agricultural research and development institute

Ngetta Zonal

Agricultural Research and Development Institute CATALOGUE FOR RICE LABOUR SAVING TECHNOLOGIES

Ngetta Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute

Prelim Pages

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© 2017 Ngetta Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute (NGEZARDI) NARO encourages institutions and organizations to translate, reproduce or adopt this publication. Please send information on the translation, reproduction and adaptation of this publication to: The Director of Research Ngetta Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute (NGEZARDI) P.O Box 52, Lira Tel: 0473427748 / 0473660052 Email: [email protected]


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Content Page Unit One:

Land Preparation Methods ...................................................................... 1 Unit Two:

Cleaning Rice Seeds ................................................................................. 6 Unit Three: Nursery Bed Management ....................................................................... 10 Unit Four: Transplanting For Low Land And Dry Planting For Upland .................. 13 Unit Five: Weed Management ................................................................................. 24 Unit Six: Using Herbicide ........................................................................................ 28 Unit Seven: Fertilizer application ................................................................................ 32 Unit Eight: Harvesting ............................................................................................... 34 Unit Nine: Drying Rice .............................................................................................. 36 Unit Ten: Threshing ................................................................................................. 38 Unit Eleven: Milling ..................................................................................................... 41


Prelim Pages

IV

Foreword The challenge of addressing labour constraints in rural households has become even more urgent in many countries in sub-Saharan Africa. The past decade has seen a significant reduction in the availability of farm power. Government operated tractor hire schemes have floundered under the impact of structural adjustment and in many areas the stock of draught animals has been decimated by disease and insurgencies. The continued availability of sufficient farm power, especially ‘human muscle power’, is further depleted by a lack of interest in farming among the youth, who are seeking alternative employment in urban areas. The productivity of the remaining labour-force is compromised by a lack of physical energy and poor quality tools. A wide range of technology options could help address some of the labour constraints in rice production: the promotion of hydro power tiller in paddy land, power tillers in upland, use of improved nurseries, use of rice transplanting machines, conical weeders, herbicides and soil cover would reduce the pressure from weeds. This manual is for use by farmers and key stakeholders to guide them on how to use these technologies and the costs involved. Production of this manual was funded by Agricultural Technology Agribusiness and Advisory Services (ATAAS) Project, through the Government of Uganda funded by the World Bank. We also acknowledge the contribution of the rice farmers whom we interviewed in districts in the northern agro-ecological zone, Butaleja and Tororo Districts.


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Acknowledgement Financial support for this manual comes from the Agricultural Technology and Agribusiness Advisory Service programme (ATAAS) a World Bank funded project and Government of Uganda (GoU). The technical input of several individuals and institutions are gratefully acknowledged. In particular the Agricultural Engineering Appropriate Technology Research center (AEATREC) of NARO played a major role in developing labour saving equipment, Tilda (U) ltd and other companies for giving valuable information. The contribution of Ebong Andrew, Tina Christine, Acipa Alexandrina, Evelyn Kasamba, Mukyala Cissy, Simon Epiku and Samson Ebong are gratefully acknowledged. This publication was developed by the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO)

Written and edited: Otim Godfrey Anyoni, Ebong Andrew IEC Materials Consultant and Illustrator: Kasamba Salim Design and layout: Real Concepts Ltd


Unit One: Land Preparation Methods

1

LAND PREPARATION METHODS

Mechanical Methods for Paddy Land Hydro power tiller

Figure 1.1: A picture of a hydro power tiller

Land preparation of rice fields with deep mud and/or excessive water is a slow and costly operation when using traditional tillage equipment as the equipment tends to get bogged down in these conditions.

