TNAU EXPERIENCES WITH WEEDER DESIGN

Dr.V.K.Ravichandran,Professor (Agronomy)

(MDPU-IAMWARM Project)

SRI EQUIPMENT WORKSHOP 01.11.2014

TN-IAMWARM Project is key for SRI Outreach in TN at Massive mode…

Present ScenarioRegistered Ayacut 10145 ha. 

Mean annual rainfall is 804.49 mm.

Ground water potential:(based on 2009 assessment) 281.6 m.cu.m

Gross extraction of ground water 301.6 m.cu.m

Negative water balance of 20 m.cu.m

Categorization as “over exploited.

49% of the basin area is covered with paddy and 19% of area with sugarcane.

SRI Weeders Used in our projectCono Weeder -Clay Soil Rotary Weeder – Loamy

Soil

Drum Weeder – Alluvial clay

Motorized Weeder

DRUM TYPE WEEDER

CONO WEEDER

VIDEO

SINGLE ROW FINGER TYPE ROTARY WEEDER

TWO ROW FINGER TYPE ROTARY WEEDER

DRUM WEEDER- A FARMER INNOVATION

Mr. V.Durai, Varaghanadhi sub basin , he got Farmers Innovation Award 2012 from ICAR

Farmer innovation is in the farmers Hand

VIDEO

Weeder – Petrol Operated Machine

Recent Mechanized Cono Weeder

• Cost - $ 800• Coverage - 2 Ha/Day

• Petrol Driven

Weeder Usage in SRI

First weeder use at 10 days

after Transplanting

Subsequent at 7-10 days

interval (3-4 times)

Continue up to 45 days

Rotary Weeder – Loamy Soil

Drum Weeder – Alluvial clay

Cono Weeder –Clay Soil

Benefits of WeederEffective weed control at

early stageIn situ incorporation

enhances soil fertilityFrequent disturbance to

soil leads aerobic environment in rhizosphere which results in increased crop growth

Influence of Root growth by cono weeding

SRI

Conventional

Better functional root system

Non lodging even during aberrant weather• Root pruning leads to more functional roots and increased root volume

• Enhanced uptake of applied nutrients favours increased tillering

• Better anchorage – non lodging

SRI Equipments supplied through IAMWARM

YearSRI WEEDER

TotalSRI Marker

TNAU DOA TNAU DOA

2007-08 5725 912 6637 - 912

2008-09 12905 1934 14839 517 1934

2009-10 4866 4485 9351 357 4485

2010-11 2674 21946 24620 533 21946

2011-12 2100 19977 19977 - 19977

2012-13 - 10910 10910 - 10910

2013-14 - 1250 1250 - 1250

Total 30944 61414 87584 1407 61414

Our Weeder were taken for adoption by African Countries and refinement to fabricate their model

Thank you