3. JUTE- PADDY WEEDER (AMPHIBIOUS WEEDER) FOR BOTH UPLAND AND LOWLAND CONDITION

For versatile use of CRIJAF nail weeder, apart from its use in upland at field capacity (FC), we have make provisions to attach two rotor cones and one boat for its operation in transplanted rice field. This is a combined weeder suitable for composite weed control in wide moisture regime starting from field capacity (FC on upland) to water logged soil in transplanted rice field. It operates both under broadcast or line sown crop. t controls weeds at very early stage, 4-5 days after emergence or 10 days after rice transplanting. Under broadcast condition, simultaneous weeding, thinning , line arrangement, soil aeration and soil mulching ( for moisture conservation) can be done operating the tool keeping 4 inches gaps in between successive runs (jute, sesame, mustard etc). We have kept provisions for attaching different types of scrappers or tines behind CRIJAF nail weeder, for its wide application ( established weed control/ line sowing). It is operated in fibre crops, cereals,pulses, oil-seeds, vegetable and floriculture and saves around 90 man days/ha. The central nail (8 mm dia.) of the tool can be removed and operated over rows (4 inches high) to control weeds within rows. To operate the tool in transplanted rice , the front wheels and the nail assembly can be opened and it should be replaced by a boat in front and two rotor cones can be attached to the main frame with holders. The tool can be operated in transplanted rice science 10 DAT for composite weed control, mixing of fertilisers, stirring of muds to escape undesirable gases from rice field. It saves 60-70 man days per ha. Thus this two in one tool can be utilised round the year by small and marginal farmers in their crop husbandry.
A.K. Ghorai. Retired Principal Scientist, ICAR-CRIJAF, Barrcakpore, Kolkata, WB, India Phone : *9810946626 Email: [e-mail]
Reference:
Ghorai.A.K. (2023).Agricultural weeder with nail assembly for weed control, soil moisture conservation, soil aeration and increasing crop productivity.Current science, 124 (5):635-640.