Figure 1.2: A farmer using a hydro power tiller



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The hydro power tiller was designed to overcome these problems. Under soft and average field conditions, the hydro power tiller has a field capacity of 2ha/day. As a result of strong puddling action of the rotor, only 2 to 3 passes to accomplish land preparation are needed; whereas traditional tillage equipment requires 5 to 8 passes. The cost of buying this machine UGX 15,300,000 (exchange rate of 1$ to UGX 3,400), September 2016. COST COMPARISON OF USING HYDRO POWER TILLER ON OWNERSHIP BASIS FOR LAND PREPARATION VERSUS MANUAL LAND PREPARATION. MANUAL LAND PREPARATION Items/activity

Number of operation/ha

MECHANICAL LAND PREPARATION

Unit cost/ Sub Total operation cost (UGX)

Unit cost/ Number of operation operation/ha (UGX)

Sub total

Machine Depreciation

-

-

2

8,625

17,250

First ploughing

1

200,000

200,000

1

-

-

Second Ploughing

1

150,000

150,000

1

-

-

Third Ploughing

1

100,000

100,000

Labour wage

-

-

-

2

10,000

20,000

Repair/maintenance cost (30% of fuel cost used)

-

-

2

5265

10,530

Fuel

-

-

2

17,550

35,100

Oil (oil cost is covered in the repair and maintenance cost)

-

-

-

-

Land levelling

1

2

10,000

20,000

Total Cost

-

50,000

50,000 500,000

102,880

Data source: Tororo rice farmers and Doho rice scheme 2017.

NOTE Hydro power tiller works well in water soaked fields. It cannot be used in virgin land -land that has not been used before; has tree stumps, thick bush, rocky fields. Hydro power tiller will need to be transported from one field to another. Owning hydro power tiller reduces land preparation cost by 80%.



COST COMPARISON OF USING HYDRO POWER TILLER ON HIRING BASIS FOR LAND PREPARATION VERSUS MANUAL LAND PREPARATION MECHANICAL LAND PREPARATION MANUAL LAND PREPARATION Number Unit cost/ Sub Unit cost/ Number of of Items/activity operation Total operation/ Sub total operation/ha operation (UGX) cost ha (UGX) /ha Machine Depreciation First ploughing

1

200,000

200,000

1

150,000

150,000

Second Ploughing

1

150,000

150,000

1

150,000

150,000

Third Ploughing

1

100,000

100,000

-

Labour wage

-

-

Repair cost

-

-

-

Fuel

-

-

-

Oil

-

-

-

Land levelling

1

50,000

50,000

1

50,000

50,000

Transport

-

-

5,000

-

Total Cost

500,000

350,000


Advantages of using Hydro power tiller It cuts the cost of land preparation from UGX 500,000/ha to UGX 350,000/ha (30% of land preparation cost) on current hiring cost and UGX 500,000/ha to UGX 196,380 (60.7%) on ownership basis. Saves time for land preparation by 33% Fast and efficient (1–2 ha per day), uses less labour and ensures timely planting. Reduces stress, work load, and health risks. Ensures uniform crop establishment and maturity. Seedlings recover fast, tiller vigorously, and mature uniformly. It is able to work in deep mud and excessive water paddies

How to use the Hydro Power tiller machine Refer to the operational manual that comes with the machine.

Limitation It will only work in water saturated paddy fields Requires separate mode of transportation when transferring from one field to another Requires training &skills in operation and maintenance Ngetta Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute

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4

Manual land Preparation for rice growing

Figure 1.3: A farmer digging

It costs 50 man days to do first weeding at a cost of UGX 5,000/man-day equivalent to UGX 250,000/ha. Second weeding takes 20man-days/ha equivalent to UGX 100,000/ha. Therefore, land preparation may cost approximately 500,000, twice the cost of weeding.

Mechanical methods for upland land preparation The walking tractor and its implements for land preparation

Figure 1.4: Picture of a walking tractor



5

How it works STEPS

ILLUSTRATIONS

Step 1 Undergo proper training with an instructor

Step 2 Choose the required implement

Step 3 Attach the implement to the tractor with the connector

Step 4 Follow instructions in the manual that comes with the machine


Unit Two: Seed preparation for sowing

6

2

CLEANING RICE SEEDS

1. Manual cleaning of rice seeds Seed preparation for sowing involves the following steps

Step 1: Remove the rice chaff and unfilled grains by direction of wind blow.

