Performance evaluation of a manually operated paddy drum seeder - a cost saving technology for paddy cultivation

Abstract

A study was conducted at farmer field to evaluate performance of mechanized paddy cultivation (T₁), mechanized paddy cultivation with incorporation of Dhaincha before direct sowing of paddy seed (T₂) and the traditional farmer practice (T₃).  Consecutive three years of data were obtained for analysis and different crop growth parameters were measured like panicle length, number of tillers, grain yield etc. for each treatment.  It was found that the average grain yield for three years in different treatments T₁ and T₂ was enhanced by 10% and 14% respectively when compared with farmer practice.  Average cost of cultivation was reduced by 25% in treatment T₂ where green manuring crop (Dhaincha) was grown and incorporated in soil with indigenous plough before paddy seeding.  Study also revealed that due to mechanized cultivation practices, the crop was ready to harvest eight to ten days early than farmer’s practices.  The experiment well proved to raise the socio-economic status of the farmers by changing their strategy towards mechanized organic paddy cultivation.

Keywords: drum seeder, mechanization, green manuring crop, growth parameters