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On Farm Validation of Zero Tillage Planters for Upland Crop Production

MD. Israil Hossain
Chief Scientific Officer
FMP Engineering Division, BARI, Gazipur, Bangladesh

MD. Ilias ossain
Senior Scientific Officer
RWRC, BARI, Shyampur, Rajshahi, Bangladesh

M Shakhawat Hossain
Senior Scientific Officer
OFRD, Shyampur, Rajshahi, Bangladesh

NA Siddique
Senior Scientific Officer
RWRC, BARI, Shyampur, Rajshahi, Bangladesh

Jahedul Islam
Scientific officer
OFRD, Shyampur, Rajshahi, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Power tillers are 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 (12Hp) zero-till planter was improved with inclined plate seed meter assembly at the Wheat Research Centre, BARI, Rajshahi Bangladesh with locally available materials for seeding different kinds of seeds. It 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 could 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 was 0.12ha/hr and Tk.1900.0/ha, respectively.

Keywords: Zero till, Planter, Wheat, Upland crops

Location: WRC, BARI,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

iii) To compare the cost of planting by 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 12Hp Dongfeng power tiller being manufactured by China. There were rice residue density 0.3-0.5 t/ha 1in the test field. The variety of wheat, maize and mungbean were Prodip, NK 40, BARI Mung-6, respectively. 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 data collected during the test were: (i) Depth of seed placement (cm), ii) Travel speed (km/hr), iii) Effective field capacity (ha/hr), iv) Field efficiency (%), v) Fuel consumption (l/hr), 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 is 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 is wheel slippage. The seed rate was determined through calculation by using the standard 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 (gm) A_m= measured experimental area, m²

Source of Information: Annual Research Report, FMP Engineering Division, BARI,--2014-15

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

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.
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