Potato sprouted mulch-film rotational hole-punching planter based on DEM-MBD coupled simulation

• A sprouted potato hole-punching planter was proposed to improve planting accuracy. • A dual-asynchronous rotary hole-punching device was designed for efficient planting. • A boss-type opening–closing component was adopted for non-destructive potato planting. • DEM–MBD coupled simulation was adopted to realize the planting mechanism operation. • Simulation and field tests showed its planting accuracy met agronomic standards. To address the challenge of mechanized potato planting in the cold and arid regions of Northwest China, sprouted potato planting combined with mulching technology for drought resistance and water conservation was adopted, and a potato sprouted-on-mulch-film rotary hole-punching planter was designed. The whole machine employs an innovative rotary hole-punching method together with a boss-type guide-rail opening and closing structure, achieving fixed-point hole formation and precise planting, thereby improving the reliability and accuracy of planting operations. Through the optimized design of the mulching device, an integrated mulching operation was formed that combines mulching, film pressing, and soil covering along the film edges, effectively reducing the occurrence of film lifting by strong winds. By using multi-body dynamics and discrete element (MBD–DEM) coupled simulation technology, the reliability and accuracy of the rotary hole-punching planting mechanism were verified, and at the same time, a three-dimensional laser scanner was used to construct a simulation model of sprouted cut tubers, and coupling calculation experiments were carried out. Through the simulation results, it was shown that the device could achieve the planting depth and plant spacing required by agronomic planting requirements. Through further verification of field experiments, the results showed that the qualification rate of planting depth under mulch was 91%, the misalignment rate of hole formation was 5%, and the qualification rate of plant spacing was 89 %, all of which met national and industry standards. These results showed that the potato sprouted-on-mulch-film rotary hole-punching planter developed in this paper could meet agronomic planting requirements and provide a reference for optimizing and improving mechanized planting of sprouted potatoes in Northwest China and other cold and arid regions.