Investigation on the mechanism for crushing root-stubble and disturbing soil by bionic cutters and multi-curved cutters based on DEM

Authors

  • Chenggong Xie College of Engineering, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
  • Shunchang Guo College of Engineering, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
  • Yunpeng Gao College of Engineering, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
  • Xin Feng College of Engineering, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
  • Jiayue Yao College of Engineering, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
  • Yue Qin College of Engineering, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
  • Bendi Qi College of Engineering, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
  • Jingyu Hao College of Engineering, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China

Abstract

In this study, to address the challenges of root-stubble crushed insufficiently and excessive disturbance of the soil on ridges, moving and fixed cutters imitating a cat’s claw were designed for crushing stubble efficiently through reverse engineering technology. The multi-curve cutter was designed based on the distribution characteristics of roots in different soil layers, enabling efficient crushing of roots with minimal soil disruption. The EDEM was employed to build a root-stubble-soil discrete element model and simulate the crushing process of root-stubble. The accuracy of the result of the numerical simulation was validated through the field test. The qualified rate of root-stubble length, the rate of soil disturbance, and the power consumption of the device (PCD) would be increased with the increase of the rotational speed of cutter shaft (RSCS). The stubble, driven by the moving cutters, rotated around its root until a cutting support was established between the moving and fixed cutters, enabling efficient fragmentation. At a lower RSCS, the disturbed soil in the surface layer would fall back to the ridge. The soil in the middle and deep layers would also be collided and compressed by the soil in the surface layer, and a low rate of soil disturbance would occur. When the RSCS was 380 r/min, the rate of soil disturbance was the lowest, at 18.57%, and the qualified rate of root-stubble length could reach 91.07%, which could meet the requirements of agricultural technology.

Keywords: discrete element method, root-stubble treatment, soil protection, bionic cutter, multi-curve cutter

DOI: 10.25165/j.ijabe.20261902.10209

 

Citation: Xie C G, Guo S C, Gao Y P, Feng X, Yao J Y, Qin Y, et al. Investigation on the mechanism of crushing root-stubble and disturbing soil by bionic cutters and multi-curved cutters based on DEM. Int J Agric & Biol Eng, 2026; 19(2): 193–202.

References

[1] Han X Z, Zhou W X. Research perspectives and footprint of utilization and protection of black soil in northeast China. Acta Pedologica Sinica, 2021; 58（6）: 1341–1358.

[2] Fang H Y. Impacts of rainfall and soil conservation measures on soil, SOC, and TN losses on slopes in the black soil region, Northeastern China. Ecological Indicators, 2021; 129: 108016.

[3] Feng X, Yao J Y, Gao Y P, Zeng L C, Wang L J, Wang B, et al. Review of root-stubble characteristics and root-stubble crushing and clearing technologies for conservation tillage. Sustainability, 2024; 16（19）: 8508.

[4] Li X J, Wu J A, Zhao D Y, Zhang C L, Zhou F J. Research on straw pretreatment equipment of corn no-tillage planter. Journal of Chinese Agricultural Mechanization, 2021; 42（7）: 1–7.

[5] Jiang S, Wang Q J, Zhong G Y, Tong Z W, Wang X H, Xu J. Brief review of minimum or no-till seeders in China. AgriEngineering, 2021; 3（3）: 605–621.

[6] Hou S Y, Zhu Y F, Zhu X X, Wang Y J, Ji W Y, Chen H T. Design and experiment of a straw clearing mulching no-tillage planter. Biosystems Engineering, 2022; 2221: 69–80.

[7] Chen G B, Wang Q J, Li H W, He J, Wang X H, Zhang X Y, et al. Experimental research on vertical straw cleaning and soil tillage device based on soil-straw composite model. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 2024; 216: 108510.

[8] Jia H L, Guo M Z, Gou C J, Zheng J, Zhang C L, Zhao J L. Design of dynamic bionic stubble cutting device and optimization test of parameters. Transactions of the CSAM, 2018; 49（10）: 103–114.

[9] Huang Y X, Gao P Y, Zhang Q K, Shen H, Zhu R X, Shi J T. Design and experiment of grass-soil separation device with combination of stubble cutting and grass guiding used for no-till planter. Transactions of the CSAM, 2020; 51（5）: 67–78.

[10] Lin H, He J, Li H W, Wang Q J, Lu C Y, Yang W C, et al. Design and experiment of a reciprocating intermittent chopping device for maize straw returning. Agriculture, 2022; 12（2）: 220.

