Improvement and Field Performance Evaluation of the BARI Seeder
- 1 FMP Engineering Division, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Gazipur, Bangladesh
- 2 Training & Communication Wing, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Gazipur, Bangladesh
- 3 Fruits Research Station, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Rajshahi, Bangladesh
- 4 Regional Agricultural Research Station, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Barishal, Bangladesh
Abstract
Problem of late sowing of Rabi (Dry winter) crops can be solved using the power tiller operated BARI seeder (PTOS), which can save time, labour, fuel, and seeds over conventional tilling and seeding by power tiller. However, some problems were identified in the BARI seeder during on-farm operations. The heavy weight of the machine, non-uniform seed placement, missing seeds, and turning complications during operation were found to be the major drawbacks. The problems in the base plate, seed dropping funnel, hitching system, tine, furrow opener, and power transmission system were modified during 2017-2018. The improved seeder was made 15.5% lighter than the original BARI seeder. Seed to seed distances of maize were 4.50 cm and 4.83 cm for the former and the improved seeder, respectively. The spacing of 4.83 cm was closer to the recommended spacing of 5.0 cm. The seed distribution uniformity of the improved seeder was close to 97.33%. The seeding depth of the improved seeder was 3.90 cm, which was very close to the desirable planting depth of 4.0 cm. By the improved seeder (reduced full tillage) or PTOS, strip (ST), and zero tillage (ZT)), a single pass was required to complete land preparation and sowing of seeds in line, whereas the power tiller required 2 - 3 passes for land preparation. Field experiments were conducted in the farmers’ fields of Rajshahi and Patuakhali districts in different soil and agro-ecological conditions for tilling and sowing of Rabi crops during 2018-2019. The treatments were: seeder (PTOS), strip till, zero till, and power tiller (PT). Significantly higher yields of lentil, mungbean, cowpea, and sunflower were found from PTOS, ST, and conventional tillage (CT), but no significant differences were found among the treatments for wheat. The payback period of the seeder was 2.93 years and that of the power tiller was 3.63 years. The benefit-cost ratio (BCR) of the improved BARI seeder and power tiller were 1.54 and 1.08, respectively. The improved seeder saved time to prevent late sowing and also reduced labour to curtail crop production cost. In consideration of the above-mentioned advantages, the improved seeder is recommended for reduced tillage, strip tillage, and zero tillage practices in Bangladesh.
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