Step 2: Pour the seeds and Wash the seeds with clean water 3-4 times to allow the chaff from the bottom to float.

Step 3: Remove the floating empty seeds or chaff.

Step 4: Pour all the water and retain filled seeds only.



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2. Mechanical methods of seed cleaning The manual seed cleaner (Blower) Feeding hopper

Blowing unit Handle Chaff outlet Adjustable valve Unclean rice

Adjustable unit Outlet for clean rice

Figure 1.1: Picture showing basic parts of a blower

This is a manual machine used for cleaning rice after threshing. It blows impurities out of the threshed rice. What this blower does can be compared to manual winnowing.

How the seed cleaner (blower) works STEPS

ILLUSTRATIONS

Step 1: Collect the threshed rice in a single place to ease feeding of the machine.

Step 2: Close the adjustable valve that is located inside, at the bottom of the feeding hopper.



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Step 3: Load the rice into the feeding hopper.

Step 4: Start the blower by continuously rotating the handle of the blowing unit clockwise.

Step 5: Open the adjustment unit slowly to release rice towards the fan for blowing. Let the rice flow down slowly.

Step 6: Collect the clean rice from the clean rice outlet. However, keep monitoring the quality of output and controlling the valves appropriately.



9

Advantages of the blower It is portable due to its light weight It saves time compared to manual winnowing

Limitations of the blower Lacks wheels to ease transportation from one garden to the other

Manual method of cleaning threshed rice Winnowing rice manually is labour intensive and time consuming. Besides, it is gender insensitive in some communities as the activity is left for women. The practice is also limited to small scale production of rice.


Unit Three: Nursery Bed Management

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3

NURSERY BED MANAGEMENT

1. Modified Dapog method for raising seedlings for lowland rice Table 1.1: Table showing steps for raising seedlings in the nursery

STEPS 1) Materials needed to plant 1ha

ILLUSTRATIONS

a) 15-20 Kgs of inbred seed 75 cm

b) 5-6 bags of rice hull c) 5-6 Bags of rice straw d) 34 pieces of plastic nets measuring 150 cm long and 75 cm wide. 2) Prepare the seedbed measuring 25 M × 1 m × 0.2 m high Reminder: Make sure the seedbed is: a) Near a water source b) Has good drainage c) Far from direct light d) Protected from rats, birds, snails e) Not shaded and flooded 3) Prepare rice seed as indicated above. 4) Make canals in between the seedbeds about 30cm wide; 5) Level the seedbed:

6) Cover the seedbed with rice hull evenly/ uniformly with a thickness of 3cm; Put the paired plastic nets on top of the seedbed covered with rice hull (this is done to avoid the roots reaching the rice hull and for faster pulling and hauling


150 cm


11 7) Sow the rice seeds on top of the plastic nets at the rate of 1kg per 0.75m × 1.5m net; 8) Cover the seeds with 2 -3cm thickness mulch or rice straw as protection from direct sunlight, rain, birds and rats(make sure that the rice straw does not contain seeds to avoid off-types);

9) Irrigate the seedbed very well with sprinkler, sprayer or fill the canals with irrigation water twice a day (morning and afternoon); do this 1-4 days after sowing;

10) After 5days, remove the mulch or rice straw slowly, then irrigate the seedbed with about 2-3cm standing water and maintain this level up to 9days;

11) At 5 DAYS apply 1kg ammonium sulfate fertilizer for every 10kg seeds(1:10) and then immediately water the plants to avoid burning of the seedlings specially when the weather is too hot;



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12) At 12-14 DAYS, the seedlings are ready for transplanting;

a) Slowly separate the paired plastic nets b) Step on the lower net with your feet and pull the other net where the seedlings are attached c) Distribute the seedling mats to the field where they will be planted d) Slowly pull the seedlings from the net and distribute them to the field for transplanting at a distance of 20 cm × 20 cm.

2. Wetbed method to raise seedlings for lowland Rice Preparing the Nursery Bed a) Prepare a fine seed bed measuring 1m width with a length of your choice and leave a space of at least 40cm between

beds for space during nursery management.

