Performance Evaluation of Spatially Modified No-Till Drill under Different Field Conditions

A major problem in sowing wheat crop under no-tillage condition in combine harvested paddy fields is the frequent choking of no-till drill machine due to long loose paddy straw lying in the windrows. Effective residue management requires both straw and chaff to be finely chopped and evenly spread over the entire cutting width of combine. Sowing performance of spatially modified no-till drill in combine harvested paddy field after one operation of straw chopper-cum-spreader, was studied. Spatially modified no-till drill with 3-member frame, 600 mm vertical clearance and 600 mm tine-to-tine spacingdid not have straw accumulation when operated in field pre-operated with straw chopper-cum-spreader. Sowing performance of the drill on the basis of furrow geometry and seed placement was similar to that of a conventional no-till drill operated in clean field. Residue as mulch reduced the germination of wheat seedlings, but subsequently the overall germination count was not affected by the mulch. The difference in plant height, effective tiller count, ear length, number of grains per ear head, thousand grain mass and grain yield were found to be non-significant for both the treatments at 5% level of significance.