Kera and Pora methods have been used for sowing seeds since ancient times. In this method, a funnel-shaped wooden figure is attached with a bamboo tube behind the country plough. The seeds are dropped from the funnel, and through the tube, it falls into the ground. Unfortunately, these methods result in uncontrolled seed drop, which leads to a high seed rate and makes it very difficult to remove weeds from the crop. To overcome all these shortcomings, the crop yield can be increased by 10-15 per cent with improved agricultural machinery.
Popular Seed and Fertilizer Planter
Following are the main functions of seed and fertilizer planters:
1. Hand Operated Fertilizer & Seed Sprayer
This yantra is tied around the neck with a strap. When the handle is rotated, the seed falls on the round plate through the hole in the bottom of the box. And the epicentre gets scattered outwards according to the law of force. By rotating the handle one revolution, the plate rotates 8 revolutions. By moving the handle at the speed of 45 revolutions/minute. The manure and seed fall to the width of about 7.25 meters. With this, about one hectare of field can be sown in one hour.
2. Tractor Operated Seed And Fertilizer Sprayer
This device is often used for sprinkling manure, but it can also be used for sprinkling seeds. It can be driven efficiently by a 25-30 horsepower tractor and can be sprayed by adding 2.5-3.0 quintals of manure or grain at a time. It is driven with the help of PTO by tying it to the 3 point linkage at the rear of the tractor. And with this equipment, the provides high performance.
3. Manual Seed and Fertilizer Machine
This yantra is often used by small farmers and farmers of hilly areas. This yantra will prove to be very useful for the state of Jharkhand. It requires two people to operate it. One person pulls it, and another person controls it. Its working capacity is 0.75-1.0 acres per day.
4. Cultivator Sowing Machine
It is a sowing machine by oxen. In this, a seed-dropping pipe is attached behind each peduncle of a two or three-row cultivar. A funnel connects the upper part of the pipes. Dropping seeds and manure in the funnel is divided into equal parts in all the lines. Its working capacity is up to 2.5 acres per day.
5. Tractor Driven Seed & Fertilizer Drill
This drill mainly consists of a seedbox, compost box, controlling seed system, manure controlling system, seed tube, drench opener, transport wheel, etc. The seed drill has an axis that drives the fluted roller and is located at the bottom of the seedbox.
The fluted roller picks up the seed from the box and puts it into the seed tube. Since the seed tube is attached to the lobule opener, the seed falls directly into the clump through the threshing opener. This drill is very popular in the northern part of India. By using it in many states, farmers can save time and increase the yield. It gives 70 per cent labour saving, 25-30 per cent saving in operating cost, and a 3 percent yield increase compared to animal performed seed cum manure drill.
6. Tractor Driven Direct Paddy Sowing Machine
This tool is more suitable for dry areas. The device is located on top of the cultivator and mainly consists of a seedbox, seed control system, wheels, cultivator shoeless, furrow closure, clutch lever, frame and a power-operated system. And the Swaraj Tracor is suitable for handling this equipment.
During operation, the disc cup rotates the top so that the paddy moves from the hopper into the drain pipe. Since the drainpipe is attached to the furrow opener, the seed drops directly into the furrow. Tamil Nadu Agricultural University has developed this device.
7. Tractor Driven Inclined Plate Planter
It is a planter for sowing large and small seeds of different crops in rows. A conventional seed drill cannot do this job. It includes six boxes as well as a tilt seed control system. It has a ‘shoe’ type furrow opener, allowing the seeds to be sown more deeply in the dry land area. The fertilizer box is equipped with a fluted roller type manure control system. It is very suitable for mixed farming. In addition, it is ideal for sowing several seeds at once.
As the tractor moves forward in the field, the seeds are sown in a row, and the Mahindra Tractor is excellent in this operation. For mixed farming, different seeds are kept in different boxes with suitable seed plates. Compared to the traditional method, 70-80 per cent labour savings, 25-40 per cent savings in operating expenses and a 7-8 per cent increase in yield are achieved by this equipment.
8. Animal-Driven Planter
It is a three-row planter whose plate is inclined. With its help, both small and large seeds can be sown, and it has three separate boxes. The seed control system is of inclined plate type. Different types of plates are used for different kinds of seeds. In this ‘shoe’ type, a furrow opener is used. It is beneficial for mixed farming. It can be sown by placing different kinds of seeds in different boxes. This is a machine manufactured by the Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Bhopal. It gives 40-50 per cent labour-saving, 60 per cent saving in operating cost and a 5 per cent increase in yield compared to the rear plough sowing machine.
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