Utilitarian design and development of VCR operated five-row seed cum fertilizer drill

Abstract

Agricultural mechanization is critical for boosting productivity and ensuring sustainable resource management, particularly in regions like the Konkan of India, where significant agricultural land lies fallow after the main paddy harvest. This fallowing occurs despite sufficient residual soil moisture for short duration pulse crops, primarily due to the lack of suitable and timely sowing equipment. To overcome this limitation, college of agricultural engineering and technology, Dapoli, developed a novel, lightweight, a machine that is friendly to the farmer, specifically a Vertical Conveyor Reaper (VCR) operated zero tillage seed cum fertilizer drill. This innovation allows for simultaneous harvesting and sowing operations, thereby maximizing the utilization of available soil moisture and facilitating double cropping in paddy-based systems. The machine’s design incorporated critical evaluations of bean seed properties to optimize its cup feed seed metering and fluted roller fertilizer metering mechanisms. Laboratory and field trials were conducted at operational speeds of 1.5, 2.0, and 2.5 km/h to assess performance metrics like seeding rate, uniformity, and germination. Results showed a positive correlation between operational speed and material dispensing rates; for instance, field seed rates increased from 54.41 kg/ha at 1.5 km/h to 69.97 kg/ha at 2.5 km/h, with similar trends in fertilizer placement. Crucially, mechanical damage to the seeds was negligible, with only a 2 to 4% reduction in germination. The machine demonstrated its best seed uniformity at 2.0 km/h. By enabling effective zero tillage sowing, the integrated VCR drill conserves soil moisture, drastically cuts down on labor and time requirements, and provides a solution that is both cost effective and multifunctional. This successful integration enhances cropping intensity and profitability for smallholder farmers in the Konkan region.