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On Farm Validation of Zero Tillage Planter for Up Land Crops Production

MD. ISRAIL HOSSAIN
FMPE, BARI

M SHAKHAWAT HOSSAIN
FMPE, BARI

NUR ALAM SIDDIQUE
FMPE, BARI

JAHEDUL ISLAM
FMPE, BARI

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Power tillers were the common means of soil tillage and other farm operations in Bangladesh due to easy access in fragmented land size with affordable price. A low cost and robust power tiller driven (12 Hp) zero-till planter has been improved with inclined plate seed meter assembly in Regional Wheat Research Centre, BARI, Rajshahi Bangladesh with locally available materials for seeding different kinds of seeds. This was a pull type implement hitched with tiller at the drawbar point replacing the regular tilling part of it. The validation trials of zero-till planter with weed control management were conducted in the farmer’s field in Rajshahi areas for wheat, maize,,and pulses establishment during the year 2011-2014. The planter can pull 4 tynes in soft and medium hard soil but 3 tynes for hard soil. The planter was capable to apply seed and fertilizer in an opening slit of width 30 mm and depth 60 mm. The planting depth, row spacing and seed rate can be adjusted according to standard practices. Depending on the level of weed situation, round up herbicide was applied 2 days before planting to kill the existing weeds. No till crops showed less lodging tendency compare to conventional planted crops. Zero-till farmers saved plant establishment cost 50-65%, and minimizing the average turn around time 7-9 days between the two crops. The effective area coverage and planting cost by the seeder were 0.12 ha/h and Tk.1900.0/ha, respectively. Long term trial (6 years), zero tillage wheat yield shows continuously higher than conventional planting system in rice-wheat-mungbean crop rotation maintaining 30% residue. No yield reduction trend observed over the time. Fertilizer management, weed control and selection of right crop variety with proper crop rotation were the key issue for adopting this new technology.

Keywords: Zero tillage, Planter, Weed management

Location: Rajshahi

Start Date: 00-00-2011

End Date: 00-00-2014

Program Area: Farm Mechanization

Commodity: Planter

Objectives:

To validate the improved zero till planter with weed management techniques for better establishment of upland crops
To demonstrate the planter in the farmer’s field; and
To compare the cost of planting of the planter over conventional method

Methodology:

The zero tillage drill was improved with locally available materials such as M.S. angle, solid bar, M.S sheet, ball bearing etc and introduction of inclined plate seed metering device. The main functional parts of the drill was toolbar frame, seed metering device, seed and fertilizer box, furrow opener, press wheel and chain with sprocket for power transmission from power tiller wheel axel. Field tests were conducted in the farmers’ field of Rajshahi including Barind area during 2011-14 to validate the performance of the improved drill for wheat, mungbean, chickpea, rice, and maize establishment. Performance test of the drill was done by attaching to a 12 Hp Dongfeng power tiller being manufactured by China. There were rice residue density 0.3-0.5 t/ha in the test field. The variety of wheat, maize and mungbean were Prodip, NK 40, BARI Mung-6, respectively. Di Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) fertilizer was applied along with the planting operation of wheat and maize in the farmer’s field. The planting depth and seed covering mechanism were adjusted during the field operation. Before 2 days of planting operation, Round up herbicide applied @100 ml in 10 lit water for 5 decimal land. Affinity herbicide was applied in wheat field 25 days after planting for control most of the broad leaves weeds. Pendimethyline was applied post seeding of rice.. Mungbean was planted after wheat harvest. Field performances of the machine were recorded as per Regional Network of Agricultural Machinery (RNAM) Test Code. Field data were also collected to determine the labour requirement and cost saving over conventional method The following data were collected during the test: (i) Depth of seed placement (cm), ii) Travel speed (km/h), iii) Effective field capacity (ha/h), iv) Field efficiency (%), v) Fuel consumption (l/h), vi) No. of plant /m², viii) Yield/m². Cost was calculated according to the farm machinery utilization method (Anonymous 1991) and cost determination of Farm Power and Machinery Management text book by Hunt (1995). Transparent polythene bags were tagged with each of the four seed delivery tubes. The zero till planter was operated on a pre-measured 20 m travel distance with a sowing width of 80 cm, thus providing a 16 m² area. After every 20 m linear distance run, collected seeds through tubes were weighed separately and the total seed weight was also noted. This method was repeated by acceleration and deceleration of the lever of seed meter until the desired seed rate obtained. Since the seed metering device was connected by a chain -sprocket arrangement to the power tiller wheel axel, the speed of the tiller should not be a factor in calibration, unless there was wheel slippage. The seed rate was determined through calculation by using the following equation (Michael and Ojah, 1978).

