Abstract
In order to obtain a standard reference for designing an adequate power rice transplanter, the cutting forces depending upon variety of seedling, sowing density, seedling age and soil moisture content of mat-type seedling were measured by the rice transplanter installed with force measuring device of dynamic strain gage system in the laboratory. The result of this study are summarized as follows : 1. Cutting velocity and acceleration transplanting hoe obtained from jinematic analysis of planting mechanism was 1.32m/sec and 81.5m/$sec^2$ when planting crank-shaft rpm was 160. 2. Little difference between cutting forces on 30-days old seelings of japonica and Indica type was observed, as the cutting forces determined were 2.0kg per hill for Japonica type and 2.1kg per hill for Indica type. 3. Cutting forces determined on 40-days old seedlings were 2.5kg, 2.3kg, 3.1kg and 2.9kg per hill for Milyang No.15, Tongil, Akibare and Milyang No.23 compared to the other varieties. 4. The cutting force was not greatly affected by the sowing densities , only five percent of differences were observed epending upon the sowing densities. 5. Cutting forces were 2.7kg and 2.0kg per hill on 40-days old seedlings and 30-days old seedlings respectively. About 38 percent of more forces was required in cutting 40-days old seedling than in cutting 30-days old seedlings. 6. More cutting forces were required as soil moisture content of mat-type seedling was decreased. 7. Root length after cutting by the planting hoe and their relationships with soil moisture content on 30-days old seedlings, are as follows ; $y=4.147-11.384x+ 28.854x^2$ where , $y$=root length after cutting. (cm) , $x$=soil ture content of mat type seedlings.(%, d.b.) 8. Cutting forces were varied with the width of cuttings ; those on 40-days old mat type seedlings were 2.7kg and 2.2kg per hill when cutting with 14 mm and 10mm of width respectively, about 32 percent of more forces was required when cuting with 14mm of width compared to 10mm of width.