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Performance Evaluation of a Direct Seeder Imported from Vietnum

SMK Hasan
Agricultural Engineer
Department of Agricultural Extension, AETP, Khamarbari, Dhaka

MM Alam
Professor
Department of Farm Power and Machinery, BAU, Mymensingh

MSH Sarker
Lecturer
Department of Food Engineering and Technology, HSTU, Dinajpur

MR Ali
Assistant Professor
Department of Farm Power and Machinery, BAU, Mymensingh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The performance studies of a manually operated direct drum seeder imported from Vietnam was performed. It was tested in the laboratory as well as in the farm with pre-germinated paddy seeds. It has six drums having 2kg capacity each, which are placed over a shaft. Each hopper has two rows with 20 cm row spacing. The working width of the seeder is 2.2 m and the weight of the seeder is only 10 kg. The calibration test of the seeder showed that the seeding rate increased with the decrease of the seeds in the hopper. A strong relationship was found between seed rate and filling condition of the hopper and also a relationship between seeding rate and forward speed of the seeder was found. The results indicated that seeding with direct seeder produced at least 8% higher yield and 2% yield attributes of rice than transplanting and broadcasting.

Keywords: Drum seeder, Seed rate, Pre-germinate paddy

Location: Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh

Start Date: 00-11-2004

End Date: 00-04-2005

Program Area: Farm Mechanization

Commodity: Performance evaluation

Objectives:

To evaluate the performance of the direct seeder imported from Vietnam.

Methodology:

The experiment was conducted to evaluate the performance of a direct seeder imported from Vietnam and the study was carried out during November, 2004 to April, 2005 in the experimental field of Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh.The physical characteristics of paddy were determined before calibration test of the seeder. The average weight of 1000 grain was calculated. Then the seeds soaked in a drum for two days and soaked seeds were kept covering banana leaves for a day' In the third days the seeds were germinated and the germination percentage, root length and seed rate were determined after 24 hrs, 48 hrs, and 72 hrs of seed sprouting. The seeder was calibrated in two ways; The seeder was filled with germinated seed. It was jacked to clear the wheel from ground and the drum were rotated N (30) times by the wheel with hand. The drum of the seeder was filled with germinated seed. Then, the seeder was pulled over ground in a-given area. The amount of seeds remained in the drum after operation were collected and weighed. The weight of seeds dropped from each drum was calculated by deducting the initial and final weight of seeds. This result and the area were used to calculate the seeding rate. The drums were filled in different percentage of its full capacity to determine the effect of filling condition of the drum on seeding rate. The experiments were done both in static condition and field condition. A relationship was found between filling condition of the drum and seeding rate. In order to assess the field capacity, a wet land was prepared with rotary tines and leveled the land. After leveling the land, it was kept undistributed for 24 hrs to allow the slurry to be settled. The standing water was drained out completely before sowing. The standing water was completed without stopping the seeder unless it was necessary for adjustments and breakdowns. During the test, care was taken to ensure that the drums were being rotated correctly and the seed delivery outlets of the drum were not blocked. At the end of the test run, the hoppers were emptied and the remaining seeds were weighed. The measurements were also made; a) Number of passes; b) Row spacing; c) Time spent to cover the passes; d) Pulling force and angle; e) Time spent on turning f) Time spent for other reason; g) Number of rotation of wheel per pass; and h) Total operating time. A spring balance was attached with the seeder during the operation in the puddle field to determine the pulling force and reading of the force (P) was recorded. The perpendicular height between pulling line and ground was measured by a scale to calculate the angle of pulling. The draft (D) was calculated by multiplying the pulling force and pulling angle.

Source of Information: Intl. J. BioRes. 2(4), 6-10, June, 2007

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The design of seeder is so simple that it is eaSY.to repair and operate. The effective field capacity of the seeder was 0.40 ha/hr at a speed of 2.5km/hr and the field efficiency was 72.26%. It required only 30 man-hrs to seed a hectare of land while at least 400 man-hrs required for transplanting in rows. As a-result it can be saved more than 90% labor in crop establishment in wet field. It would also save the cost of seeding in seed bed, preparing and transplanting of seedlings. A limitation of this seeder is water logging during the seeding time and two days after seeding. To overcome these limitations, land can be leveled uniformly maintaining a suitable slope. The maximum yield of grain and straw was 5634 kg/ha and 6882 kg/ha, respectively in direct seeding method while the average yield of grain and straw was 5213 kg/ha and 6761 kg/ha for transplanting and 3505 kg/ha and 5000 kg/ha for broadcasting methods. As the use of direct seeder for rice transplanting provides higher yield as well as saves labor cost it can be introduced in Bangladesh for economic rice cultivation.

Knowledge Management: Journal