S_d = 10 W_s/A_m

Where, S_d = Seed rate (kg/ha)

W_s = Total wt. of seed (g), A_m= measured experimental area, m²

Source of Information: Annual Research Report, FMPE, BARI -2014-15

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

1.

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Field performance and validation trial of the zero till drill for wheat, maize, mungbean, establishment and comparisons with the standard tillage system last 3 years in several farmers field indicates that wheat can be established immediate after rice harvest using zero tillage planter. Performance of zero tillage planter for wheat, maize, chickpea and mungbean cultivation were evaluated. Soil moisture content was the key factor for utilization of zero till machine. It was very difficult to operate drill over soil moisture 35% due to excessive tiller wheel slippage. Effective field capacity of the drill for wheat, maize and mungbean planting were 0.12 ha/h and 0.15, 0.12 ha/h, respectively. The effective field capacity for maize planting was higher than wheat planting due to more sowing width during maize planting 1.20 m (2 lines spacing 60 cm) but in wheat seeding 4 lines per pass spacing 20 cm. Fuel consumption during wheat, maize and mungbean sowing were 1.3 l/h. Applied seed rate for wheat, mungbean and maize were 120 kg/ha, 20 kg/ha and 20 kg/ha, respectively. Newly developed Persian wheel type seed metering device was used for wheat, mungbean and maize planting. The average width of opening slits for was 2-3 cm and depth of planting 4-5 cm. It was found that slower speed was comparatively better for seed placement into the opening slit. The adjustment of row spacing between two successive pass was maintained by operator skillness and experiences. The width of slit during maize sowing was bigger due to the slightly dipper position of the “T” opener. Maize planting was much more accurate with inclined plate seed meter. The variations of seeding depth and plant population using press wheel and without press wheel in the zero till drill. Press wheel covered the seeding line which ensure seed soil contact properly. Wheat plant population per meter square of with press wheel and without pressed wheel were 290, 247, respectively. In minus press wheel seeded plot; direct sunlight, bird damage seed which resulted average 15-20% less population in wheat seeding. Similarly, in maize and mungbean plots, plant populations in press wheel plot were higher than without press wheel plot and the percentages were 20 and 17, respectively.

The power tiller (12 Hp) operated zero tillage planter capable seeding wheat, mungbean chickpea and maize through crop residue successfully. In drought prone area, soil residual moisture can be catch up immediate after rice harvest and crop can be established timely.
Depending on the level of weed infestation, round up herbicide to be applied before 2 days of planting operation.
Wheat, chickpea and maize planting cost were about 54% and 73% less than that of conventional method.
Zero till can be fitted mungbean followed by wheat harvest reducing the 7-9 days turn around time.
Zero till planted crops were less lodge compare to conventional planting method.
Long term trial (6 years), zero tillage wheat yield shows higher than conventional planting system in rice-wheat-mungbean crop rotation maintaining 30% residue.
Fertilizer management, weed control and selection of right crop variety with proper crop rotation are the key issue for adopting this new technology.

Knowledge Management: Report/Proceedings

Where, Sd = Seed rate (kg/ha)

Ws = Total wt. of seed (g), Am= measured experimental area, m2

Where, S_d = Seed rate (kg/ha)

W_s = Total wt. of seed (g), A_m= measured experimental area, m²