The low-cost rice weeder was collected and tested at BRRI farm,Gazipur during 2000. This weeder is made of wooden block and iron tyne.
Field Condition: l. Planting type= Line, ii. Plot Size = 4m x 5 m, iii. Average Plant Height = 31.6 cm, iv. Average Hill to Hill Distance = 15 cm, v. Average Row to Row Distance = 20 cm, vi. Average weed density = 48l/m2, vii. Water Depth= 1.5 cm
Test of existing low-cost Rice weeder: Field Capacity = A/T, A = area ha, T = Time, hr
Weeding Cost (Tk/ha) = Depreciation cost + Labour Cost
Depreciation = CxT/t ;(Considering salvage value =0), C = Purchase price, Tk, t = Total life, hr,
T= time, hr/ha, Labor cost: WxL, W = Wage rate Tk/labour, L = Labour require/ha
Any difficulties during weeding operation to be observed and field condition also to be observed. Based on the difficulties observed during weeding operation, the existing weeder to be modified
Fabrication: The modified weeder to be fabricated in the FMPHT Workshop and the weeder to be tested on the field as before.
Another experiment was conducted in 2001. BRRI-KISHAN weeder, BRRI weeder and indigenous weeder were selected to compare the performance of different weeders with respect to manual weeding method. The experiment was conducted at BRRI farm for heavy soil and Kapasia for light soil conditions. Experimental plot length was 5 m only and large plot length was 68 m.
The treatments were as follows: 1. BRRI-KISHAN weeder, 2. lndigenous weeder, 3. BRRI weeder, 4. Hand weeding, 5. Control (Noweeding)