Presentation at the Workshop on Crop Production Equipment for the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) Presenter: Dr. V. K.Ravichandran: TNAU, India Title: TNAU Experiences with Weeder Design Date: November 1, 2014 Venue: ACISAI, Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand

1. TNAU EXPERIENCES WITH
WEEDER DESIGN
Dr.V.K.Ravichandran,
Professor (Agronomy)
(MDPU-IAMWARM Project)
SRI EQUIPMENT WORKSHOP 01.11.2014

2. TN-IAMWARM Project is key for SRI
Outreach in TN at Massive mode…
Present Scenario
Registered Ayacut 10145 ha.
Mean annual rainfall is 804.49 mm.
Ground water potential:(based on
2009 assessment) 281.6 m.cu.m
Gross extraction of ground water
301.6 m.cu.m
Negative water balance of 20
m.cu.m
Categorization as “over exploited.
49% of the basin area is covered
with paddy and 19% of area with
sugarcane.

3. SRI Weeders Used in our
project
Cono Weeder -Clay Soil Rotary Weeder – Loamy Soil
Drum Weeder – Alluvial clay Motorized Weeder

4. DRUM TYPE
WEEDER

5. CONO
WEEDER

6. VIDEO

8. SINGLE ROW FINGER TYPE ROTARY
WEEDER

10. TWO ROW FINGER TYPE ROTARY
WEEDER

11. DRUM WEEDER- A FARMER
INNOVATION
Mr. V.Durai, Varaghanadhi sub basin , he
got Farmers Innovation Award 2012 from

12. Farmer innovation is in the farmers
Hand
VIDEO

13. Weeder – Petrol Operated Machine

14. Recent Mechanized Cono Weeder
• Cost - $ 800
• Coverage - 2
Ha/Day
• Petrol Driven

15. Weeder Usage in SRI
 First weeder use at 10 days
after Transplanting
 Subsequent at 7-10 days
interval (3-4 times)
 Continue up to 45 days
Rotary Weeder – Loamy Soil Drum Weeder – Alluvial clay
Cono Weeder –Clay Soil

16. Benefits of Weeder
 Effective weed control at early
stage
 In situ incorporation enhances
soil fertility
 Frequent disturbance to soil
leads aerobic environment in
rhizosphere which results in
increased crop growth

17. Influence of Root growth by cono
weeding

18. SRI
Conventional
Better functional root system
Non lodging even during aberrant weather
• Root pruning leads to more
functional roots and
increased root volume
• Enhanced uptake of applied
nutrients favours increased
tillering
• Better anchorage – non
lodging

19. SRI Equipments supplied through IAMWARM
Year
SRI WEEDER
Total
SRI Marker
TNAU DOA TNAU DOA
2007-08 5725 912 6637 - 912
2008-09 12905 1934 14839 517 1934
2009-10 4866 4485 9351 357 4485
2010-11 2674 21946 24620 533 21946
2011-12 2100 19977 19977 - 19977
2012-13 - 10910 10910 - 10910
2013-14 - 1250 1250 - 1250
Total 30944 61414 87584 1407 61414

20. Our Weeder were taken for adoption by African
Countries and refinement to fabricate their model

22. Thank