AbstractsEngineering

Evaluation of Three Animal Powered Weeding Implements in Cotton Based Systems of the Zambezi Valley in Zimbabwe

by Sipho Sibanda




Institution: Institute for Agricultural Engineering
Department: Mechanisation
Degree: Master's Degree
Year: 2005
Keywords: weeding animal powered implements weeding implements mould board ploughs cultivators
Posted: 08/23/2017
Record ID: 2150676
Full text PDF: http://ir.uz.ac.zw/jspui/handle/10646/882


Abstract

The use of winter followed by spring ploughing (wp + sp) resulted in reduced subsequent, draft force requirements, supplementary hand weeding requirements and weed density. At the same time wp + sp increased work rates, field efficiency, soil moisture retention levels throughout the season. When practised, it resulted in a better crop stand and increased cotton yield by 33% compared to spring ploughing only. There was no significant difference between using the open plough furrow planting technique and the ripper tine for crop establishment for the various parameters looked at. The use of an OC for weed control resulted in significantly (P<0.001) more draft force requirements than the mould board plough with mould board (OP+D) or without (OP-D). The use of OC in some instances resulted in draft capabilities greater than 12% of the body weight of draft animals, which is considered to be higher than what a span of oxen can comfortably pull for a working day. However, it was noted that the OC had significantly (P<0.001) higher field efficiency of more than 90% compared to OP+D and OP-D of less than 70%. The use of OP + D resulted in significantly (P<0.001) higher weeding efficiency and soil moisture retention at 6 and 9 weeks after crop emergence (wace) while the OC gave the least.