Design and development of a sugarcane cutter-planter with tillage discs
1995
Srivastava, A.C.
Sugarcane planting is a labor intensive and arduous operation. Mechanical methods have been developed with varying degrees of success. This article describes the development of a two-row sugarcane cutter-planter which consists of furrow opening discs, set cutting unit, fertilizer and chemical dispensing units, and a device for covering the sets with lightly pressed soil. The implement is mounted at the rear of a 35-hp tractor and is pto (power take-off) driven. The cutter-planter is equipped with discs and mini-moldboards. These produce smooth furrows and a good soil environment for the seed Whole canes are cut into pieces and are guided immediately into the furrow with no loss of cane moisture. Bud damage is minimal. Fertilizers and chemicals are applied satisfactorily. Immediately after this sequence of operations, loose soil is pushed into the furrow and is pressed lightly to conserve its moisture content. Due to inclusion of set cutting unit, the cutter-planter requires about 40% less energy and cost, as compared with the traditional method of planting sugarcane. Bud emergence is improved and quicker when the sets are planted with the cutter-planter. There is a significant increase in the yield per unit area.
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