Analisis Kinerja Penjatahan Benih Tipe Vakum dengan Lubang Isap Lentur untuk Benih Kacang Tanah

Abstract

Penurunan produksi kacang tanah nasional mendorong kebutuhan mekanisasi penanaman yang presisi, khususnya sistem penjatahan benih tipe vakum dengan lubang isap lentur (flexible seed orifice). Penelitian ini bertujuan menganalisis pengaruh diameter lubang isap, jumlah lapisan, tekanan vakum, dan kecepatan putar piringan terhadap kinerja penjatahan benih kacang tanah varietas kelinci, serta menentukan kombinasi parameter optimum. Pengujian dilakukan menggunakan rancangan faktorial penuh dengan empat parameter dan tiga level, menghasilkan 81 kombinasi perlakuan yang dievaluasi berdasarkan feed index, multiple index, dan miss index mengacu pada standar ISO 7256-1 (1984). Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa tekanan vakum dan diameter lubang merupakan faktor paling dominan, sementara kecepatan putar berperan sebagai faktor pembatas. Kombinasi optimal dicapai pada diameter lubang 4 mm, jumlah lapisan 1 lapis, tekanan vakum 4 kPa, dan kecepatan putar 10 rpm, menghasilkan feed index sebesar 98,78%, multiple index 0,22%, dan miss index 1,00%, dengan kategori sangat baik. Piringan penjatah berlubang isap lentur terbukti jauh lebih unggul dibanding lubang isap kaku yang hanya menghasilkan feed index 30,56%. Teknologi penjatah benih tipe vakum dengan lubang isap lentur berpotensi meningkatkan efisiensi dan presisi penanaman kacang tanah karena mampu menjatahkan benih secara tepat satu lubang satu benih, sehingga menghasilkan keseragaman tanam yang tinggi.

The decline in national peanut production has driven the need for precision planting mechanization, particularly vacuum-type seed metering systems with flexible seed orifices. This study aimed to analyze the effects of orifice diameter, flexible material thickness, suction pressure, and disc rotational speed on the metering performance for kelinci variety peanut seeds, as well as to determine the optimum parameter combination. Testing was conducted using a full factorial design with four factors and three levels, yielding 81 treatment combinations evaluated based on feed index, multiple index, and miss index according to ISO 7256-1 (1984). Results showed that suction pressure and orifice diameter were the most dominant factors, while rotational speed acted as a limiting factor. The optimum combination was achieved at a 4 mm orifice diameter, single-layer thickness, 4 kPa suction pressure, and 10 rpm rotational speed, yielding a QFI of 98.78%, multiple index of 0.22%, and miss index of 1.00%, classified as excellent. The flexible orifice metering disc proved substantially superior to the rigid orifice disc, which achieved only a QFI of 30.56%. The vacuum-type seed metering technology with a flexible suction hole has the potential to improve the efficiency and precision of peanut planting, as it is capable of accurately dispensing exactly one seed per suction hole, thereby producing a high level of planting uniformity