Modification and Evaluation of Commercially Available Sugarcane Trench Planter for Its Application Under Punjab Conditions

Abstract

Present research was conducted to modify and evaluate commercially available tractor-operated sugarcane trench planter available in Uttar Pradesh as per needs of local conditions prevailing in Punjab for sugarcane cultivation. Prominent modifications included alteration in shape of soil-covering unit and installation of safety grate. During preliminary evaluation, effect of three cutting roller(s) peripheral speeds (0.69 m/s, 0.81 m/s and 0.93 m/s) and three forward speeds (2.26 km/h, 2.6 km/h and 3.0 km/h) was assessed on three popular varieties of sugarcane (Co0118, CoPb93 and CoJ-85) for cane length, cane diameter, sett length, bud damage (%), number of sett cut and sett damage (%). Thereafter, the field evaluation of modified sugarcane trench planter was carried out by selecting one cutting roller(s) peripheral speed (0.69 m/s) and two forward speeds (2.26 km/h and 3.0 km/h) on above varieties. The selected dependent variables were cane length, cane diameter, sett length, bud damage (%), sett damage (%), overlap/gap and germination (%). Results revealed that average sett length increased with the decrease in diameter of cane and cutting roller peripheral speed. However, bud damage (%) increased with the increase in cutting roller peripheral speed. Bud damage (%) in variety Co0118 was higher due to relatively more toughness (hardness) of cane. Average overlapping decreased with the increase in forward speed. Practically, no sett damage was observed in the study. It was found that germination (%) of cane planted by machine was more than the conventional planting. Average germination on 45 DAP (days after planting) on left and right side of trench in different varieties, viz. Co0118, CoPb93 and CoJ-85, were 50.71%, 43.00%, 48.50% and 48.11%, 38.68%, 43.15%, respectively. Economic analysis showed that there was 25.01% reduction in cost of planting and 58.02% reduction in labour cost as compared to conventional method of sugarcane planting followed under Punjab conditions.