Drum seeding for enhanced profitability of paddy cultivation in Kuttanad region of Kerala

Abstract

Broadcasting is the most common practice followed by the farmers of Kuttanad region of Kerala for sowing paddy due to the shortage and high cost of labour and lack of suitable machinery for transplanting. But it necessitates higher quantity of seed (120-125 kg ha-1) and the resultant higher plant population leads to increased susceptibility to pests and diseases. Drum seeder for wet seeding (line sowing) as an effective option for overcoming these disadvantages was tested in comparison with the traditional broadcasting. Field trials were conducted in Muttar panchayath of Kuttand region using paddy variety Uma during the Puncha (November-March) seasons of three years from 2011 to 2014. The broadcasted plots had 170-190 hills sq.m-1 with less (492-566) number of productive tillers resulting in a grain yield of 5679 kg ha-1 whereas the drum seeded plots had only 36 hills sq.m-1 but with higher (630-868) number of productive tillers yielding 6470 kg ha-1. The average cost of cultivation using drum seeder was less (Rs. 41240 ha-1) compared to that of broadcasting (Rs. 47343) with a B:C ratio of 2.82 and 2.16, respectively. Drum seeding has advantages like low seed cost, optimum plant population, lesser use of fertilizer and plant protection chemicals, less labour requirement, and its operation does not require any skill thus rendering it an economically and technologically viable practice for adoption in paddy cultivation.