Development of a machine for residue management of combine harvested paddy field
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Date
2020-02
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G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar - 263145 (Uttarakhand)
Abstract
Burning of paddy residue is a critical issue that leads to inimical affect on environment. Management of crop residues in conservation agriculture is an essential for long-term sustainability of Agriculture. The paddy residue management includes straw cutting, chopping and their incorporation with soil. Residue incorporation was the most effective practice for enhance both agricultural productivity and sustainability by improving the soil health and fertility. As per the available literature that there is no such appropriate machine which can cut, chop and incorporate of paddy residue in a single pass. The present developed residue management machine can perform chopping of paddy residues and mix with the soil of combine harvested paddy field. This developed machine consists of chopping unit, incorporation unit, adjustable frame, pulleys and belts. The power is transmitted to the chopping unit and incorporation unit by tractor (55.95kW) PTO with the help of gear box, belt, pulley and gear arrangement. The fuel consumption, field capacity and field efficiency of residue management machine were observed 12.5-14.0 l/h, 0.43-0.64 ha/h and 60.46 % respectively. The four independent parameters selected for study were rotary speed (R1 =900 & R2 = 1100 rpm), forward speed (F1 = 2.1 & F2= 3.0 kmph), horizontal adjustment (H1 = 550 & H2= 650 mm) and vertical adjustment (V1 = 100 &V2= 200 mm) between straw chopper shaft and rotavator shaft and its effect was found on incorporation efficiency, shredding efficiency and trash size reduction of chopped paddy residues. The incorporation of residue and shredding efficiency were found highest at V1H2F1R2 (95.31%) and V1H2F1R2 (61.92 %) arrangements respectively. The trash reduction of chopped paddy residue was recorded maximum at V1H2F2R2 (40.58%) arrangement. Cost economics of developed residue management machine was compared with existing technologies adopted by farmers i.e. straw chopper + 2 rotavator practice and 6 harrowing + rotavator + planker practice. The cost of operation of developed residue management machine was observed 4272.8 Rs.ha-1 lower than existing technologies. The breakeven point (BEP), payback period and benefit cost (B:C) ratio of the developed residue management machine were 45 ha, 0.7 years and 1.17 respectively. Therefore, it is concluded that the developed residue management machine can be recommended to the farmers for paddy residue management of combine harvested paddy field.