A mechanical weeder for dry and garden land crops

A mechanical weeder has been developed for weeding and inter-culture for dry land and garden land crops such as cotton, tapioca, maize, black-gram and green-gram by the Agricultural Engineering College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Kumulur, Tiruchi.

The weeding machine is more or less a small power tiller. It is a three-row machine and is capable of weeding 0.20 hectare per hour (3 acres in a day).

It costs about Rs. 54,000 (including the cost of the engine). The engine can be put to use for other purposes during off-seasons.

At the back of the weeding machine, V-shaped weeding blades are mounted on a square bar.

According to the crop stage we can have three weeding blades or one weeding blade.

Distance between the weeding blades is adjustable according to the distance between the crop rows.

Depth of weeding by the weeding blades can also be adjusted.

A depth wheel is provided at the back of the weeding blades to maintain the uniform depth of weeding by the weeding blades. It has two-lugged ground wheels of 600mm diameter.

Distance between the two wheels can be adjusted depending on the row crop spacing.

Forward speed can be increased or decreased by a knob provided on the handle. An idler-pulley type clutch is provided in the machine to stop the transmission of power from the engine to the ground wheels as and when required.

For easy turning of wheels inside the field, a clutch lever is provided near the handle. If the crops are planted in square planting pattern, the weeding machine can be used in both the directions thus minimising labour required for weeding in between the plants.

For more details readers can contact Dr. A. Tajuddin, Professor (Farm Machinery)Agricultural Engineering College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Kumulur, Tiruchi: 621712, email: taj_amirbasha@yahoo.co.in, phone: 0431-2541218.

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