[11] Lin J, Li B, Li B, Niu J, Qian W. Parameter optimization and experiment on Archimedes spiral type of gap cutting disc. Transactions of the CSAM, 2014; 45（6）: 118–124.

[12] Lin J, Qian W, Niu J L. Design and experiment of stubble-cutting and anti-blocking mechanism for ridge-till and no-till planter. Journal of Shenyang Agricultural University, 2015; 46（6）: 691–698.

[13] Wang J Y, Zhao S H, Gao L L, Yuan Y W, Yang Y Q. Design and experiment of passive disc cutting blade in corn ridges. Transactions of the CSAM, 2021; 52（11）: 59–67.

[14] Jiang J L, Gong L N, Wang D W, Wang G P. Design and experiment for driving double coulters anti-blockage device of no-till planter. Transactions of the CSAE, 2012; 28（21）: 17–22.

[15] Wang W W, Zhu C X, Chen L Q, Li Z D, Huang X, Li J C. Design and experiment of active straw-removing anti-blocking device for maize no-tillage planter. Transactions of the CSAE, 2017; 33（24）: 10–17.

[16] Li X J, Zhang C L, Zhao D Y, Wu J A, Li Q D, Zhou F J. Design and experiment of air-sweeping type straw stubble processor. Journal of Chinese Agricultural Mechanization, 2021; 42（5）: 13–18.

[17] Jiang T J. Design and experimental study on gear-tooth stubble cutting mechanism of no-tillage seeder. Jilin University, 2013.

[18] Tong J, Ji W F, Jia H L, Chen D H, Yang X W. Design and tests of biomimetic blades for soil-rototilling and stubble-breaking. Journal of Bionic Engineering, 2015; 12: 495–503.

[19] Chang Z Y, Liu W, Tong J, Guo L, Xie H, Yang X, et al. Design and experiments of biomimetic stubble cutter. Journal of Bionic Engineering, 2016; 13: 335–343.

[20] Torotwa I, Ding Q S, Makange N R, Liang L, He R Y. Performance evaluation of a biomimetically designed disc for dense-straw mulched conservation tillage. Soil and Tillage Research, 2021; 212: 105068.

[21] Qi H Y, Ma Z C, Xu Z H, Wang S, Ma Y H, Wu S Y, et al. The design and experimental validation of a biomimetic stubble-cutting device inspired by a leaf-cutting ant’s mandibles. Biomimetics, 2023; 8（7）: 555.

[22] Fang W Q, Wang X Z, Han D L, Chen X G. Review of material parameter calibration method. Agriculture, 2022; 12（5）: 706.

[23] Zhao J W, Yu J Q, Sun K, Wang Y, Liang L S, Sun Y C, et al. A discrete element method model and experimental verification for wheat root systems. Biosystems Engineering, 2024; 244: 146–165.

[24] Zhang S L, Huang Y X, Gao X J, Bi Y B, Dong J X, Zhao H B, et al. Evaluating the influence of straight-plain types of rotary tiller blades with various edge curves on maize residue using DEM. Biosystems Engineering, 2024; 250: 49–61.

[25] Wang J W, Xu Y N, Wang C Y, Xiang Y S, Tang H. Design and simulation of a trenching device for rice straw burial and trenching based on MBD-DEM. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 2023; 207: 107722.

[26] Zhao H B, Li H W, Ma S C, He J, Wang Q J, Lu C Y, et al. The effect of various edge-curve types of plain-straight blades for strip tillage seeding on torque and soil disturbance using DEM. Soil and Tillage Research, 2020; 202: 104674.

[27] Zhu D Q, Shi M H, Yu C Y, Yu Z Y, Kuang F M, Xiong W, et al. Tool-straw-paddy soil coupling model of mechanical rotary-tillage process based on DEM-FEM. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 2023; 215: 108410.

[28] Luo Y Q, Li J L, Yao B H, Luo Q, Zhu Z C, Wu W B. Research progress and development trend of bionic harvesting technology. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 2024; 222: 109013.

[29] Vollmerhaus B, Roos H. Die kralle der hauskatze （Felis catus）-eine formenanalyse. Anatomia Histologia Embryologia, 2000; 29: 193–195.

[30] Roos H, Vollmerhaus B. Konstruktionsprinzipien an der vorder- und hinterpfote der hauskatze （Felis catus）. 4. Mitteilung: Muskelinnervation und bewegungsanalyse. Anatomia Histologia Embryologia, 2005; 34: 2–14.

