A power tiller operated minimum tillage seeder has been developed at the Farm Machinery and Postharvest Process Engineering Division, BARI, Gazipur. The seeder is fitted with 4 nut-bolts at the rear of the rotary tiller by replacing the tail wheel. Six fluted wheel type seed metering units are fitted on a shaft. Row spacing can be provided by adjusting the seed-metering unit. Furrow makers are fitted with the seeder to place the seed at a desired depth. The seeder can be used in two ways - as minimum tillage multi-crop seeder and as conventional multi-crop seeder. The effective field capacity of the seeder as minimum tillage is 0.11 ha/h and as conventional is 0.14 ha/h. Weight of the seeder is 50 kg and price is Tk. 8000. Wheat, paddy, mungbean and jute were sown by conventional seeder arrangement and only wheat by minimum tillage seeder arrangement. Cost of sowing by using the seeder as minimum tillage and conventional seeder were Tk. 797 per ha and Tk. 632 per ha, respectively. The break-even-point of the seeder is 3.23 ha/yr. It saves time and money 35 per cent and 27 percent, respectively over traditional methods.
Break even point, field capacity, furrow maker, minimum tillage, seeder
Gazipur, Jamalpur
Farm Mechanization
1.To design and fabricate a power tiller operated multi-crop as well as minimum tillage seeder.
2.To test the seeder in laboratory and field condition with wheat, paddy, mungbean and jute.
Construction of the seeder
The seeder was fabricated with locally available materials and was simple in construction. The different common materials used in the fabrication of the seeder were M.S. angle bar, M.S. sheet, M.S. shaft, M.S. rod, M.S. flatbar, M.S. pipe, rubber sheet, plastic tube, chain sproket, aluminum, M.S. nut-bolts, etc. The different functional parts made with these materials were frame, seed hopper, seed metering unit, seed delivery tubes, furrow makers, soil compaction roller and transport wheel. The different functional parts were assembled on the main frame and the frame was attached at the rear of the rotavator, replacing the tail wheel.
Laboratory performance test
The laboratory performance tests were conducted for the multi-crop seeder in respect of test of rotavator speed, test of seed metering mechanism, seed germination test and seed distribution test.
Field performance test
The field performance test of the seeder was conducted to collect data on overall machine performance, operating accuracy, field capacity and field efficiency. The soil condition of BARI experimental plots were not suitable for minimum tillage practice. The machine was tested at Regional Agricultural Research Station (RARS), Jamalpur during the rabi season in 2002. The soil and land condition of RARS, Jamalpur was suitable for minimum tillage practice.
The field test data were collected according to RNAM test code. The test was conducted in divisional experimental plot at BARI, Gazipur for sowing wheat, paddy, mungbean and jute as a multi-crop seeder. The land was prepared to optimum conditions for sowing. The field test for wheat was conducted during the rabi season and that for paddy, mungbean and jute were in kharif-1. The tests were conducted and data were collected according to Regional Net Work for Agricultural Machinery RNAM test code.
Report
1.The seeder was successfully fabricated and tested according to design consideration and criteria.
2.To use the available power tiller for minimum tillage seeder, rotary tiller should be operated at high speed (300-400rpm).
3.Before using the seeder, it should be properly adjusted according to the crop requirements.
4.Both large (Wheat, paddy, mungbean etc.) and small (Jute) size of seeds can be sown by the seeder at required row spacing and depth.
5.There is no breakage or damage of seed due to use of woolen brush at the seed cut-off point.
6.There was no need to replace the rotary tiller system from the rear of the power tiller.
7.Power required to operate the seeder was minimum (0.13 to 0.29 kW). Wheel slippage was also minimum (5 to 7%).
8.Effective sowing capacity (0.10 to 0.14 ha/h) of the seeder was lower than the desired rate (0.20 ha/h). Sowing capacity can be improved with the experience of the operator with a better seeding unit.
9.Yield study could not be possible due to shortage of time.
10.The initial cost of the seeder unit was high (Tk.8000) but it can be reduced in commercial production.
11.The total cost of sowing by the seeder is Tk.885 per ha which is lower than the farmers' practice TK. 1100 per ha. It saves time and money by 35 per cent and 27 per cent, respectively compared to traditional system.
Report/Proceedings, Booklet/Leaflet