC. E-mail: fffed@rambler.ru
Menshikh A.M., Cand. Sci. (Agr.), leading research fellow, ARRIVG – branch of the FSBSI FSVC. E-mail: soulsunnet@yandex.ru
- Nuriddinov A.D., Bekmirzaev Sh., Sotvoldiev M.M. Development of a manual seeder for sowing small seeds for small farms and peasant households. Universum: technical sciences. 2022. No11-2 (104). Pp. 64–66.
- Shumaev V.V. Manual seeder for sowing seeds of garden crops. In the collection: Regional problems of sustainable development of the agro industrial complex in the context of digital transformation. Collection of articles from the International Scientific and Practical Conference. Penza. 2024. Pp. 425–430.
- Shaforostov V.D., Efimkin N.V. Selection seed drill for sowing oilseed flax seeds on experimental plots // Oilseed Crops. Scientific and Technical Bulletin of the All Russian Research Institute of Oilseed Crops. 2015. Issue 2(162). Pp. 99–102.
- Machines, equipment and instruments for the selection and seed production of oilseed crops: a catalogue. D.S. Buklagin, V.Ya. Goltyapin, N.P. Mishurov, V.Yu. Revenko. Moscow. FSBSI “Rosinformagrotekh”. 2021. 96 p.
- Smallholder farmers’ challenges and opportunities: Implications for agricultural production, environment and food security. Touch Van, Tan Daniel K.Y., Cook Brian R., Liu De Li, Cross Rebecca, Tran Thong Anh, Utomo Ariane, Yous Sophea, Grunbuhel Clemens, Cowie Annette. Journal of Environmental Management. Vol. 370. 2024. 122536.
- Overview of seeders used at the first stage of selective seed production. S.A. Shishurin, A.M. Maradudin, A.A. Leontiev, R.N. Bakhtiev. In the collection: Innovative technical support for the agro industrial complex. Proceedings of the scientific and technical conference with international participation named after A.F. Ulyanov. Saratov. 2023. Pp. 287–292.
- Single row seeder for vegetables and medicinal plants. [Web resource]. URL: https://ru.seedermanufacturer.com/products_details/6.html. Access date: 12.07.2026.
- Manual bobbin-type selection seeder. V.V. Golubev, V.S. Androshchuk, A.Yu. Zhidkov, P.V. Morozov. In the collection: Development of the scientific and innovative potential of agricultural production: problems, trends, solutions. Collection of scientific papers based on the materials of the International scientific and practical conference. Tver. 2022. Pp. 325-327.
- Aldoshin N.V. et al. Machines and equipment for the selection and seed production of vegetable crops: catalogue. Moscow. FSBSI “Rosinformagrotekh”. 2021. 88 p.
- Shinde S.S., Munde P.A., Solanki S.N. Optimizing Small-Scale Farming: A Review of Manually Operated Vegetable Seed Sowing Machine Performance. International journal of scientific research in engineering and management. 2024. No08(09). Pp. 1–4.
- Kochurov G.V., Makarov S.S. Conical seeding device for a selection seed drill. Utility model patent RU 230268 U1, 25.11.2024. Application No2024117425 dated 24.06.2024.
PDF(Rus)
For citing: Justification for the selection of the design of the sowing apparatus of a hand-operated seeder for small-scale farming and vegetable crop breeding. A.V. Yanchenko, M.I. Azopkov, A.Yu. Fedosov, A.M. Menshikh. 2026. No6. Pp. 49-53. https://doi.org/10.25630/PAV.2026.60.57.006 (In Russ.).
