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Fine Tuning of Power Tiller Operated Bed Planter

Md. Israil Hossain
Chief Scientific Officer & Head
Farm Machinery & Postharvest Process Engineering Division, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Joydebpur, Gazipur-1701.

Md. Ilias Hossain
Farm Machinery & Postharvest Process Engineering Division, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Joydebpur, Gazipur-1701.

Md. Nur-E-Alam Siddiquie
Farm Machinery & Postharvest Process Engineering Division, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Joydebpur, Gazipur-1701.

Md. Jahedul Islam
Farm Machinery & Postharvest Process Engineering Division, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Joydebpur, Gazipur-1701.

Md. Zakir Hossain
Farm Machinery & Postharvest Process Engineering Division, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Joydebpur, Gazipur-1701.

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

A power tiller operated bed planter has been improved and fine-tuned with locally available materials in Regional Wheat Research Centre, BARl, Rajshahi and adaptive trials were conducted in the farmer's field of Rajshahi and Dinajpur area 2014-15. The bed planter was improved and fine tuned with the introduction of operator's seat, attachment of especial size pulley for rotary speed increase and introduction of inclined plate seed metering device for planting small to large sizes seeds. The operator can drive the planter in ridding position. It solved the problem of long distance travel and enhances adoption considering the added advantage of easy comfortable operation. The size of pulley was 8.5" (216 mm). Power transmission chain of the bed planter was divided into two parts avoiding shaking of chain during overcome land boundary (aiel). A Saifeng type bed planter also developed first time at BARl, Rajshahi. There was only Dongfeng type bed planter was available earlier. The bed planter formed a trapezoidal shape raised bed and can perform seeding and fertilizing operations on the top of the bed simultaneously in one operation. The bed planter is to be attached behind the power tiller (these are readily available in Bangladesh with reports of up to 700,000 within the country). The implement comprises of four major components, namely- rotary tilling part, furrow opener, seeding unit with metering mechanism and bed former-cum-shaper, Performance of the bed planter was tested for wheat, maize, mungbean and rice cultivation. The uniformity of maize seed spacing was 86-95%. The density of rice and wheat residue were 1.7 t/ha and 1.8 t/ha in the tested plot, respectively when seeding on permanent bed. After initially forming the bed, an additional advantage was that reshaped bed can be used for next crop without any further tillage operation keeping it permanent. Fresh bed saved 21.5% and permanent bed saved 34.1% irrigation water over conventional flood method of irrigation with less number of labor involvement. Water logging problem can be avoided introducing bed planting system, especially in rainy season crops. Bed planting allows earthing up, so no need sub sequent earthing up in maize cultivation. Bed planting saved 44% tillage cost compare to conventional method. Maize planting cost in new bed and permanent bed was 63.0% and 72.5% less than conventional seeding method. Average wheat and maize yield were 4.8 t/ha and 8.3 t/ha, respectively. The same wheat and maize yield in conventional method were 3.5 t/ha and 8.1 t/ha, respectively. Yield advantage was 33% over conventional method. Long term on station trial (6 years), wheat yield under bed planting showed higher than that of conventional planting system in rice- wheat- mungbean crop rotation maintaining 30% crop residue. Net returns for wheat cultivation in bed planting were 1.2 times than conventional system. The bed planter is now using as custom hire basis in the farmers field. There are about 6325 ha lands under bed planting system.

Keywords: Tuning, Power Tiller, Bed Planter

Location: Dinajpur and Rajshahi, Natore, Pabna and Chapai Nowabgonj

Start Date: 00-00-2014

End Date: 00-00-2015

Program Area: Farm Mechanization

Commodity: Power Tiller

Objectives:

a) To fine tune the current bed planter with more versatile functional components

b) To evaluate the bed planter performance for better crops establishment

c) To compare the economic performance of the planter with conventional method

Methodology:

