Published in the Journal: September 2020
With a current shortage of labor, timely completion of agricultural tasks has become challenging, making mechanization essential in farming. The introduction of machinery not only reduces labor dependency but also allows for efficient, large-scale operations. Below is an overview of various machines used in paddy cultivation.
Land Preparation Equipment
- Plowing and Leveling: The rotavator and disc plow can be used for tilling, while the laser leveler can help level the field, conserving 20-30% water and increasing yield by 5-10%. In a single day, 2-3 hectares can be leveled, at a cost of around 500 rupees per hectare.
- Power Tiller: After leveling, a power tiller can further prepare the field for transplanting.
Seedling Preparation Machines
For machine transplanting, roll tray seedlings or seedlings in trays are used depending on the type of transplanter.
Roll Tray Seedlings
This method uses nursery trays made of plastic sheets filled with soil where seeds are sown. For a traditional acre, 8 cents of nursery land is needed, but only 1 cent is sufficient for mechanized farming. Roll trays should be set up near water sources with good drainage.
- Preparation: Set up seedbeds 1 meter wide and 5 cm high. Spread plastic sheets on these beds, fill with a mixture of soil and fertilizer, and sprinkle pre-germinated seeds. After covering with straw, the beds are watered gently every day for five days. Within 14 days, seedlings will be ready for transplanting.
Tray Seedlings
Seedlings are grown in plastic trays measuring 25×50 cm to 30×60 cm. It takes 165-275 trays to produce enough seedlings for one hectare. Seeded trays are watered and fertilized to ensure robust growth, preparing them for transplanting in 14-15 days.
Transplanting Machines
Transplanters vary by fuel type, row capacity, and operation mode:
- Fuel: Petrol or diesel models
- Rows: 4, 6, or 8-row options
- Type: Walk-behind or ride-on transplanters with one or two wheels.
Direct Seeding Machines
In rain-fed areas, direct seeders powered by tractors can plant seeds directly in rows, with spaces of 20 cm between rows and 15 cm between plants. A 35-45 HP tractor can cover 7.5 acres daily, reducing labor by 84% and cutting costs by 65%, with a planting cost of only 1,000 rupees per hectare.
Drum Seeder for Sowing in Wet Fields
This device has 10 mm holes to drop seeds at regular intervals and is easy to pull, allowing consistent planting depth and spacing.
Weed Control Machines
- Weed Removing Machine: Designed for use in machine-transplanted fields, these petrol-powered weeders come in two or three-row models and can clear weeds from one hectare in a day. Tamil Nadu Agricultural University has developed a weeder for 30 cm spaced crops, which reduces weeding costs by 2,000-2,500 rupees per hectare.
- Hand Weeder: Manual weeders like the cono-weeder are also effective in row-planted fields.
Water Management Tools
A paddy crop requires 1,200 mm of water. Field water pipes, developed by the International Rice Research Institute, help reduce water usage by up to 25% while increasing yield by 15%. These pipes maintain optimal water levels and prevent wastage.
Crop Protection Sprayers
For pest control, power sprayers can spray insecticides over 100 meters, covering up to 4 hectares in a day, reducing pest infestation over large areas.
Harvesting
Combine harvesters are used for reaping, threshing, and winnowing simultaneously. There are two main types: the tire type for dry land and the belt type for muddy fields.
Dr. Raja Ramesh, Assistant Professor, National Pulse Research Center, Vamban, Pudukkottai District
