DEVELOPMENT OF BACK PACK BATTERY OPERATED MANUAL FERTILIZER SPOT APPLICATOR CALIBRATION OF DIRECT 8- ROW PADDY DRUM SEEDER

Abstract: This paper presents the development, calibration, and performance evaluation of two agricultural implements: a battery-operated backpack manual fertilizer spot applicator and an 8-row paddy drum seeder. The fertilizer applicator was designed for the precise, localized placement of granular fertilizers in the root zone of crops like cotton, aiming to reduce wastage and environmental loss. It features a cell-feed metering mechanism powered by a 12V DC system, allowing for adjustable application rates (16-44 g) based on motor speed (25-75 rpm). Field evaluation showed an effective field capacity of 0.03 ha/hr and 70% field efficiency. Concurrently, the direct paddy drum seeder was calibrated for both dry and pre-germinated seeds. The average seed rates were determined to be 28.21 kg/ha for dry seeds and 33.06 kg/ha for pre-germinated seeds, promoting a viable alternative to labor-intensive transplanting. This work demonstrates the potential of low cost, precision mechanization to enhance input use efficiency for smallholder farmers.