Comparative Performance Evaluation of Power Operated Weeders for Sugarcane Crop in North Coastal Region of Andhra Pradesh

Author: P. Sreedevi, M. Madhava, M.B. G.S. Kumari, Ch. S. Rama Lakshmi and P.V.K. Jagannadha Rao

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Abstract

Sugarcane is a second largest commercial crop in India requiring more labor force starting from planting to harvesting. Out of all operations, intercultural operations contribute10-15% of the total labor cost. Weed management is the major constraint for high productivity of sugarcane. It has been estimated that weeds can cause 12 to 72 percent reduction in yield depending on the severity of infestation. Weeding operations in sugarcane crop were done manually by the farmers in North Coastal region of Andhra Pradesh which is very tedious and labor consuming. A study was conducted to evaluate the performance of different intercultural equipment such as mini tractor with rotavator (T1), Power weeder-I (T2), Power weeder-II (T3), manual weeding (T4), chemical weeding (T4) and compared with control (T6) under wider row spacing of 150 cm with dual row planting. Among all the treatments, cost of weeding operation in T1 treatment was found to be minimum (Rs.5207/-) with a saving of 70% in weeding operation cost and 98% time compared to manual weeding (Rs.17,290/-). Among all the treatments, weeding operation using mini tractor with rotavator recorded highest yield (85 t/ha) with corresponding high weeding efficiency (84%). Thus intercultural operation with rotavator drawn mini tractor can be recommended in sugarcane crop under wider row spacing to reduce cost of cultivation and for higher yields.

Keywords

Intercultural operations, power weeders, wider spacing, Weeding efficiency

Conclusion

The study shows that the mechanical weeding can save labor cost and time compared to manual weeding and chemical weeding. Among the mechanical weeders studied, it was observed that weeding using mini tractor with rotavator can save time to a tune of 98% and labour cost of 70% with high yield of 85 t/ha followed by power weeder-II, power weeder-I compared to manual weeding. Hence, weeding using mini tractor with rotavator can be recommended to the farmers of North Coastal region with a spacing of 150 cm adopting dual row planting.

References

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How to cite this article

P. Sreedevi, M. Madhava, M.B. G.S. Kumari, Ch. S. Rama Lakshmi and P.V.K. Jagannadha Rao (2023). Comparative Performance Evaluation of Power Operated Weeders for Sugarcane Crop in North Coastal Region of Andhra Pradesh. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(9): 387-391.