Abstract

Evaluate the Performance of Self-Propelled Rice Transplanter and Study the Impacts on Rice Cultivation

Author(s): Asnakew Deres*, Mitsuhiko Katahira

Rice is cultivated via either mechanical transplanting or direct seeding methods worldwide. It is the main staple food in Japan and its production is highly mechanized. Our investigation focused on evaluating the performance of mechanical transplanting as well as surveying yield and yield components. The study was conducted at the Yamagata University Faculty of Agriculture at the Takasaka Farm. A Kubota (NSU-87) transplanter with ‘Heanuki’ rice seedlings was used. We evaluated the performance of the transplanter by the ratio of the effective field capacity (hah-1) to the theoretical field capacity (hah-1). The average field capacity and field efficiency of the eight rows of self-propelled paddy transplanter was 0.184 ha/h and 76.6%, respectively, with an area of 0.024 ha at an average operating speed of 1 km/h. The average planting depth (30.36 mm), number of seedlings per hill (3.66), number of seedlings per square meter (102.16) and hill-to-hill distance (15.09 cm) were surveyed and measured. The average grain yield (5.5 tons/ha) was measured. The average values of (411.2) panicles per square meter, (68.4) grains per panicle, (89.6) percent of filled grains and (22.25) 1,000-grain weight were obtained. Kubota type (NSU-87) transplanter was satisfactory, at the parameters of fieldwork capacity, fieldwork accuracy, grain yield and yield components. In addition, it has made a great contribution to rice production.