Performance Evaluation of Mini Tractor Operated Rotary Weeder Cum Fertilizer Drill

Developed rotary weeder cum fertilizer drill was operated by the mini-tractor using threepoint linkage, it performs both the operations of intercultivation and fertilizer application at a time.Experiments were conducted in field by varying forward speed ranged 1.8-2.0kmh -1 , 2.5-2.7 kmh -1 and 3.0-3.2km h -1 .Calibration of the machine was conducted at laboratory condition and at field condition.A 42.67 % more fertilizer was dropped at field calibration on comparing with that of fertilizer dropped at laboratory calibration.The highest effective field capacity of developed machine was found out as 304×10 -3 hah -1 at the forward speed of 3.0-3.2km h -1 .The highest field efficiency, highest weeding efficiency and lowest plant damage of developed machine were obtained at 1.8-2.0km h - 1 forward speed of operation.The highest field efficiency, highest weeding efficiency and lowest plant damage of developed machine obtained were 86 %, 91.23 % and 3.62 % respectively.The lowest fuel consumption of developed machine was obtained as 1.30 lh -1 at 1.8-2.0km h -1 forward speed. K e y w o r d s