Level nursery bed with a stick

Keep nursery bed 40cm from each other

b) Broadcast seed on the nursery bed at a rate of 1kg/ 20m2 area. Broadcast sparsely and evenly as shown in the figure

below. Remove mulching materials after about 4-5 days after sowing

c) Transplant healthy seedlings at 16-21days old. Do not keep seedlings in the nursery for too long. Irrigate thoroughly

before uprooting seedlings


Unit Four: Dry Planting For Upland And Transplanting For Low Land

4

TRANSPLANTING FOR LOW LAND AND DRY PLANTING FOR UPLAND

Mechanical Rice Transplanting using a rice transplanting Machine LOW LAND RICE Machine transplanting involves planting young rice seedlings into puddled soil by machine.

Figure 4.1: Illustration of a rice transplanting machine. Closed shot of essential parts (planting claws, seedling trays and floating parts)

Advantages of Mechanical Rice transplanting Fast and efficient (1–2 ha/d), uses less labour and ensures timely planting. Reduces stress, work load, and health risks. Ensures uniform spacing and plant density. Seedlings recover fast, tiller vigorously, and mature uniformly.

Raising a nursery for using a transplanting machine STEPS

ILLUSTRATIONS

30 cm 60 cm Step 1 Make wooden frames

4 cm

60 cm



14 Step 2: Buy a polythene with a width of 1meter and perforate using a pointed object like a bicycle spoke.

Step 3: Place the polythene down and the wooden frame on top.

Step 4: Fill the soil to the level of the thickness of the wooden frame (4cm).

Step 5: Plant by broadcasting on top.



15

Step 6: Cover with grass to keep the birds off

Step 7: Remove the grass after 5 days.

Step 8: Remove the wooden frame

Step 9: Seedlings are ready for transplanting from 14-18 days.



16 Step 10: Place the nursery on the tray

Step 11: Load the tray in the transplanter.

Step 12: Load extra trays with seedlings on the storage mesh surface.

How to use the rice transplanting Machine 1. Raise seedlings in special mat nurseries or in seedling trays. Use 18–25 kg of good seed per 100 m2 of nursery for each hectare. 2. Seedlings will be ready for transplanting in 12–15 days after seeding (Days after sowing). 3. Ensure that fields are well puddled and levelled. Ngetta Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute


4. Drain fields and allow mud to settle for a day before transplanting. 5. The subsurface soil layers need to be hard enough to support the transplanting machine. 6. The soil is ready when a small “V” mark made in the puddled soil with a stick holds its shape. At this moisture level, the soil can hold the seedlings upright. 7. Soil should not be so dry that it sticks to and interferes with planting parts or wheels of the transplanter. 8. Load the seedling mats on the machine and transplant the seedlings at the selected machine setting.

Disadvantages Seedlings must be planted while still young, and so mechanical transplanting is best suited for irrigated areas only. Special nursery management is needed (mat nursery or seedling trays). Good land preparation, leveling and water management are required. Fields need good access for machine transport and field entry. Transplanting machines are expensive; so poor farmers cannot afford them (contract hiring of transplanters are highly encouraged). Good training is needed to operate the machine properly.


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Cost-benefit analysis of mechanical transplanting (comparing Mechanical and Manual rice transplanting) per Hectares Items/activity Manual Mechanical Machine Depreciation

0

8,625

Nursery management

10,000

25,000

Labour cost

200,000

10,000

Fuel

0

25,500

Oil

0

2,500

Transport

0

5,000

Total cost

210,000

76,125

The cost of buying this machine is UGX 15,300,000 (exchange rate of 1$ to 3,400UGX) September 2016.


The rice Drum seeder (Direct seeding)

Handle

Seed drums

Frame

{

18

Wheel

Distance from one drum to another is 20 cm

10 cm

Figure 4.2: A drum seeder


Floaters


19

How to use a drum seeder Steps

Illustration

Step 1: Level the paddy field very well-there should be no soil mounds or ditches after final leveling.

