Abstract: To solve the problems of unsatisfactory hole shape, difficult coordination between hole digging and transplanting and decentration of holes during tobacco seedling, the process, operation resistance, and soil reflux situations of hole digging were analyzed. The soil physical parameters were measured, and the dynamic and static friction coefficients and collision recovery coefficients of soil and hole digging shovels were 0.14, 0.98 and 0.48, respectively. The soil parameters were standardized, and the accumulation angle regression model was optimized to achieve a target soil accumulation angle of 44.6°. A set of optimal solution resulted in a surface energy between soil particles of 11.81 J/m², with collision recovery and static friction coefficients of 0.34 and 0.56, and a rolling friction coefficient of 0.1. The simulated stacking angle under this solution was 42.9°, with a relative error of 3.8%, which was higher than the measured value. Three simulation models based on the discrete element contact theory were developed to simulate the interactions between the digging shovel and soil in the tobacco field. With the introduction of the dynamics simulation tool, the application of dynamic constraints, and the establishment of dynamic kinematic relations, a three-dimensional virtual model of the digging shovel was reconstructed, and computer simulation of the digging process was performed. The soil box model consistent with the actual situation was determined by comparing the results of field experiments with the results of computer simulation. The analysis results of soil reflux showed that there was less soil reflux in the entry phase and more soil reflux in the exit phase with a reflux rate of 4.17% in the central area. The analysis of the change rule of digging resistance showed that the maximum peak of resistance occurred at 0.7 seconds, the maximum operation resistance was 411.3 N, and the maximum power required during the digging process was 137.2 W.