Comparative Performance of Tillage Implements for Seed-Bed Preparation of Wheat Crop in Chhattisgarh State

In general about 30 to 35 percent of the total energy required for crop production is utilized for tillage operations. The state of Chhattisgarh is well dominated by Rice cultivation. The clods formations in rice field just after harvesting demands for more number of tillage operations by conventional implements. In addition, the rice stubble after combine harvesting remain intact and create problem in subsequent sowing operation of wheat. A tractor mounted rotavator holds promise for overcoming these problems. Rotavator has been considered as one of the equipment which saves time and cost of operation as compared to tillage by cultivator. In this study twelve tillage implement treatment (cultivator, rotavator with different blades) combinations were used for wheat land preparation and evaluated with respect to time, fuel consumption, and energy use and energy output-input ratio. The soil and crop parameters were also recorded. Combining the factors of energy analysis i.e. energy output-input ratio and specific energy, economic analysis i.e. cost of operation and yield under different treatments it can be said that treatments T₁, and T₃ are one of the energy efficient and cost effective conservation tillage machinery system.