The impact of ‘T’-shaped furrow opener of no-tillage seeder on straw and soil based on discrete element method

•A Discrete Element model (EDEM) of the interaction between agricultural machinery components, flexible straw, and soil was established.•A lateral blade was added to the side of the single-disc opener to create lateral furrows.•The EDEM software was used to analyze the effects of the lateral blade on soil and straw from a microscopic perspective.•The simulation results are useful for selecting the lateral blade and evaluating the groove effect. In no-tillage planting systems, the ‘T’-shaped furrow opened by the furrow opener can effectively preserve soil moisture, ensuring that the seeds are consistently covered by the soil. Investigating the effects of different types of lateral blade on the ‘T’ -shaped furrow opened by the furrow opener is crucial. In this study, a discrete element method (DEM) model was established to simulate the interactions among the ‘T’- shaped furrow opener, straw, and soil. The rationality of the model was validated through soil bin experiments and simulation experiments, which involved multiple indicators, such as soil forward displacement, soil lateral displacement, straw forward displacement, draft force, and down force of the ‘T’- shaped furrow opener. During the exploration experiment, the influence of lateral blade shapes and working speeds on the performance of the ‘T’- shaped furrow opener was investigated. In the simulation, draft force, down force, soil displacement, and straw displacement were measured. The results indicated that both lateral blade shapes and working speeds, as well as their interaction, had significant effects on draft force, down force, soil displacement, and straw displacement. Different lateral blade shapes resulted in varied shapes of the ‘T’- shaped furrow opened by the furrow opener. Notably, the concave arc lateral blade had a disruptive effect on the soil below the surface and could induce secondary shear of the straw, enhancing the cutting efficiency of the straw. The simulation results are useful for selecting the lateral blade and evaluating the groove effect.