Development of a Device for Broadcasting Tiny Agricultural Seeds

Abstract

A manually operated device for broadcasting tiny agricultural seeds was developed in the Department of Farm Power and Machinery of Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh. The principles of dynamics and projectile of a particle has been used in designing the device. It was a light weight portable device, could be carried on the chest, having a weight of 2.0 kg when empty and the fabrication cost was Tk. 1500.00 only (2012). The overall length and diameter of the device are 555 mm and 200 mm, respectively. It was tested in the laboratory with mustard and jute seeds only. The average field capacity ranges between 0.77 to 1.21 ha/hr and seed application rate ranges between 1.3 to 3.7 kg/ha depending on the adjustment of metering unit. The uniformity index was found over 95%. The device performed excellent having nearly 100% uniformity of application at 20 mm opening of the metering unit, both for mustard and jute seeds. Cultivation of crops using the device and comparison of yield data is needed for further validation of the device. It is recommended that the device must be tested in the farmer’s field before its commercial manufacture. It is expected that if the device be validated through field trial, it will help reduce drudgery of the farmers/laborers, and overall cost of the operation.