Four- Row Paddy Drum Seeder

Function: For line sowing of sprouted paddy seeds in puddled field.

Brief description
It consists of drive wheels with lugs, drive shaft, hyperboloid shaped drums and swinging type pulling beam. The hyperboloid shaped drum enables free flow of seed towards the metering holes. In between two holes a baffle is provided for filling the drum with seeds. It has 18 holes of 10 mm dia for dropping the sprouted seed in puddled field. The holes can be plugged depending on sprouted seeds and seed rate. A swinging handle is provided with the unit for pulling the seeder. Drum may be filled with pre-germinated/sprouted paddy seeds to its half of capacity. The method to prepare sprouted paddy seed is given in Annexure-II. After filling the drum, the lid of the drum may be closed and locked. The shallow ploughing/puddling of the field is required for proper operation of the equipment. After puddling excess water may be drained. From next morning operate the equipment at a walking speed of 1-1.5 km/h in the puddled field. The wheel impression during the previous pass will serve as a marker for the subsequent passes. During the operation of the equipment, dropping of seeds through the holes may be observed and drums may be refilled when the drum gets empty.
Capacity: 920 m2/h

Benefits:

• Light in weight, and easy to transport and handle.
  
• Uniformity in seed sowing.
• Hill dropping of seed is achieved and continuous drilling is eliminated.
  
• Seed saving is achieved with the equipment as compared to traditional method.
  
• Line sowing is done with the equipment that promotes use of mechanical weeders thereby
  reducing drudgery and cost during weeding operation.

Cost: Rs. 6000/-
Developed at: TNAU, Coimbatore
Source of Availability: Department of Farm Machinery, Agricultural Engineering College & Research Institute, TNAU,
Coimbatore- 641 003.