1Division of Agricultural Engineering, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi-110012, India
2Regional Station, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Karnal, Haryana, India
Online published on 2 January, 2023.
Amongst principles of natural farming, no synthetic fertilisers, pesticides, herbicides, weedicides etc., minimal disturbance to soil and pest management through better agronomic practices & botanical extracts are focused apart from other areas. Considering the basic principles of natural farming, engineering intervention of developing Pusa walk-behind 450W mini electric prime mover is suitable for shallow tillage/secondary tillage (50mm) operation, planking, sowing in prepared field, ridge making in prepared field, weeding-cum-interculture (30-50 mm) in a crop having wide-row spacing (>45 cm) and such farm work. Based on energy consumption/ha, the command area of this mini electric prime mover is 1 ha for secondary tillage operation and 5 ha for weeding-cum-interculture operations in wide-row crops. This mini electric prime mover saves fossil fuel with increase in farm worker's efficiency with 80% reduction in drudgery. The average area covered with this mini electric prime mover for weeding-cum-interculture operation is 0.0394 and 0.0422 ha/h with sweep type tool and three-tine cultivator, respectively. This can save 1.61 kg CO2 per h when compared with 2.25 kW light weight power tiller run on kerosene for almost similar depth of operation. The vibration with the Pusa mini electric agri prime mover is very less as compared to fossil-based power weeder. The sound level is under permissible limit (58 db) so developed walk-behind Pusa mini electric agri prime mover is farmer friendly and this can be utilised in natural farming.
Mini electric prime mover, Electrimate source of power, Light farm operations, Natural farming
