Economic analysis of tractor powered manure pulverizer cum applicator over traditional manure application practices

A well-managed manure is a valuable resource in providing nutrients for crop production. Farmers usually follow manual manure application practices which involves lot of drudgery and physical stress to pulverize as well as to apply in field. Also traditional practices results in a reduced field capacity along with higher cost of application. So there is a need to create a medium between the farmers and manure application practices by introducing manure pulverizers and applicators. Hence a study was undertaken to analyze the economic impact of a tractor powered manure pulverizer cum applicator over traditional practices.

A manure pulverizer cum applicator helps in managing the manure by simultaneous pulverization and application in the field as basal application. On the other hand traditional practices involve manual dumping, clearing of lumps and spreading them in the field which require more than 3 labours to cover an acre in a day. Cost incurred with both manual and mechanical practices were calculated in terms of rupees per hour and rupees per hectare of operation.

The actual field capacity and efficiency of manure pulverizer cum applicator was observed to be 0.311 ha h⁻¹ and 86.5% at a forward speed of 2.0 km/h⁻¹. The cost of manure pulverizer cum applicator alone was Rs. 64,000. Cost of operation of manure pulverizer cum applicator as an attachment to tractor was found to be 1943.5 Rs ha⁻¹. Cost of manual manure application followed by manure pulverization was noted as 4662.2 Rs ha⁻¹. Saving in cost of operation was more than Rs. 2700 with tractor operated manure pulverizer cum applicator over manual application practices. The benefit-cost ratio of the developed machine was 1.4: 1.