Agricultural Research Management Information System

Home
Research Summary
Search
About Us
- ARMIS
- Brochure
Contact Us
Report
User Request
Data Input
Help
- Operation Manual
  - PDF
  - Video
- Program Area & Commodity
We have reached 37600 number of research entries at this moment.

- Logout

Research Detail

Home
Research
Detail

Modification, Test and Evaluation of Manually-operated Transplanters for Lowland Paddy

Dr. M. A. Baqui
Head
FMPHT Division Bangladesh Rice Research lnstitute Gazipur-1701, Bangladesh

Dr. Desa Bin Ahmad
Associate Professor
Faculty of Engineering, University Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, SelangorMalaysia

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Experiments were conducted for the improvement of the IRRI-designed, 6-row manually-operated rice transplanter to adapt in rice producing countries. After modification, a 5-row prototype was developed and both IRRI and BRRI transplanters were evaluated compared with hand transplanting method. At fuIl load the weights of IRRI and BRRI transplanters were 37 kg and 30 kg, respectively. The dragging force of the BRRI transplanter was reduced by 25-30% compared with IRRI transplanter. The wooden skid of the IRRI transplanter was replaced by a skid made of G.I. sheet in BRRI transplanter which made it durable, light weight and incurred less sliding resistance. The circular configuration of the picker finger of the IRRI transplanter was modified to a semi-circular one, which improved its cutting action. The effective field capacities of BRRI transplanter, IRRI transplanter and hand transplanting methods were 0.0191 ha/hr, 0.0155 ha./hr and 0.0023 ha/ hr, respectively. As a result, a 20% increase in working capacity was achieved with the BRRI transplanter compared to the IRRI transplanter. The held efficiencies of BRRI and IRRI transplanters were 7 8.90% and 7 6.830/o, respectively, but that of hand transplanting method was 91.40%. The cost of machine transplanting with wooden frame, bamboo frame, plastic frame, plastic tray and nylon rope and nursery seedlings were US$ 60.96/ha, US$ 54.981ha, US$ 58.39/tra, US$ 109.76lha and US$ 47.56/ha, respectively. On the other hand, the hand transplanting cost with wet bed nursery seedling was US$ 93.18/ha. Therefore, machine transplanting with any of the nursery seedlings methods except plastic tray, was more profitable compared to hand transplanting method.

Keywords: BRRI Modified Transplanter, BRRI prototype, Degree of loading, Mode of pulling, and field water depth

Location: FMPHT Division, Bangladesh Rice Research lnstitute, Gazipur-1701, Bangladesh

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Farm Mechanization

Commodity: Product development

Objectives:

To adapt in rice production, reduce the weight, and evaluate the performance of Manually-operated Transplanters for Lowland Paddy

Methodology:

Modification of IRRI TR4 Transplanter

In order to reduce the weight of the transplanter, the number of rows of the IRRI prototype was reduced from 6 to 5 in the BRRI prototype. The overall weight of the modified transplanter was 21 kg, however, that of the previous prototype was 24 kg. The wooden skid of the existing prototype was replaced by a skid made from G. I. sheet in order to reduce adhesion force between the soil and the skid. Another advantage of the metal skid was that it did not absorb water. In the case of the wooden skid, there was a possibility of absorbing water and that could increase the overall weight of the machine. The round cross section of the picker fingers were modified to a semi-circular one in order to improve the seedling picking efficiency.

Field Test of Transplanter Experiments were conducted at the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) farm in silty clay loam soil to evaluate the performances of BRRI modified transplanter and IRRI designed transplanter compared with the hand transplanting method. The treatments were as follows:

T₁ : Transplanting by BRRI modified transplanter

T₂: = Transplanting by IRRI designed transplanter

T₃ = Hand transplanting in rows

Design of Experiment: For the field test of the transplanters, a randomized complete block (RCB) design was used, and the treatments were replicated thrice in each block.

Source of Information: VOL.3I N0.2, 2000; AGRICULTURAL MECHANIZATION IN ASIA, AFRICA AND LATIN AMERICA, pp: 33-38

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

About 30% less dragging force was obtained for the BRRI-modified transplanter compared with the IRRl-designed transplanter, irrespective of the degree of loading, mode of pulling, and field water depth. The semi-circular configuration of the seedling picker of the BRRI modified transplanter increased the cutting action which helped detach rectangular seedling block with minimum energy. About 20%o increase in the working capacity of the BRRI modified transplanter was achieved over the IRRI-designed transplanter.

Knowledge Management: Journal