Development of Power Weeder for Line Sown Paddy Crop

摘要

Weed is the main menace in paddy cultivation and its eradication from the paddy field is difficult and time consuming process. Traditional method of hand weeding is time consuming and labour intensive. Another method of weed control, through chemicalmethod by weedicides is simple and fast method but is restricted due to its adverse effects on both environment as well as human beings. To overcome this, mechanical method by self – propelled weeders can replace this constraint. A power weeder was designed and developed for upland paddy and is tested for its field performance. The machine depicted satisfactory performance for weeding at both 20 and 45 DAS and fuel efficient (0.63 to 0.7 lh~(-1)) with weeding efficiency as 74.20% and 85.90% for weedingat 20 and 45 DAS respectively. The machine showed satisfactory result by less plant damages of 3.75 and 8.26% at 20 and 45 DAS respectively. The field efficiency of weeder at 45 DAS was 8.5% more than that of 20DAS.