Agri tools for rice farming

Farm Guides
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As requested by Sri Chandra , I would like to dwelve upon some of the implements used in rice farming .

When the question of tilling comes I prefer a light weight power tiller instead of a tractor since tractor weighs much more than a tiller. Using tractors results in uneven land which requires much levelling. Besides, the weight of the tractor makes the land like a hard pan.
For rice transplanting we may use a marker. Drawing the marker length wise and breadth wise makes a grid like impression on the wet field. Rice saplings are planted at the intersections.
For direct seeding of rice, drum seeder is used. At a stretch it sows eight rows of seeds. The rice sprout shouldn’t be too long for drum seeder.
After 15 days of transplanting / direct seeding, weeding should be started. Under SRI method where the seedlings are sown in a grid pattern , use of cono weeder is beneficial. The main problem with cono weeder is clogging of clay on the wheels. Motorized cono weeders solve this problem to a certain extent.
For spraying of pest repellents , manual sprayer or power sprayer may be employed.
I prefer manual harvest to machine harvest. Harvester combines usually exert a lot of weight on the damp soil which makes the land harder. As an alternative we can use brush cutter type rice harvester or motorized reapermay be employed.
Hope this post gives a bird’s eye view on rice farming tools in general.

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Thanks Varaahan, looks a good start and aptly timed.

Would you be able to provide few youtube or other links about the mechanized power weeders.

I did not understand what you meant by marker for rice transplanting would you explain??

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I have given a Link for roller marker.

Normally I don’t use markers . Instead I use a Long rope of about 100 feet long with insulation tape marked at 10 or 12 inches interval.

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Here is a video for power weeder.

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Here is a video for using drum seeder.

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Some new technologies are available such as machine transplanters, HTP sprayers and Reapers for cutting the plant and leaving it to sun dry.

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Will the seed be in the surface and birds may pick it, or if it remains in surface will the plant come up from seed

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Hello ,
According to me lightweight power tillers are favored over tractors for tilling due to their ability to prevent soil compaction. For transplanting, markers are used to create grids in wet fields, facilitating the planting of rice saplings at intersections. Alternatively, drum seeders are employed for direct seeding, capable of sowing eight rows of seeds at once. Weeding typically begins around 15 days after transplanting or seeding, with cono weeders preferred under the SRI method, despite potential clay clogging issues that motorized versions help alleviate. Pest control involves manual or power sprayers for effective application of repellents. Harvesting methods focus on manual approaches or alternatives like brush cutter type harvesters to avoid soil compaction caused by heavier machinery.
Thanks