Performance Evaluation of Tractor Operated Rotary Assisted Broad Bed Former-cum-seeder for Wheat Sowing

Abstract

Tillage practices influence the soil physical parameters, which consequently affect the yield of a crop and provide solution against environmental hazards. A study was undertaken to comprehend the effects of broad bed former-cum-seeder on crop parameters, grain and biomass yield, cost-economics and energetics of operation. Simultaneous operation of tractor operated rotary-assisted broad bed former-cum-seeder, developed at ICAR-Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering, was compared with sequential operation of conventional seed drill on broad beds and rotary tilling on flatbed in black cotton soil for wheat cultivation. Though higher germination of seeds (183 per m2) was observed with simultaneous operation of bed making and seeding by rotary-assisted broad bed former-cum-seeder, but the differences in yield among treatments were insignificant. The input energy requirement in first crop year (17,710 MJ.ha-1) was marginally higher than that in conventional method (17,445 MJ.ha-1). It decreased by 378 MJ.ha-1 compared to conventional system in the second crop year. The lowest average cost of operation (2607 ` ha-1) in simultaneous operation of bed forming and seeding in the first year, followed by maintaining permanent beds in subsequent years led to an additional income of 13,980 ` ha-1 over farmers’ practice. Rotary-assisted broad bed former-cum-seeder thus has the potential to boost the income of the farmers and better energy management.