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Field Performance Evaluation of Power Tiller Operated Planter for Maize, Wheat and Pulse Crops

Sultan Ahmmed
Principal Scientific Officer
BARC, Farmgate, Dhaka-1215

M. A. Matin
Scientific Officer
FMPE Division, BARI, Gazipur l701

M. N. Amin
Scientific Officer
FMPE Division, BARI, Gazipur l701

M. A. Wohab
Senior Scientific Officer
FMPE Division, BARI, Gazipur l701

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

A power tiller operated inclined plate multi- crop planter had designed and developed in the research workshop of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), Gazipur. Field performance evaluation of BARI developed planter was conducted at Barind, Rajshahi, Barisal and BARI, Gazipur in 2002 - 03, 2003 - 04 and 2004 - 05. The planter was tested for planting maize, wheat and chickpea. The row spacing and plant- to- plant spacing for maize were 75 cm and 25 cm, respectively. The row spacing for wheat and chickpea were 20 cm and 40 cm respectively. The planting capacity was 0.2 - 0.25 ha/ hr at the operating speed of 2 - 3 km/ hr. The weight of the planter unit was 25 kg and price is TK. 8000. The planting cost for maize, wheat and chickpea are TK 300, TK 400 and TK 330 per ha, respectively. At the current wage levels, the planter have break- even points for maize and wheat are 1.70 ha/yr and 2.50 ha/yr respectively compared to that of the manual methods.

Keywords: Field performance, Power tiller planter, Maize, Wheat, Pulse crops

Location: Barind, Rajshahi, Barisal and BARI, Gazipur

Start Date: 00-00-2002

End Date: 00-00-2005

Program Area: Farm Mechanization

Commodity: Planter

Objectives:

To evaluate the field performance of planter for maize, wheat and pulse seed at different locations.
To modify the planter if needed.

Methodology:

Laboratory test was conducted for this planter in FMPE Division, BARl before conducting field test. The objective of this test was to provide the basic data for field performance of the metering devices. Driving wheel of the power tiller was jacked up and the metering devices were rotated by turning the drive wheel 20 revolutions. The seed rate per hectare was calculated knowing the weight of seeds collected from the delivery tube during 20 revolutions, row spacing and distance traveled by the planter in 20 revolutions. This test was also accomplished by running the planter over a layer of sand at the same speed as in the field with maize, wheat and pulses. The seeds were trapped on the layer of sand at the point were they fall. The items measured, observed and recorded in the test are: name of crops and variety, weight seeds, travel speed, number of rows, row spacing, hill to hill spacing and pattern of seeds deposition. Field performance evaluation of BARI developed planter was conducted at Barind, Rajshahi, Barisal and BARI, Gazipur in 2002 - 03, 2003 - 04 and 2004 - 05. It was operated by a 12 hp power tiller at a speed of 1.5 - 4.0 km/hr. Before planting, the seed- metering plate was fitted to the seed hopper for particular crop. The metering plate is uniformly rotated and there is no missing as the constant power from the driving wheel axle is obtained through dock clutch and chain- sprocket arrangement. Maize seeds were planted at 3 - 4 cm depth with a row spacing of 75 cm and plant to plant spacing of 25 cm. The planter covered 2 rows (75 cm width) in single pass. Seed rate of maize was 22 kg/ha. Wheat seeds were sown at 3 cm depth and row spacing of 20 cm. The planter covered 4 lines (80 cm width) in single pass and the seed rate of wheat was 100 kg/ha. Chickpea seeds were sown at 3 - 4 cm depth and row spacing of 40 cm. The planter covered 3 lines (1.20 m width) in single pass and the seed rate of chickpea was 48 kg/ha. After germination of seeds, plant population was counted.

Source of Information: JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING, THE INSTITUTIONAL OF ENGINEERS, BANGLADESH, Vol. 32 (A), December 2006, pp. 63-70, ISSN 0379–4318

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

1) Field performance test of developed planter was conducted for planting and drill of maize, wheat and chickpea, respectively changing by the metering plate. 2) Seed rate and operational cost are lower than the traditional method. The planting cost for maize, wheat and chickpea are TK 300, TK 400 and TK 330 per ha, respectively. 3) Planter field capacity depends on the skill of the operator and soil condition, for maize, wheat and chickpea are 0.25 ha/hr, 0.20 ha/ hr and 0.23 ha/hr, respectively. 4) The planter could be substituted for manual line planting of maize, wheat and other pulse crops to reduce labour requirement. 5) At the current wage levels, the planter have break-even points for maize and wheat are 1.70 ha/yr and 2.50 ha/yr respectively compared to that of the manual methods. 6) Extension and demonstrations for popularizing the planter among the farmers, especially for the maize, wheat and pulse growers are needed to increase the cultivation acreage of these crops.

Knowledge Management: Journal