Development and Performance Evaluation of Tractor-Operated Sugarcane Single Bud Sett Cutter Planter for Resource Conservation

A tractor-operated sugarcane single bud sett cutter planter was designed and developed at the ICAR-Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research in Lucknow for precision and resource conservation during sugarcane plantation. This planter has a serrated circular blade for cutting complete canes into single bud setts, as well as furrow openers, fertilizer measuring device, insecticide tank, soil-covering shovels, and tamping roller. Developed planter attached to the tractor via three-point linkage and operated by the PTO shaft. Field studies conducted on silty loam soil at the IISR farm showed that the planter could produce setts averaging 98 mm in length and 50 g in weight, with a cutting efficiency of 98% and minimal bud damage 1.56%. The planter had a cutting capacity of 3,600 setts per hour, high sett quality index of 93.08%, field capacity of 0.144 ha/h, and field efficiency of 64%. The average spacing between single bud setts during field operation was 205–228 mm, with miss index of 8.2–10.2% and seed rate of 2540–2670 kg/ha. Compared with conventional methods, the operational costs were 68% cheaper, at ₹15,800 per hectare. Other performance indicators were multiple index of 16.67–20.46%, quality of feed index of 69.34–73.99%, and precision coefficient of 25.75–27.5%. Germination tests revealed that two bud setts had a minimal advantage 1–2% higher, showing that single bud setts perform similarly under ideal conditions. This planter provides a cost-effective, energy-efficient, and precise alternative for sugarcane planting, with significant benefits for resource conservation and farm output.