Investigation on Selective Mechanization for Wet Season Rice Cultivation in Bangladesh

in Bangladesh AKM Saiful Islam*, Md Tariqul Islam, Md Shakilur Rahman, Md Abdur Rahman, Youngjung Kim Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI), Gazipur, Bangladesh Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU), Mymensingh, Bangladesh Received: May 23rd, 2016; Revised: August 22nd, 2016; Accepted: October 4th, 2016 Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the profitability of four selective mechanization systems in rice cultivation. Methods: Field experiments were conducted in the farmers’ field during the wet season (June to November) of 2015 in Bangladesh. Mechanization systems were applied to evaluate four different selective levels (treatment) in eleven consequent operations. Seedlings were raised in a traditional seedbed and trays for manual and mechanical transplanting, respectively. Land preparation, irrigation, fertilizer, pesticide, carrying, and threshing and cleaning operations were performed using the same method in all the experimental plots. The mechanical options in the transplanting, weeding, and harvesting operations were changed. The mechanization systems were S1 = hand transplanting + hand weeding + harvesting by sickle, S2 = mechanical transplanting + Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) weeder + reaper, S3 = mechanical transplanting + BRRI power weeder + reaper, and S4 = mechanical transplanting + herbicide + reaper. This experiment was performed in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Power tiller, rice transplanter, BRRI weeder, BRRI power weeder, self-propelled reaper, BRRI open drum thresher, and BRRI winnower were used in the respective operations. Accordingly, the techno-economic performances of the different technologies were calculated and compared with those of the traditional system. Results: The mechanically transplanted plot produced 6-10% more yield than the hand transplanted plot because of the use of tender-aged seedlings. Mechanical transplanting reduced 61% labor and 18% cost compared to manual transplanting. The BRRI weeder, BRRI power weeder, and herbicide application reduced 74, 91, and 98% labor, respectively. The latter also saved 72, 63, and 82% cost, respectively, compared to hand weeding. Herbicide application reduced the substantial amount of labor and cost in the weeding operation. Mechanical harvesting also saved 96% labor and 72% cost compared to the traditional method of harvesting using sickle. Selective mechanization saved 15-17% input cost compared to the traditional method of rice cultivation. Conclusions: Mechanical transplanting with the safe use of herbicide and harvesting by reaper is the most costand labor-saving operation. The method might be the recommended set of selective mechanization for enhancing productivity.