Impact of field preparation equipment on productivity of Rice

Field preparation is considered to be pre-requisite for the successful cultivation of rice. Three different field preparation treatments consisting of farmer’s practice (FP) as preparing field through cultivator (3 pass) and then planking (CP), second was technical option 1 (TO1) as preparing field through cultivator (1 pass) and then rotavator (1 pass) (CR) and third was technical option 2 (TO2) as preparing field through rotavator (1 pass) (R) were used to assess the puddling performance on productivity of rice. Depth of puddling was 9.8, 12.8 and 11.9 cm in these treatments, respectively. Transplanting of rice was done by seasonal daily labourer in each plot. Cost of puddling was Rs 3100/, Rs 2100/ and Rs 1100/ ha for CP, CR and R, respectively. The grain yield for FP, TO1 and TO2, treatments was found to be 33.9, 36.8 and 34.4 q/ha, respectively. The average grain yield was observed as slightly higher (36.8 q/ha) in TO2 i.e., puddling rice field by cultivator (1 pass) & then rotavator (1 pass) among other treatments of puddling. The benefit cost ratio (B:C ratio) was also recorded highest 2.00 in TO2 i.e., puddling by cultivator (1 pass) & then rotavator (1 pass) (CR).