Power tiller operated relay seeder as a possible solution for the late sowing of wheat crop

Abstract

This research describes the development and performance evaluation of the relay seeder. The major objective of the research is to overcome the problem of late sowing of the wheat crop due to the late harvesting of the cotton crop. It ultimately leads to yield loss of wheat crop. The study proposed the relay seeder and was tested in the standing cotton crop. The various measurement of crop growth parameters were observed such as seed germination percentage, plant population per square meter area, ear head length, number of ear heads per square meter area and number of seeds in one ear head. The following performance parameters of the machine were also determined such as seed germination, depth of sowing, fuel consumption rate and field efficiency. This research confirmed potential of the relay seeder to minimize the problem of late sowing of the wheat crop with seed germination (85%), sowing depth (7 cm) and fuel consumption rate (0.3 l/hr). The research also reported the labor intensive problem associated with operation of the machine in the cotton standing crop.