Performance evaluation of weeder by number of blades per flange in chilli crop

Abstract

India is a vast country with 329 million hectares of geographical area with agriculture still as a main occupation of 70 per cent of Indian population. Weeding is an essential operation in agriculture to prevent undesired species from growing and consuming the key resources (i.e. water, minerals, soil and sunlight) and thereby compromising crop yield. Farmers spend a large amount of time and money managing weeds. Weeds are always associated with human endeavors and because huge reductions in crop yields, increase cost of cultivation, reduce input efficiency, interfere with agricultural operations, impair quality, act as alternate hosts for several insect pests, diseases and nematodes. At a conservative estimate, an amount of Rs.100 billion is spent on weed management annually in India, in arable agriculture alone. The rotary type weeder stirs the soil more accurately, disturb the weed root and remove them from soil. In addition this helps in keeping the soil in loose condition for proper aeration. The major advantage of rotary power weeder is power being used for rotary weeder blades requires less draft and improved field performance. A portable knapsack power weeder was developed with width of cut was 25 cm and tested in chilli crop with number of blades per flange (2, 4 and 6). Operational speed, actual field capacity, field efficiency, weeding efficiency, plant damage, actual working depth of cut, fuel consumption, performance index of (2,4,6 blades per flange) was 0.43, 0.40 and 0.38 m/s, 0.029, 0.027 and 0.025 ha/h, 77.3, 72.1 and 66.1 per cent, 79.9, 83 and 85.2 per cent, 5.03, 4.73 and 3.30 per cent, 3.46, 4.16 and 4.60 cm,0.64, 0.71, and 0.76 l/h, 132, 128 and 123.