Comparative Assessment of the Developed Animal Drawn broad bed Former cum Planting System with Existing Planting Methods for Sowing of Pea Crop

Author: Vikas Pagare, Umesh Chandra Dubey, Aseeya Wahid and Abhijit Khadatkar

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Abstract

In the current landscape, tractor power dominates in most areas. However, mechanized agricultural farming, driven by draught animal power, is still used in some parts of the country. Agricultural practices mainly performed in hilly and remote terrain often fail to facilitate early planting due to waterlogging, adversely affecting crops. Therefore, broad bed farming is an effective way to enhance crop growth. Present study assessed the performance of an animal-drawn broad bed former, along with the attachment of sowing mechanisms like a ferti drill and inclined plate planting mechanism for the pea crop. Pea crop was chosen for its vital role in improving crop growth and enhancing fertility through nitrogen fixation as part of crop rotation practice. Uniformity was observed in inclined plate planting along with broad bed cultivation. The machine performed better in the broad bed system with inclined plate planting system. The operational speed attained was lower at 0.49 km/h, and the draft was higher at 780 N due to the additional attachment of the broad bed former. Nevertheless, the germination rate was higher than flatbed cultivated treatments. The yield of the pea crop was also higher at 1.8 t/ha under this treatment, and irrigation water savings were observed to be 7.3% more than flatbed planting. Despite the maximum cost of cultivation being 640 `/ha under the broad bed former with inclined plate planting, the economic advantages of water saving and higher yield compensate for the additional cultivation expenses.

Keywords

Animal drawn, broad bed farming. Inclined plate, Planting, Flatbed cultivation, Seed drill

Conclusion

Adopting an effective cultivation system is a crucial factor that directly or indirectly impacts various aspects, such as the overall farming system's machine performance, yield, and cost efficiency. The study among the selected treatments revealed that the broad bed system, combined with the inclined plate planting mechanism, proved to be suitable. This is attributed to the adequate drainage facilities offered by the broad bed system, which resulted in a higher germination rate of the pea crop. Specifically, a germination rate of 72% was observed under treatment involving an animal-drawn broad bed former combined with an inclined plant planter. Additionally, this treatment showed reduced weed competition. Although the cost of cultivation was found to be higher, the benefits of water savings in irrigation (7.3%) and increased yield (1.8 t/ha) provided economic advantages that offset the additional cultivation expenses.

References

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How to cite this article

Vikas Pagare, Umesh Chandra Dubey, Aseeya Wahid and Abhijit Khadatkar (2023). Comparative Assessment of the Developed Animal Drawn broad bed Former cum Planting System with Existing Planting Methods for Sowing of Pea Crop. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(7): 185-192.