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To make agriculture remunerative, Punjab-based Jasvir Singh Gill, a district extension specialist in Ludhiana-based Punjab Agricultural University, has designed a seed drill mounted automatic sprayer, a patented machine for application of pre-emergence and pre-plant incorporation herbicides in crops.
Considering the total crop size of 3.5 million hectares of wheat in the state, the deployment of this patented technology not only helps in increasing the yield of the crop but would also result in saving Rs 140 crore annually in terms of labour cost.
Gill developed this automatic spraying attachment, which can be attached to a seed-cum-fertiliser drill, saving labour cost.
Traditionally, spraying is done manually after sowing. This adds to the input cost and affects yield. But in this technology, the spray pump has an automatic function as it applies pre-emergence herbicidal spray within 0.75 seconds of sowing of the seeds. The working is such that spray application starts automatically as seeding begins and stops when seeding stops.
The spray has an additional usage for application of post-emergence herbicides also. The process is cost effective as compared to manual spraying procedures.
Explaining about the product, Gill said, "I have developed this machine (spraying attachment) for application of pre-emergence and pre-plant incorporation herbicides in field & vegetable crops. Pre-emergence herbicides are usually applied at the earliest just after seeding crop and pre-plant incorporation herbicides are those which are applied just before planting and must be incorporated into the upper layer of soil immediately,otherwise due to their volatile nature,dissipate into atmoshphere. As per recommendations, the pre-emergence herbicides should be applied within two days after sowing but are more promising when applied immediately after sowing."
This machine is specially meant for the application of pre-emergence and pre-plant incorporation herbicides and additionally these machine can apply any type of agro-chemicals in field crops, vegetable crops. Development of this machine is need based as there is one category of agrochemicals that are meant for suppression of weeds (unwanted plants) from crops, these chemicals are popularly known as herbicides and weedicides, Gill said.
There is huge scope of its extension in Punjab. For example, if this technology is applied only in wheat crop on an area of 3.5 million hectares, it will save Rs 87.5 crore to Rs 140 crore annually, depending on the wage rate, he said. '
In addition, it also helps in increasing the yield as weeds are suppressed. Weeds take away nutrients, leaving less for the main crop.
Based on the innovativeness, technical soundness,utility, sustainability and socio-economic potential, the Punjab State Innovation Council has awarded Gill Rs 50,000.
