Impact of Tractor Operated Round Paddy Straw Baler in Uttar Bastar (Kanker) District of Chhattisgarh, India

Abstract

At present rice is major crop in Kanker district of Chhattisgarh cultivated over two lakh including kharif and summer season. The cost of the straw gathering is increasing because of increased use of combine harvesters. High labour cost and scarcity of labour make manual collection unfeasible that also encourages the burning of straw in the field after combine harvesting. Burning of a straw causes pollution, increased greenhouse gas emission and loss of opportunities to worth straw value addition. In the present study impact of tractor operated round paddy straw baler machine for collection of rice straw was conducted on combine harvested field. During the field testing data on the straw parameter, machine parameter and bale parameter were recorded. The actual field capacity, cost of operation and time required for baling was found to be 0.61 ha hr-1 , 1240 Rs ha-1 and 1.59 h ha-1 respectively with moisture content between 19 to 22 per cent on wet basis and maximum speed of operation 2.4 km ha-1. Cost of baling was found less as compared to manually collection method. Baling operation is easy, less time consuming and more economical as well as exclude the hazardous effects of burning of crop residues.