1 Project Directorate for Cropping Systems Reseatch, Modipuram, Meerut.
2 Department of Farm Machinery and Power Engineering, G. B. Pant University of Agriculture & Techriology, Pantnagar-263 145.
3 S.V.B.P. University of Ag. & Tech., Modipuram, Meerut-250110.
Rice transplanting by self-propelled transplanter ensures timely operation, saving in cost and minimum human drudgery. A detailed economics of both manual and machine transplanting was worked out based on the study done at the G. B. Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, Pantnagarduring 2000. The self-propelled rice transplanter gave net profit of Rs 1146 and Rs 1319 per hectare when annual use of machine was 300h (one season) and 500 h (two seasons), respectively, over the manual transplanting. The field capacity, field efficiency and fuel consumption of the transplanter was 0.16 ha/h, 60.02% and 2.87 l/ha, respectively. Pay back period for investment on the transplanter was 10.23 years and 1 year when annual area covered was 20 and 80 ha, respectively. The break even area of coverage by transplanter should be more than 13.14 hectare peryear to make the machine transplanting profitable in comparison to the manual method of transplanting.
