Acceptability of the multicrop seeder-fertilizer applicator

An animal-drawn multicrop seeder with fertilizer applicator was developed. The implement opens furrows and drops and covers seed and fertilizer simultaneously in just one operation. It was designed for the establishment of mungbean, soybean, corn, and upland rice. The farm implement attained average field capacities of 0.71, 0.55 and 0.86 ha/day for corn, peanut, and mungbean, respectively. Field capacities varied depending on the operators' skill and animal spacing. Average seeding rates were 19.78, 105.11, and 17.55 kg/ha for corn, peanut, and mungbean, respectively. These figures were considered within the recommended rates of seeding (16-20 kg/ha for corn, 100-115 kg/ha for peanut, and 16-18 kg/ha for mungbean). Mean frequency of loading was 23.73 times/ha for corn, 54.50 times/ha for peanut, and 8.25 times/ha for mungbean. For corn, the number of germinated seeds sown by the implement ranged from 4-9 plants/linear meter with a mean of 5.60. Ninety percent of the sample furrows was within the recommended range of 4-8 plants/linear meter. Field germination for peanut revealed a mean of 15.5 plants/linear meter. Field germination for mungbean was 17.13 plants/linear meter. The farmer-cooperators cited labor-saving in planting and fertilizer application, versatility of the implement to plant various crops, and shorter time spent for crop establishment as the prominent advantages of the implement. Some of the disadvantages cited were difficulty in handling and maintaining the implement during planting, frequent machine checking, and lack of financing. Difficulty in handling and maintaining the implement could be minimized as farmers gain skill on the method of operation. Machine could only be checked after turning at headlands. General assessment on the implement of cooperator-respondents of the survey showed 100 percent acceptability. Farmers' acceptance was attributed to the versatility of the machine, its high field performance, and advantage over the traditional practice of planting