Studies on mechanisation of planting of sugarcane bud chip settlings raised in protrays

Abstract

Sugarcane bud chip planting is the latest technique of sugarcane planting, wherein the bud along with a portion of the nodal region is chipped off and planted in protray with FYM soil and sand. Studies on mechanisation of the planting of settlings from sugarcane buds raised in portrays were carried out at Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering—Regional Centre, Coimbatore and Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Coimbatore and a tractor mounted two row mechanical planter for settlings raised from sugarcane bud chips was developed. It consists of mainframe which can be attached to standard three-point hitch arrangement of a 35 hp tractor. The metering mechanism, operator’s seat, furrow openers, soil openers and furrow closers are mounted on the main frame with necessary supports. The optimum speed of operation was standardized as 1.4 km/h by experimentation.There has been saving in labour,time and cost.