How to deal with damaged or missing seedlings during the transplanting process of vegetable transplanter machine

In modern agriculture, vegetable transplanters have become crucial equipment for improving efficiency and reducing costs. However, simply achieving rapid transplanting is not enough. How a transplanter handles damaged and missing seedlings is a key indicator of its technical quality. A high-quality transplanter not only operates efficiently but also, through its intelligent design, ensures that every seedling is transplanted healthy, thus guaranteeing ultimate yield and quality.

Identifying and Removing Damaged Seedlings: The "Sharp Eyes" of Precise Screening

The first step in handling damaged seedlings with a transplanter is identification. This typically relies on sophisticated mechanical or vision systems.

Mechanical identification is the most common method. When a transplanter's seedling removal device (such as a clamping plate or suction head) grasps a seedling, it uses built-in sensors to determine its integrity. For example, if a clamping plate fails to close properly or a suction head fails to generate sufficient negative pressure, the system may determine that the seedling may have loose roots or a broken stem. In this case, the transplanter will automatically discard the seedling and remove it or place it in a designated recycling bin, rather than mistakenly transplanting it back into the field.

Secondly, more advanced visual recognition systems are increasingly being adopted by high-end transplanters. These systems utilize high-resolution cameras and image processing algorithms to rapidly scan seedlings before they enter the transplanting process. Artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms can instantly analyze the seedling's morphology, color, and health. If a seedling with yellowing leaves, deformed stems, or disease or insect pests is identified, the system immediately issues instructions to control the robotic arm to precisely remove it, preventing diseased and weak seedlings from entering the field and thus preventing the spread of disease.

Addressing Missing Seedlings: Intelligent Replanting and Density Guarantee

Missing seedlings is a common challenge in transplanting operations. It can be caused by holes in the seedling tray, seedlings falling during transport, or errors in the transplanter's seedling removal. Addressing missing seedlings is key to ensuring crop density in the field with transplanters.

The most basic approach is mechanical seedling replanting. Some transplanters are designed with spare seedling trays or automatic seedling replanting mechanisms. When the main seedling retrieval system detects a missing seedling, a backup mechanism immediately grabs a healthy seedling from the backup tray and replants it in the vacant spot. This simple and effective method can quickly fill the gap.

However, smarter GPS positioning and real-time monitoring technology have taken replanting accuracy to a new level. The transplanter uses GPS or Beidou navigation systems to track its position in the field in real time. If the system detects that a designated transplanting point has not been successfully transplanted (for example, due to a seedling retrieval failure or a seedling straying from its position during landing), the onboard computer immediately records the coordinates of that location. After the operation is completed, the transplanter can automatically return home, or the operator can use the recorded coordinates to accurately replant the seedling.

Some high-end transplanters even feature an instant replanting system. If the main seedling retrieval system misses a seedling, a rear sensor immediately provides feedback, and a separate replanting mechanism quickly activates, grabbing a seedling from the backup tray and replanting it in the newly created vacant spot. This immediacy significantly reduces missed seeds, ensures even crop distribution across the field, and lays a solid foundation for subsequent field management (such as irrigation and fertilization).

Full-process traceability and data management: the cornerstone of digital agriculture

Modern transplanters are more than just simple machines; they function as data collection terminals. They record detailed data on every operation, including damaged and missing seedlings.

For example, the system can generate a transplanting report detailing key information such as the number of successfully transplanted seedlings, the number of seedlings rejected, and the locations of missing seedlings. This data can help farmers analyze the quality of seedling trays, evaluate transplanter performance, and provide data support for future seedling raising and transplanting. This data allows farmers to promptly identify problems, such as poor seedling quality in a particular batch or a transplanter component requiring adjustment.