Improvement of power tiller operated seeder for maize planting

Abstract

Prime energy source of agriculture in Bangladesh is two-wheel tractor (commonly known as power tiller). Power tiller operated seeder (PTOS) with fluted roller type metering device are adopting by the farmers. These seeders could not be used for planting maize. An initiative was taken to improve the seeder for maize planting during 2014-15 at RARS, BARI, Jamalpur. A simple maize conversion kit was developed and attached to the seeder for planting maize. The modified seeder was evaluated in the field and found that desired seed spacing (20 cm) and uniformity (98%) could be achieved. Modified PTOS was tested for full tillage (yield 8.62 t/ha) and strip tillage (yield 8.51 t/ha) comparing with conventional method where machine planting maize gave higher yield than the conventional (8.31 t/ha). Further study is needed to use this for other crops.