Journal of FARM SCIENCES, Vol 19, No 3 (2006)

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Energetics of Groundnut Production in Red Soil Under Bullock Farms in Raichur Region

V. Vijaykumar, M. Anantachar, T. Guruswamy, N. Kawale

Abstract


Groundnut is an important oilseed crop in India and is regarded as king of oilseeds. Presently there is no database available on energy requirements for groundnut production under bullock farms in Raichur region. Hence, a study was undertaken to work out energetics of traditional implement package commonly used by the farmers as well as improved implement package for groundnut production using energy equivalents with a view to identify the energy efficient implement package so that the farmers can grow this cash crop more economically. The results indicated that a total input energy of 10605.87 MJ/ha was required by the indigenous implement package commonly used by the farmers whereas the improved implement package required a total input energy of 9178.90 MJ/ha for groundnut production. Major energy consuming operations for groundnut production under bullock farms were seedbed preparation, irrigation and intercultivation. The use of improved implements package consisting of mould board plough + blade harrow combination for seedbed preparation, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University groundnut planter for sowing, universal hoe for intercultivation, groundnut digger for harvesting and power operated thresher for threshing of groundnut resulted in higher energy ratio of 4.18 and lower specific energy requirement of 9.27 MJ/Kg compared to traditional implement package consisting of desi plough + blade harrow, sowing behind desi plough, manually by khurpi, hand uprooting and hand picking respectively which resulted in lower energy ratio of 2.88 and higher specific energy reuirement of 13.46 MJ/Kg.

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