Book of Extended summaries ISDA

International Conference on Reimagining Rainfed Agro-ecosystems: Challenges &
Opportunities during 22-24, December 2022 at ICAR-CRIDA, Hyderabad
T5-14P-1084
Floor Management Machinery for Weed Control in Horticulture Crops
Sanjeeva Reddy, B; Ashish S. Dhimate, I. Srinivas; R.V. Adake and R.V. Mallikarjuna
ICAR-Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture Hyderabad, Telangana–500059, India
Horticultural sector made strides at national level with record production of 300.6 m tons
from 24.85m ha area in 2016 -17, which is an increase of 9.5% and outpaced the food grain
production, since 2012-2013. In recent years, farmers are shifting from traditional
subsistence farming to commercial horticulture with technical inputs of research and constant
government support programs (Meghwal et al,.2018). As in case of field crops, weeds cause
upto 50% loss in fruit yield. Mechanical manipulation under dryland conditions, is
problematic due to increased risk of moisture loss and soil erosion. So, the cultivation
practices should be strategically adopted as part of an integrated weed management approach
to achieve optimum response. Management of weeds with suitable and synergistic machines
with possible lowest soil manipulation protects the top soil of horticulture crops thus helps
to improve the fertility for better growth and improved productivity. The other method of
supressing weed growth is growing cover crops which also need farm equipment for better
management and to protects top soil and supplement organic matter to the soil. Therefore,
keeping these points in view, ICAR-Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture,
Hyderabad developed weed control floor management machines suitable for horticulture
crops.
Methodology
There is a growing demand for controlling weeds without use of herbicides. The machinery
like mowers and slashers have the advantage of enabling weeds and unwanted vegetation
control in all weather conditions. In this category three types of machines namely (i). Tractor
back mounted PTO operated mower (ii). Side mounted rotary disc with hydraulic power unit
(iii). Cover crop shredding machine and its related components were developed.
Development details of Machines: (i) Tractor back mounted PTO operated mower consists
of three main parts: a rectangular frame of 1.6X1.6 m in size made of 90x12mm flat to which
5mm thick mild steel metal sheet was welded throughout the frame; a speed reduction
gearbox with right angle drive fitted at the middle of the rectangular frame with bolts and
nuts. The horizontal shaft leading into the gearbox can be attached to the tractor PTO. The
vertical shaft from the gearbox will drive the mowing blades (2 no- 700x10mm size)
sharpened on the leading side; and a standard three-point hitch system is provided to the
frame by welding straight flats and angle iron flats at required positions. (ii) Side mounted
rotary disc with hydraulic power unit basically consists of two components, the first one is a
Hydraulic power pack which is fitted over a carriage frame attached to the tractor three-point
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