Performance evaluation of inclined plate seed metering mechanism for system of chickpea intensification

Abstract

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is the second-most important pulse crop after pigeonpea in the World for human diet and other use. It is cultivated in area of 13.54 million hectares with a total production of 13.10 million tonnes and average productivity of 967.6 kg/ha (FAO 2013). After measurement the physical properties of chickpea i.e. average aspect ratio, surface area, bulk density, true density, moisture content and porosity of chickpea were observed 75.54%, 157.379 mm2, 709.55 kg/m3, 875.50 kg/m3, 19.81% and 18.62% respectively.in field performance the average speed of operation, field capacity and field efficiency of developed inclined plate planter were observed 3.5 km/h, 0.45 ha and 63.63% respectively. Plant height was found highest in T1 at 30 DAS, 60 DAS, 90 DAS and at harvest i.e. 20.28 cm, 35.75 cm, 46.00 cm and 58.05 cm respectively followed by T2, T4, T5 and T3 respectively. Pods per plant were found highest in T1 i.e.115.27 followed by T2, T3, T5 and T4 i.e. 113.38, 107.60, 107.11 and 105.62 respectively. Maximum grain yield of chickpea was found in T1 which was 2826.67 kg/ha and minimum was observed in T4 i.e. 2317.09 kg/ha. Grain yield of T1 was found 18.63%, 3.26%, 21.99% and 20.45% greater than the T2, T3, T4 and T5 respectively. Cost of operation of developed inclined plate planter was calculated ₹ 1228.33 /- per hectare and energy requirement was 590.52 MJ/ha.