RASSA Journal of Science for Society

Conservation technologies (CT) arebeing practised inover3Mha area in SouthAsia. Laser leveller, zero-till seed drill, paddy drum seeder, bed planter, rice transplanter, rotavator, straw reaper, happy seeder, etc are being used as efficient farm machines under resource conservation technologies (RCT). Combine harvester which performs three unit farm operations in single pass has wide potentialfor its further utilization under RCT. The combine harvesters were introduced at the advent of Green Revolution in India and their numbers grew from 800 in 1971–1972 to over 40,000 at present. While performing unit operations, it leaves the field with anchored stubbles and loose straw in windrow over harvested crop which causes the inability of coservation agriculture machineries to operate in such field condition and in-situ straw managment. This can be solved with suitable engineering interventions. A double disc type furrow opener consumed less force as compared to single disc type and runner type furrow openers. It is also found that straw mulch condition increased 21.4 -26.7% force requirement. Based on small scale prototype of double-disc furrow opener with power tiller, a concept of add-on sowing attachment with straw distributor/SMS is planned which is more suitable option under RCT, as two other unit farm operations can be added with the combine harvester. This will help in increasing the farm profitability by reducing the cost of operations and more utilization of combine harvesters by making it more verstile farm equipment.