[31] Feng X, Xie C, Tong J, Guo S, Qi B, Gao Y, et al. Design and test of vertical axis rotating cutters for cutting corn roots and crown. Agriculture, 2025; 15: 717.

[32] Lin J, Lyu Z, Li H, Wang X, Wang D. Design and experiment of passive anti-winding stubble breaking and ridge cleaning device for no-tillage planter. Transactions of the CSAM, 2023; 54（6）: 19–27, 37.

[33] Sun Y X, Dou G Z, Duan W B, Chen X H, Zheng J, Xin L M, et al. Involute-arc-leg for multi-legged robot: high stability and low energy consumption. Mechanism and Machine Theory, 2022; 170: 104701.

[34] Liu L, Wang X L, Zhang X C, Cheng X P, Wei Z C, Zhou H, et al. The impact of ‘T’-shaped furrow opener of no-tillage seeder on straw and soil based on discrete element method. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 2023; 213: 108278.

[35] National Feed Quality Inspection Center, Feed quality inspection center of the ministry of agriculture. GB/T14699.1-2005, Feed Sampling. Beijing: China Standards Press, 2005.

[36] Tang Z Y, Gong H, Wu S L, Zeng Z W, Wang Z Q, Zhou Y H, et al. Modelling of paddy soil using the CFD-DEM coupling method. Soil and Tillage Research, 2023; 226: 105591.

[37] Zhang J, Xia M, Chen W, Yuan D, Wu C Y, Zhu J P. Simulation analysis and experiments for blade-soil-straw interaction under deep ploughing based on the discrete element method. Agriculture, 2023; 13（1）: 136.

[38] Yuan Y W, Wang J Y, Zhang X, Zhao S H. Effect of rotary speed on soil and straw throwing process by stubble-crushing blade for strip tillage using DEM-CFD. Agriculture, 2023; 13（4）: 877.

[39] Zhang S L, Zhao H B, Wang X Z, Dong J X, Zhao P F, Yang F F, et al. Discrete element modeling and shear properties of the maize stubble-soil complex. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 2023; 204: 107519.

[40] Wang Q, Wang Z M, Zhang Z H, Zhang K, Yao S, Zhou W Q, et al. Design and test of bionic elastic row cleaner with improved straw cleaning performance. Agriculture, 2024; 14（2）: 186.

[41] Shi Y Y, Sun X, Wang X C, Hu Z C, Newman D, Ding W M. Numerical simulation and field tests of minimum-tillage planter with straw smashing and strip laying based on EDEM software. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 2019; 166: 105021.

[42] Hou S Y, Ji Z C, Xue D H, Wang X, Feng B J, Chen H T. Improved design and test of straw cleaning device suitable for no-tillage seeding unit. Transactions of the CSAM, 2023; 54（7）: 111–122.

[43] Xiao M H, Niu Y, Wang K X, Zhu Y J, Zhou J B, Ma R Q. Design of self-excited vibrating rotary tiller and analysis of its performance in reducing torsion and consumption. Transactions of the CSAM, 2022; 53（11）: 52–63.

[44] Hou S Y, Chen H T, Zou Z, Wei Z P, Zhang Y L. Design and test of lateral stubble cleaning blade for corn stubble field. Transactions of the CSAE, 2020; 36（2）: 59–69.

[45] Vu V D, Ngo Q H, Nguyen T T, Nguyen H C, Nguyenet Q T, Nguyen V D. Multi-objective optimization of cutting force and cutting power in chopping agricultural residues. Biosystems Engineering, 2020; 191: 107–115.

Downloads

Published

2026-05-21

How to Cite

(1)
Xie, C.; Guo, S.; Gao, Y.; Feng, X.; Yao, J.; Qin, Y.; Qi, B.; Hao, J. Investigation on the Mechanism for Crushing Root-Stubble and Disturbing Soil by Bionic Cutters and Multi-Curved Cutters Based on DEM. Int J Agric & Biol Eng 2026, 19, 193-202.

Issue

Vol. 19 No. 2 (2026): IJABE

Section

Power and Machinery Systems

License

Copyright (c) 2026 International Journal of Agricultural and Biological Engineering

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

IJABE is an international peer reviewed, open access journal, adopting Creative Commons Copyright Notices as follows.

Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:

  1. Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
  2. Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
  3. Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).