Step 2: Pre-germinate the seeds that are to be used in the drum seeder.

Step 3: Air dry (under shade for 1-2 hours) the pregerminated seed before filling into the drum to allow good separation.

Step 4: Fill the seed drums up to ¾ to allow uniform seed dropping. When the drum is completely filled, seed will not drop out uniformly.



20 Step 5: Use a rope to guide where the wheel is passing. However, with experience a rope may be used once for first line in which the wheels will be moving.

Step 6: Keep the birds off the field for 3-4 days.

Advantages Simple and low cost. It is easy to manage. Portable and lightweight. Versatile, can be used for other crops Rice grains seeded in straight rows, allowing mechanical weeding between rows Reduces seeding rate compared to broadcasting. Saves on labour. Uniformity in seed sowing and plant population. One person can cover one ha per day.

Limitations It should be operated in fields with saturated water. Requires well levelled fields.



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UPLAND RICE Planting upland rice a)

Drill planting

5 cm

30 cm Figure 4.3: A drill planter

How it works

Steps a)

The land to be planted must have fine soil particles.

b)

Use 30 cm inter row spacing and 2cm intra row (50 kg/ha). Recommended for seed production because off types are easily roughed out, weeding, fertilizer application, are easily done. Plant at a depth of 3-4 cm. Plant early at the start of season.

c)

Drop the seed continuously in the drill and cover with a thin layer of soil.



22

Figure 4.4: Photo showing farmers using forked hoes while others plant and cover rice with soil.

Figure 4.5: A Photo showing the rice grains that have been dropped in the depression created by the fork.

Figure 4.6: Accurate distance between lines

Figure 4.7: Rice grows in proper lines

Using an upland ox drawn rice planter

Figure 4.8: Upland ox drawn rice planter

This planter is multipurpose and can cater for planting all grain crops. It is ox drawn and the different seed plates are designed to drop seeds for different grains. Thus, these rice seed plates are selected and fixed by the farmer to 1

drop one seed per 2 a revolution or as otherwise set. It has an adjustable groove that allows adjustment of seeds to be dropped at a time. NOTE The farmer must change seed plates for each grain type.



23

How it works

Steps 1: Connect the chain to the ox

Steps 2: Load the seeds into the seed feeder

Steps 3: Mark the first line with a string through which the wheels shall follow.

Steps 4: Pull through the rest of the field as another person guides the ox.

Limitations Only works well when the land surface is well prepared. Works only on upland. Ngetta Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute

Unit Five: Weed Management

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5

WEED MANAGEMENT

Conical weeders

How to use a conical weeder Step 1

Translate rice at spacing of 25x 25 cm at right angles (900). This ensures that crops are in line in all directions hence allowing operation of the conical weeder.

Step 2: Allow 2-5 cm of water in the field for efficient operation of the conical weeders Step 3:

Weed east- west; north -south direction for complete removal of weeds.



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Step 4:

While operating, move 2 steps forward and one step backward.

Cost Cost of conical weeder is approx.: UGX 200,000

Advantages It can be fabricated locally Simple to operate Gender friendly Ngetta Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute


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Limitations Only useful in lowland irrigated or rain fed Transplant spacing must be precise. Land must be levelled. Table 5.1: Table showing specifications of a conical weeder

Function

For weeding in between rows of line sowing paddy crop

Power

Manually Operated

Number of Operators

One Person

Type of Operations

Push-Pull Operation

Operating Conditions

Water must be more in the field

Number of Rows

Single Rows

Weight

6 kgs

Width of Operations

140-160 mm

Field Coverage

0.10 – 0.12 hectare / day of 8 hours of Operation

No. of Cones(rotors)

2 nos.

Cones

Plastic Moulded with MS Blades

Blades

2 mm thickness, 6 numbers of plain blades, 6 numbers of serrated blades

Cone Holder

2 nos.

