Abstract:
Organic manures such as farm yard manure, green manure etc., when incorporated
into the soil not only add nutrients but enriches the soil by the fixation of atmospheric
nitrogen. Manures (FYM, vermicompost, edible oil cakes etc.,) are an important
resources which provide nutrients that could reduce bagged fertilizer costs and improves
the crop growth and performance. A well-managed manure is a valuable resource in
providing nutrients for crop production. Use of farm yard manure and other organic
manure is the way out to overcome the problems of soil degradation, loss of fertility
and soil health. Manual application of manure consumes more time and labour.
Therefore, the present study was undertaken to develop and evaluate the performance
of a tractor powered manure pulverizer cum applicator. The components of the machine
were developed to suit the various dosages of manure without much variation in the
distribution efficiency.
The actual field capacity and efficiency of manure pulverizer cum applicator was
found out to be 0.311 ha h -1 and 86.5 % at a forward speed of 2.0 km h -1 , 0.356 ha h -1
and 79.2 % at a forward speed of 2.5 km h -1 and 0.395 ha h -1 and 73.1 % at a forward
speed of 3.0 km h -1 . Maximum field capacity was noted at a traveling speed of 3.0 km
h -1 . A larger application rate of 1387.1 kg ha -1 for cow dung, 1624.4 kg ha -1 for goat
faecal pellets and 1618.6 kg ha -1 for neem cake was noted at an engine rpm of 2500,
forward speed of 2 km h -1 with a field capacity of 0.31 ha h -1 . With increasing the
forward speed to 2.5 and 3.0 km h -1 , field capacity increases but the application rate is
decreased.
The cost of manure pulverizer cum applicator alone is Rs. 64,000. Cost of
operation of manure pulverizer cum applicator as an attachment to tractor as explained
in Section 3.4 was found as 583.05 Rs h -1 and 1943.5 Rs ha -1 . Cost of manual manure
application followed by manure pulverization was 582.7 Rs h -1 and 4662.2 Rs ha -1 .
