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Techno-economic Performance of 4-row Self-propelled Mechanical Rice Transplanter at Farmers Field in Bangladesh

AKMS Islam
Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, Gazipur, Dhaka, Bangladesh

MA Rahman
Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, Gazipur, Dhaka, Bangladesh

AKML Rahman
Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, Gazipur, Dhaka, Bangladesh

MT Islam
Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, Gazipur, Dhaka, Bangladesh

MI Rahman
Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, Gazipur, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Mechanical transplanting is an emerging technology in Bangladesh agriculture. Deadong DP480 rice transplanter was used to conduct the experiment which is imported from South Korea and China. The performance of this machine needs to be thoroughly investigated in local condition. This experiment was conducted in Boro (2015) season in the farmers’ field at Gosaidanga in Shailkupa upazila under Jhenaidah district and at Rashidpur in Mithapukur upazila under Rangpur district. Two treatments, i.e. T₁ = Hand transplanting (HT) and T₂ = Mechanical transplanting (MT) were used in the experiment. The experiment was carried out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) and replicated in six plots in each location. Rice variety BRRI dhan 28 was used to conduct the experiment in both locations. Fuel consumption of 4-row walking type mechanical transplanter obtained 5.25 L/ha. The field capacity and field efficiency of rice transplanter obtained 0.11-0.12 ha/hr and 64-70 percent, respectively. Conventional seedbed preparation required 37-55 man-hr/ha whereas 71-77 man-hr/ha required in mat type seedling suitable for mechanical transplanting. Labor requirement in hand and mechanical transplanting ranged from 123-150 and 9.0-10.5 man-hr per hectare which was 19-22 and 1.65-2.00 percent of total labor requirement in rice cultivation, respectively. Number of seedling tray requirement ranged from 215-230 per hectare. Calibration should be done on space and seedling density setting before operation in each plot to get optimum plant spacing and seedling tray requirement. Missing hill obtained 1-2 percent in mechanically transplanted plot. Mechanically transplanted plot showed significantly the higher grain yield (9-14%) than hand transplanted method due to use of infant seedling. The input cost in the form of labor and material was found similar in hand transplanting whereas in mechanical transplanting, labor cost found 12 percent lower than material cost. The cost of growing mat type seedling for mechanical transplanter found 53 percent whereas the cost of raising traditional seedbed found 34 percent of the cost of hand transplanting. Mechanical transplanting reduced 1.8 percent input cost than hand transplanting in crop cultivation. BCR of MT and HT showed 1.18-1.19 and 1.03-1.06, respectively. Mechanical intervention in crop production drastically reduced the labor requirement which can offset the peak labor demand. Mechanical transplanting systems increased yield, improved labor efficiency, ensured timeliness in operation and faster transplanting.

Keywords: Fuel consumption, Missing hill, Labor requirement, Techno-Economic, Transplanter

Location: Gosaidanga in Shailkupa upazila under Jhenaidah district and at Rashidpur in Mithapukur upazila under Rangpur district

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Farm Mechanization

Commodity: Transplanter

Objectives:

The present study was undertaken to compare the cost of mechanical over traditional method of transplanting.

Methodology:

This experiment was conducted in the farmers’ field at Gosaidanga in Shailkupa upazila under Jhenaidah district and at Rashidpur in Mithapukur upazila under Rangpur district. The experiment was carried out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) and replicated in six plots. Twelve plots within one kilometer radius were selected to conduct this study. Two treatments were used to conduct the experiments, which is T₁ = Hand transplanting (HT) and T₂ = Mechanical transplanting (MT). Rice variety BRRI dhan 28 were used to conduct the experiment in both locations. Self-propelled four rows walking-type rice transplanter (DP-480) was used to transplant seedling. It has a fixed row spacing of 30 cm and has provisions for adjustments of planting depth, number of seedlings per hill, floats pressure against soil, hill spacing and planting speed. The field was prepared using common tillage practice, which was first plowing (primary tillage) once, followed by puddling (secondary tillage) twice and leveling using two-wheel tractor under the flooding conditions. After first rotary tilling, the field was flooded with water and kept as such for 7 days and then second rotary tilling was done on 8^th day and the field was leveled by a plank. The plastic trays were used to raise mat-type seedlings. Dry soil was filled in tray in such a way that the soil was free from any stone, stubble and grass. Sprouted seeds were spread uniformly over the tray. The seed rate per tray for mechanical transplanting was 130-140 gm dry seed. Traditional seedbed preparation often involved secondary tillage using spade and puddling was done after inundating the field. The seed rate for hand transplanting was 37.5 kg/ha. The nursery bed was made wet by application of water one day before uprooting the seedlings. The seedlings were uprooted on 9^th January 2015 without causing much mechanical injury to the roots and immediately transferred to the main field. During final land preparation, all cares were taken for uniform leveling of the land. Irrigation water was applied time to time as when required uniformly in hand and mechanical transplanted plots for proper growth and development of crops. Maximum irrigation was needed at the panicle initiation stage. In hand transplanting plot, forty two days (for Rangpur site) and forty six days (for Jhenaidah site) old seedlings were uprooted carefully from the nursery field and transplanted in each of the well puddled unit plots on two different days. The date of hand transplanting for Boro rice was 10^th January in Rangpur site and 30^th January in Jhenaidah site (after harvesting mustard). In mechanical transplanting thirty three days (for Rangpur site) and twenty eight days (for Jhenaidah site) old seedlings were used for mechanical transplanting. Before starting the transplanter, seedling mat was rolled and fed to the mechanical transplanter and all the required adjustments such as hill spacing, number of plant per hill and planting depth were done based on the machine operator’s manual. The date of transplanting for Boro rice was 9^th January in Rangpur site and 30^th January in Jhenaidah site. In mechanical transplanter, line to line distance was fixed at 30 cm and plant to plant spacing can be varied and set at 17 cm. The amount of human labor involved in each operation was investigated through field measurements. Field efficiency and costs are calculated following the method mentioned in Hunt (1995). Comparative inputs- Inputs were almost similar in both practices. Seedling age was higher in MT than HT. Seedling were raised in tray for mechanical transplanter whereas, farmers raised seedling in traditional seedbed. Rice variety, fertilizer rate, cultural practices, disease infestation depended on rice season. Micronutrient was applied in both practices. Cultural practices- Weed infestation was not severe due to application of weedicide. Few weeds were grown in the plot. For the removal of weeds, weeding was done manually by hand once at 55 days after transplanting (DAT). After that no other weeding operation was done up to harvest. Pest infestation was severe and controlled by a single application of Virtako and Nativo at the vegetative growth stage. Yield and yield contributing character- Grain yield were recorded from pre-selected 10 m² land area and adjusted moisture content of 14% moisture level. For computing aboveground biomass and yield and harvest index (100×filled spikelet weight/aboveground total biomass) were calculated. Border areas of all sides of the plot were excluded to avoid border competition effects. Economic analysis- In order to estimate the production cost, the data on working speed, total time and labor involvement and materials inputs to complete the operation were recorded. Rental charge of the machines was also included in the cost estimation. Land rental value and interest on investment were considered to calculate the total input cost. Price of the produce was collected from the local markets to compute total production cost, gross return, gross margin and benefit-cost ratio. Statistical analysis- Statistical analysis was done by using software Statistix 9.0. Least significant difference was used to compare the means.

Source of Information: Progressive Agriculture 27 (3): 369-382, 2016

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Mechanical transplanting increase grain yield, reduce the production costs and improve labor efficiency. It can be concluded that mechanical transplanting method is economic than the hand transplanting method.

Knowledge Management: Journal