Float Assembly

1mm thickness Size : 320*120*65 mm. Float Angle 21 Degrees

Handle

Main Pipe : 20 mm dia. 18WSG Length:1200mm Cross Bar : 25 mm dia. 18SWG Length:460mm

Production capacity

75,000 Nos. per annum

Area of coverage

0.15 ha/day

Saving in labour

50%

Saving in cost

40% of weeding

Cost-benefit of conical weeders First weeding done one week after transplanting and blanket weeding. The task is 1000sq metres for UGX 10,000 meaning 10tasks per ha equivalent to UGX 100,000 per ha. Second weeding done 3weeks after transplanting. This is mainly spot weeding because crop has established at this time. It costs 6man-days per ha @ UGX 10,000/man-day equivalent to UGX 60,000/ha. Current yield due to better weed control stands at 6.5t/ha from 3t/ha. Yield increment is due to better land preparation and weed control. Ngetta Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute


Manual weeding It costs 50 man days to do first weeding at a cost of UGX 5,000/man-day equivalent to UGX 250,000/ha. Second weeding takes 20 man-days/ha equivalent to UGX 100,000/ha. The walking tractor and its implements for weeding. The weeder

How it works Step 1: Fix the rice weeder on the walking tractor using a pin.

Step 2: Follow instructions in the manual and the training acquired from an instructor


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Unit Six: Using Herbicide

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6

USING HERBICIDE

Two kinds of herbicides are being used Pre-emergency and post-emergency herbicides. In post-emergency Propanil are used. In pre-emergency butacle is used. Butachlor is used immediately after transplanting. Propanil is used 3 weeks after transplanting. Spot weeding is normally integrated with herbicide use. At least one spot weeding is done costing 10mandays /ha at a cost of UGX10,000/man-day equivalent to UGX100,000/ha. Herbicide application is costed 1 man-day using 8 pumps, each 16 litters for 1 ha at cost of UGX10,000.

COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS OF MANUAL WEEDING COMPARING WITH HERBICIDES AND CONICAL WEEDER PER HECTARE Using a conical weeder

Items/activity

Manual weeding

Cost of herbicides

-

100,000

Labour for spraying herbicide

-

10,000

Spot weeding

50,000

First weeding

250,000sh/ha.

100,000

Second weeding

100,000sh/ha.

60,000

Total cost

350,000sh/ha.

210,000

Herbicides

100,000UGX

210,000 UGX


In large schemes, these costs are reduced by 2. 3



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Calibration of a knapsack spray pump This is important in order to apply the recommended rate with precision. It enables you to apply the correct amount of herbicide. Usually recommendations are done in Liters/ha of herbicide, hence need to convert to ml/ spray pump.

STEPS IN CALIBRATION: 1. Obtain a knapsack spray pump and fill with water

2. Measure a line of 10metres

s tre

me

10

3. Using a constant speed, spray height, and pressure spray along the 10metres while being timed. Record the time taken to spray along the 10metres (T). Measure the width of the area sprayed (wetted area along the 10m). Calculate by multiplying by 10m. Record this area (A). 1m

4. Using the time recorded (T). Spray into a measuring cylinder at the same pressure used and measure the volume of water in this measuring cylinder (V)

5. The measured volume of water V is equivalent to the amount of water used in A. 6. Assuming: V= 250ml and A=10m2 and recommended rate of application of herbicide is 4l/ha. This means 4l for 10,000m2. 7. In 10m2, 250 ml of water is required 8. 1 m2, 250/10 ml is required. 9. 1 ha requires 250/10* 10,000= 250,000ml. or 250l 10. Recommended rate is 4l/ha 11. This implies 4l of herbicide in 250litres of water (0.016l or 16ml in 1litre of water) 12. A pump of 20l requires 0.016 x 20= 0.32l or 320ml of herbicide. Ngetta Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute


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HOW TO MIX CHEMICALS FOR KILLING WEEDS Step 1

Follow instructions on the bottle and pour correct quantities of the chemical into the pump.

Step 2

Use a cloth to sieve the water to prevent foreign matter that can block the jet of the pump.

