Loading...

Research on Crops

Optimizing seed metering through drum seeder slot modification in conjugation with seed priming in wet seeded rice (Oryza sativa L.)


DOI: 10.31830/2348-7542.2023.ROC-11159    | Article Id: ROC-11159 | Page : 47-53
Citation :- Optimizing seed metering through drum seeder slot modification in conjugation with seed priming in wet seeded rice (Oryza sativa L.). Res. Crop. 24: 47-53
R. DURAI SINGH, SYED ABUL HASSAN HUSSAINY, R. GEETHA AND B. BHAKIYATHU SALIHA thesyedhussainy@gmail.com
Address : Agricultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Madurai-625 104 (Tamil Nadu), India
Online Published:

Abstract

In recent years, paddy drum seeders have become the tool of choice for rice farmers to deal with the seasonal labour shortage that occurs with the arrival of monsoon. However, the seed rate can go as high as 100 kg/ha with drum seeders because of issues with excess seed drop and uneven dispersion of seeds. In addition, a suitable seed priming method for rice under drum seeder is to be identified to facilitate seed flow through the slot modifications and enhance germination in the main field. Based on this background, innovations in the drum seeder slot modifications were carried out during 2020-21 and 2021-22 at the Department of Agronomy, Agricultural College and Research Institute, Madurai, India. The initial trial was conducted on the seed priming methods comprised of osmo-priming, vitamin priming (Ascorbate), micro-nutrient and hydro-priming at different concentrations and duration of incubation. The best treatment combinations were taken as sub-plot for the two-year field study along with drum seeder slot modifications as the main plot. The drum seeder slot modifications comprised of round slot (RS), oval slot (OS), round slot with guiding strip (RS+GP), and oval slot with guiding strip (OS+GP). The results revealed that drum seeder slots either OS+GP (or) RS+GP since on par successfully reduced the seed rate as low as 24.1 kg/ha, along higher productive tillers (32.6), and higher grain yield (5050 kg/ha) and straw yield (7618 kg/ha). Secondly, the newer seed priming technique involving multi-nutrient mixture @ 0.5% for 24 h (or) vitamin priming using ascorbic acid @ 10 ppm for 48 h increased the overall yield over the conventional hydro-priming (soaking in water for 24 h). However, research into improved drum seeder and seed priming methods is crucial everywhere, but especially in regulated areas where water release is unpredictable.

Keywords

Metered seed drop paddy drum seeder seed priming slot modification wet seeded rice

References

Ali, L. G., Nulit, R., Ibrahim, M. H. and Yien, C. Y. S. (2021). Efficacy of KNO3, SiO2 and SA priming for improving emergence, seedling growth and antioxidant enzymes of rice (Oryza sativa), under drought. Scientific Reports 11: 1-11.
Arivukodi, S. and Hussainy, S. A. H. (2020). Evaluating weed management practices for direct sown drum seeded rice (Oryza sativa): A review. Crop Res. 55: 139-51.
CIMMYT (1988). An Economic Training Handbook. Economic Programme. CIMMYT, Mexico.
Devnani, R. S. (2008). Development and evaluation of anaerobic type sprouted rice drum seeder and to ascertain the physiological load on the operator. Ama, Agricultural Mechanization in Asia, Africa & Latin America 39: 23.
Farooq, M., Basra, S. M. and Khan, M. B. (2007). Seed priming improves growth of nursery seedlings and yield of transplanted rice. Archives of Agron. and Soil Sci. 53: 315-26.
Islam, M. S. and Ahmad, D. (1999). Modification, test and evaluation of manually operated drum type seeder for lowland paddy. Pertanika J. Sci. and Technol. 17: 85-98.
Kaur, K., Singh, G. and Aulakh, C. S. (2022). Effect of various crop establishment methods on the crop performance and water use efficiency of rice (Oryza sativa). Crop Res. (0970-4884): 57.
Mamun, A. A., Naher, U. A. and Ali, M. Y. (2018). Effect of seed priming on seed germination and seedling growth of modern rice (Oryza sativa L.) varieties. The Agriculturists 16: 34-43.
Nawaz, A., Awan, M. I., Ijaz, M., Hussain, M., Ahmad, S. and Farooq, M. (2019). Direct seeding in rice: Problems and prospects. In: Agronomic Crops. pp. 199-222. Springer, Singapore.
Rajaiah, P., Mani, I., Parray, R. A., Lande, S. D., Kumar, A. and Vergese, C. (2020). Design and development of precision planter for paddy direct seeding. J. Agric. Engg. 57: 302-14.
Ratnayake, R. C. and Balasoriya, B. P. (2013). Re-design, fabrication and performance evaluation of manual conical drum seeder: A case study. Applied Engineering in Agriculture 29: 139-47.
S. A. S. Institute (1999). Statistical Analysis System Institute. S.A.S./STAT User's Guide, Version 8, Vol. 2. Cary, North Carolina, U. S. A.
Saba Anwar, M. I., Raza, S. H. and Iqbal, N. (2013). Efficacy of seed preconditioning with salicylic and ascorbic acid in increasing vigour of rice (Oryza sativa L.) seedling. Pak. J. Bot. 45: 157-62.
Samoy-Pascual, K., Martin, E. C. and Ariola, C. P. (2020). Effects of water and weed management on the weed density, grain yield and water productivity of wet-seeded rice. Philipp. J. Sci. 149: 139-49.
Shekhawat, K., Rathore, S. S. and Chauhan, B. S. (2020). Weed management in dry direct-seeded rice: A review on challenges and opportunities for sustainable rice production. Agronomy 10: 1264.
Sher, A., Sarwar, T., Nawaz, A., Ijaz, M., Sattar, A. and Ahmad, S. (2019). Methods of seed priming. In: Priming and Pretreatment of Seeds and Seedlings. pp. 1-10. Springer, Singapore.
Singh, G. and Arya, S. K. (2021). A review on management of rice straw by use of cleaner technologies: Abundant opportunities and expectations for Indian farming. J. Cleaner Production 291: 125278.
Zuo, Y., Ma, X., Qi, L., Yu, D. and Liao, X. (2010). Seeding experiments of suction cylinder-seeder with socket-slot. Transactions of the Chinese Society of Agricultural Engineering 26: 141-44.

Global Footprints