Agriculture Expert: Changing Scenario of Agricultural Machinery and Implements

In contemporary times, there is a wide range of advanced farm machinery and technologies that are utilized across various farming activities. These practices encompass numerous stages of crop production, including tillage, sowing, and planting, cultivation, the administration and dispersal of fertilizers, pest management, harvesting, irrigation, drainage, transportation, storage, as well as the handling of old crop residues.

Throughout history, animals have been the primary source of energy for agriculture. As time progressed, steam power gradually replaced this method, and later, gas-powered tractors took over. Eventually, diesel engines became the norm. While the use of agricultural machinery reduced the need for manual labour in developed nations, it also resulted in a consistent increase in agricultural production.

The utilization of technology in agriculture has revolutionized the production and quality of crops. Traditional farming methods, which require laborious and time-consuming manual labour, have become obsolete with the advent of modern farm machinery. While tractors were once considered a technological marvel in the agricultural sector, they are now outdated.

The farming industry has benefited greatly from the use of advanced farm machinery, such as the combine harvester, rotary tiller, plough, tractor trailer, power harrow, leveller, ripper machine, and disc harrow, which are essential and widely used. The following are some of the most recent farm machineries and their applications in farming.

Automatic Seed Fertilizer Drill Farm Machine

The Automatic Seed Fertilizer Drill is an ideal device for sowing various seeds such as wheat, groundnut, soybean, and Bengal gram. Its usage presents numerous benefits. Firstly, it enables the maintenance of a consistent seed sowing distance. Additionally, it allows for direct sowing after paddy harvesting without any seed preparation. This equipment saves on the amount of working time, diesel and tractors needed, as well as labour costs. Furthermore, it leads to higher crop yield and allows for the simultaneous sowing of multiple crops.

Combine Harvester Farm Machinery

A combine, also referred to as a combine harvester, is a complex agricultural machine designed to perform four separate tasks involved in harvesting crops, namely cutting, threshing, gathering, and sorting. This machine can harvest a variety of crops such as wheat, rice, oats, rye, barley, maize (corn), sorghum, soybeans, flax (linseed), sunflower, and rapeseed.

After separating the crops, the remaining stubble is left on the field, consisting of the stems and remaining leaves of the crop, which have limited nutrients. The straw can either be chopped and spread on the field for limited feeding, or the return can be ploughed for cattle. Combine harvesters have revolutionized agriculture by significantly reducing the number of people required to engage in farming, making them one of the most economically labour-saving inventions.

Plough

The plough is an agricultural tool that is typically affixed to a tractor and used to efficiently plough the land. Its primary purpose is to prepare the soil for planting during the sowing season. This versatile piece of machinery can either transform raw land into farmland or ready existing farmland for seeding. While oxen and horses were traditionally used to pull ploughs, modern farms rely on tractors to do the job.

A plough may feature a frame made of wood, iron, or steel, which is equipped with a blade designed to cut and loosen the soil. Various types of ploughs, such as moulded-board ploughs, reversible ploughs, and disc ploughs, enable farmers to convert soil into nutrient-rich seedbeds for optimal plant growth.

Rotavator

A rotavator, also known as a rotary tiller, is a multipurpose tillage tool that utilizes a set of blades to turn over the soil. It is a tractor-mounted device that can prepare the seed bed on one or both sides, making it ideal for clearing and blending debris from crops such as wheat, maize, sugarcane, and other similar plants.

This process improves the overall health of the soil while also providing a means to save time, cost, and fuel. Due to its uncomplicated design and superior efficiency as a harvesting equipment, the usage of rotary tillers has seen a significant increase in agricultural operations.

Harrow

Harrow is a crucial agricultural tool employed by farmers for soil preparation purposes. Its versatile functionality encompasses an array of tasks ranging from the smoothing of heavy soil to the removal of dead grass, the creation of seed beds, and the aeration of roots.

Furthermore, harrow is an efficient and expeditious means of breaking up soil cover, which can facilitate the creation of a suitable seed bed. Prior to seeding, mowing is an essential soil management practice that serves to disintegrate surface soil crusts, enhance soil texture and uniformity, hinder weed growth, and eliminate pre-existing weeds.

Leveler

The utilization of tractor attachments can result in a more even and polished soil surface, which in turn fosters a humid atmosphere for crops to thrive in and cuts down on the amount of fertilizers, seeds, chemicals, and fuel required. This improvement permits farmers to enhance water distribution and decrease weed growth by up to 40%. Land leveling is a contemporary method that involves the grading and smoothing of land.

In Conclusion

Modern agricultural machinery and technology have revolutionized the agricultural process, from land preparation to harvesting. These advancements have transformed agriculture from an art to a science, to increase productivity, efficiency, and sustainability. With cutting-edge tools and techniques, farmers are able to accomplish a multitude of tasks, leading to better outcomes and a more sustainable agricultural industry.

Sourced Author:-

Dr. Gurjot Kaur and Dr. Ashish Santosh Murai

ICAR- Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute, Zone-1, Ludhiana. 

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