Two types of bed planters have been used in these trials. One was Dongfeng type bed planter and another is Sifeng type bed planter. Both the bed planters have rotary type blades and driven by power tiller. Moreover, tractor driven bed planter was also used in Dinajpur area mostly on research farm. Rotary type bed planter can form bed without pre till condition. An operator seat has been fitted with the bed planter. The operator can use bed planter both in the field and in the road for long distance travel purposes. Recent time, inclined plate seed metering device with different cell sizes for seeding many crops by the same units. Toolbar type bed planter need pre till soil for initial bed formation. A toolbar frame was improved with locally available mild steel materials for easy operation both fresh bed as well as in permanent bed. A seed box with a seed and fertilizer metering devices were also attached on the frame. The seed box with metering mechanism was replaceable according to use and crops cultivation. The seed metering device was operated by a chain sprocket mechanism, which transmitted power from the tiller wheelbase. The bed planter was hitched to the Dongfeng Brand Chinese power tiller. The bed planter was tested both in the experimental farm of Wheat Research Centre (WRC), Dinajpur and farmer's field both Dinajpur and Rajshahi, Natore, Pabna and Chapai Nowabgonj area for wheat, maize, rice, lentil, sesame, jute and mungbean cultivation in the year 2014-15. There could be two lines for wheat, two lines for mungbean, lentil, jute, sesame, rice, and one line for maize per bed. Rice was seeded directly top of the bed. There were flute type and inclined plate type seed metering mechanism for fertilizing and seed sowing, respectively. In permanent bed planting system, herbicide (round up) used before reshaping the bed for maize, rice sowing after wheat. Maize sowing in permanent bed; seed and fertilizer were applied at a time of reshape. The density of rice and wheat residue were 1.7 t/ha and 1.8 t/ha, respectively. The cropping systems were followed as wheat- maize- rice, and wheat- mungbean- rice respectively. Maize and mungbean planting on permanent bed was carried out in summer season after wheat (March). Adaptive trials conducted Rajshai area (Chargat, Puthia, Durgapur, Natore, Pabna). All basal fertilizers are broadcasted over the surface before starting bed formation and seeding. For seeding on permanent bed, Di ammonium Phosphate (DAP) fertilizer was applied by the planter during seeding operation. Rice also planted directly on permanent bed. Weeding operation was done by the bed planter for both wheat and maize cultivation. There is some readjustment in the planter formulate for doing this job. But in conventional system, generally farmers did not weeding, nowadays farmers are applying herbicides (Afinity, 33g @ 16 lit water for 5 decimal land) for controlling weeds especially broad leaves. Irrigation water applied through the bed furrows. There were three irrigation for wheat and three irrigation for maize cultivation. But in conventional system, farmers irrigated wheat field in flood method contract basis to the shallow tubewell owners. Extra one labor involved during the every irrigation. The following data were collected during the test: (i) Depth of seed placement (ern), ii) Travel speed (km/h), iii) Effective field capacity (ha/h), iv) Field efficiency (%), v) Fuel consumption (I/h), vi) No. of plant 1m2, viii) Yield/m2. Cost was calculated according to the farm power and machinery management text book. Transparent polythene bags were tagged with each of the two seed delivery tubes. The bed planter was operated on a pre-measured 20 m travel distance with a sowing width of 70 cm, thus providing a 14m² area. After every 20m linear distance run, seeds collected 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.

Source of Information: Annual Research Report 2014-15 & Research Programme 2015-16, Farm Machenary & Postharvest Process Engineering Division, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute Year of Publication: August 2015. pp: 08-15.

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Achievement/Findings:

The bed planter was fine tuned by introducing operator's seat which facilitates comfortable operating condition of the driver. It also solved the problem of long distance travel walking behind the bed planter on foot. The inclined plate seed meter for seeding maize, rice, lentil, wheat and other small seeds efficiently. Maize and wheat establishment in bed planting are more attractive and easier compare to traditional methods. II. Bed formation, fertilizing and seeding operation performed simultaneously by this bed planter. Ill. Considerable amount of water can be saved (34.1%) by bed planting system with minimum labor involvement. IV. After the formation of the initial bed, the following crops can be cultivated reshaping the bed without tillage operation by the same bed planter. v. Maize planting cost in new bed and permanent bed was 63.0% and 72.5% less than conventional planting method. VI. Long term trial (6 years), wheat yield shows higher than conventional planting system in rice- wheat- mungbean crop rotation maintaining 30% residue. VII. Present contest of agriculture, bed planting technology seems to be highly mechanized system. Direct seeding rice can attract bed planting system one step ahead.

Knowledge Management: Report/Proceedings