Development of power operated paddy seeder for dry and wet seeding

Abstract

Rice is one of the most important crops in India with a total area of 44 Mha and a production of 110 million tonnes. The major constraints in manually transplanted paddy cultivation are non-availability of labour on time, especially during peak periods of sowing and need of large quantity of water. Mechanical transplanter could not be made widely popular because of higher cost, poor traction and sinkage. Direct seeded rice is becoming popular in India due to severe shortage of water and labour and almost comparable yield. There is no single machine available for direct seeding of rice in both dry and wet condition. It is a single wheel, 8-row riding type machine fitted with a 2.94 kW single cylinder, air cooled diesel engine which powers the forward movement of the driving wheel and rotary motion of metering mechanism. The drive wheel receives power through V-belt, cone clutch and gear box. Gear box for ground wheel comprises three sets of spur gear. The input shaft of gear rotates at speed of 1300 rpm and then according to shifting of gear lever it is reduces up to 185 rpm. A universal shaft from the gear box provides power to the sets of bevel and spur gear box and from then power is transmit to input shaft of gear box of metering mechanism as 468 rpm and then finally reduces up to 20.51 rpm to the cup type metering mechanism through chain sprocket assembly mounted over the float. The performance evaluation of a power operated paddy seeder was done with the pre-germinated paddy seed and dry seed under laboratory and field test.Engine of paddy seeder 2.43kW (4 hp) revolves at speed of 2600 rpm which reduces as 90 rpm to the metering shaft and 21 rpm to the driving wheel through reduction unit. The fuel consumption varied between 2.57 to 2.83 l/ha with an average of 2.68 l/ha in dry seeding condition and 2.78 to 2.98 l/ha with an average of 2.83 l/ha in wet condition. The effective field capacity of machine is 0.23-0.25 ha/h. The field efficiency of paddy seeder in dry condition was 77.67 % and in wet condition it is 71.88 %.