Development and Application of a Tractor-Operated Side Dispensing Type Farmyard Manure Applicator for Organic Fertilizer Application in Vineyards

Abstract

Chemical fertilizer is not only very hazardous to crops but also to human health and is a critical environmental pollutant. In vineyards, a huge amount of chemical fertilizer was applied to get higher yield. However, the application of farmyard manure (FYM) in vineyards can be the best possible way to enhance the yield and sustain good soil health. FYM application is the most drudgery prone operation in grapes cultivation, mostly done manually. Therefore, an automated solution was developed and assessed for the purpose of dispensing FYM alongside the plant roots on both sides consistently. The FYM applicator consisted of a mixing chamber, a hydraulic motor with a flow control valve, a pair of augurs for dispensing FYM and a conveyor-type side dispensing unit. The FYM applicator is operated with a hydraulic motor. The amount of FYM required can be controlled with the flow control valve as well as with the tractor engine speed. The FYM applicator has a width of 2.3–2.6 m to match the vineyard row spacing of 2.5–3.0 m. Dunnett test indicated that the rate of FYM application significantly (p < 0.05) changes with tractor engine speed, while physical properties vary with the material used for fabrication of the hopper. The equipment can deliver FYM at the rate of 7.8 kg/min from each outlet at 1000 rpm of the tractor engine speed, as per recommended dose. The field capacity and field efficiency of the developed FYM applicator are found to be 0.2 ha/h and 71%, respectively. This technology saves the cost of operation, labour and time by 88, 98 and 80%, respectively, with the added advantage of uniform FYM application in the vineyards.