“Design and Development of Tractor Drawn Subsurface Manure and Seed Applicator”

Abstract

Organic farming is now recognized as the best known alternative to the conventional agriculture, where cultivation and raising of crops and best quality of food is grown without any harm to the soil health, environmental and to the human being and microorganism present in the soil. Efficient organic nutrient supply to plant in adequate quantities to sustain most plant growth and yield while minimizing the environmental affected by the use of large quantities of inorganic fertilizers and pesticides which reduces the soil characteristics and productivity. Vermicom post is the major alternatives for organic farming with higher plant nutrients. Therefore, a tractor drawn subsurface manure and seed applicator was designed and developed in Farm Machinery and Power Engineering Department, G.B.P.U.A& T Pantnagar, Uttara khand for placement of vermicom post (organic manure) at a depth of 50 to 200 mm below the soil surface. Firstly the frame for vermicom post and seed hopper was fabricated according to the desired capacity of vermicom post manure hopper. Six rectangular orifices were provided for delivery of manure at the middle of the bottom surface of the manure hopper. A counter shaft was fixed on the frame which was driven by the ground wheel and rotated the horizontal screw conveyor shaft of the manure hopper as well as seed hopper shaft by means of chain - sprocket arrangement. The velocity ratios between the ground wheel and the manure and fluted roller shaft were 2:1. The manure hopper shaft and fluted roller shaft were rotated at 14, 35 and 41 rpm when tractor forward speed 2, 4 and 6 km/h, respectively. Two depth control side wheels were provided below the frame to adjust the depth of cut of machine in field operation. A furrow opener was designed to penetrate into the soil at the desired depth and placed the vermicom post and seed below the soil surface.