Performance Evaluation of Manually Operated Ridge Vegetable Planter for Okra

Abstract

A manual ridge vegetable planter was developed for the sowing of vegetable crops on ridges. It consisted of seed metering mechanism- an acrylonitrile butadiene styrene polymer seed-metering roller having cells on its periphery, mainframe, speed reduction unit, handle, seed tube and tyne. Roller tyres were mounted on two forks, which were attached to the mainframe. Seed metering mechanism received power from rear roller tyre. Seed tube with conical seed capturing funnel was provided to guide seed to the boot of tyne. Tyne was mounted on tyne bolt for intra-row spacing adjustment. At forward speed of travel 1.60 km h-1, and at optimum 7 mm cell and 1.40 km h–1 peripheral speed of seed roller, it was evaluated for okra planting. Effective field capacity of the planter was 0.046 ha h–1 with field efficiency of 86.79%. The draft requirement of the planter was 4.4 kgf. Planting of okra seeds by developed planter resulted into net saving of Rs. 813 per hectare. The payback period and benefit cost ratio of the planter was 2.01 years and 1.56, respectively. The labour requirements with the developed planter were 21.73 man-hours per hectare saving 51.1% time of planting in one hectare area in comparisons to manual dibbling.