Step 3

Pour the recommended amount of water in to the knapsack spray pump. Note: The water to be mixed with herbicides must be near neutral (not acidic or alkaline).

Step 4

Pump to accumulate pressure in the knapsack spray pump.

Step 5

Spray back in to the knapsack spray pump to allow proper mixing of water and the chemical. Repeat until the chemical is thoroughly mixed with water.



31

Before

After

Safe use of herbicides

Always dress in protective wear Use concentrations and instructions as recommended by the manufacturer Know the weed types in the field. Rotate the herbicides to avoid weed resistance.


Unit Seven: Fertilizer application

32

7

FERTILIZER APPLICATION

The most common limiting nutrients for rice are nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), Potassium (K), sulphur (S), and zinc (Zn). Variety: Long duration varieties need more fertilizer than shorter duration varieties. Soil: Light soils need more split application of N and K compared to heavy soils. Fertilizer should be applied based on a soil test and desired yield. The farmer should strive to obtain a fertilizer recommendation based on analysis of soil samples. When a soil test is not possible, general recommendations can be a good guide to applying fertilizer based on local recommendations.

Ways of applying fertilisers

Figure 1.1: Spraying (Micro nutrients zn,B, mgso4)

Figure 1.2: Top dressing (Briquette fertilizer, N)

Figure 1.3: Basal application, DAP (Broadcasting uniformly)

P and K - Apply at final harrowing just before seeding. N fertilizer- Nitrogen is the most limiting factor in rice production. However, in seed production judicial application of N fertilizer is important since excess N facilitates vigorous plant growth that increases pests and diseases and delays fruiting resulting in poor quality seed. For every ton of yield required, 15-20 kg N is needed. Use more splits for long duration rice varieties. Apply the first top dressing at 21days after seeding, and just after first weeding. Apply a second dressing at about panicle initiation between 45-50days after seeding. Broadcast uniformly over the soil surface. Don’t apply more than 30-35kg ha-1 in a single split to minimise loss. Use a leaf colour chart to estimate N needs. Ngetta Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute

Unit Seven: Fertilizer application

33

Leaf Colour Chart (LCC) for Fertilizer N Management in Rice

The LCC is usually a plastic, ruler-shaped strip containing four or more panels that range in colour from yellowish green to dark green.

4

3

2

1

How to use Leaf Colour Chart (LCC) Randomly select at least 10 disease-free rice plants or hills in a field with uniform plant population.

Select the topmost fully expanded leaf from each hill or plant. Place the middle part of the leaf on a chart and compare the leaf colour with the colour panels of the LCC. Do not detach or destroy the leaf. Measure the leaf colour under the shade of your body, (direct sunlight affects leaf colour readings). If possible, the same person should take LCC readings at the same time of the day every time. When the colour of the leaf is below 3, apply N containing fertilizer.

Determine the average LCC reading for the selected leaves.

4

3

2

1 Ngetta Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute

Unit Eight: Harvesting

34

8

HARVESTING

Rice Reaper Machine

Figure 1.1: Figure 8.1: Parts of a motorised rice harvester.

How A rice harvester works

Figure 1.2: Figure 8.2: The machine cuts the rice using its sharp cutting edges as shown in the illustration


Unit Eight: Harvesting

35

Figure 1.3: The harvested rice is rotated to the machine and pilled at the side in a proper line.

Figure 1.4: Then people carry the cut rice to the destination for threshing.

Advantages It saves time It saves labour It works in both low and upland

Limitation It may not be cost effective on small scale


Unit Nine: Drying Rice

36

9

DRYING RICE

Rice Grain Dryers

Figure 1.1: Namulonge model

Figure 1.2: Reversible Flatbed Dryer Alim Industries Ltd.

BSCIC Industrial Estate, Gotatikor,

Technical Details for a Reversible Flatbed Dryer Model : AIL.480E Engine Output : 1 HP Fuel : Kerosene / Diesel Dimension (L × H × W) mm : 3270 mm × 5281 mm × 1941 mm Saftey Device : Air pressure switch Hot Air Temperature : Ambient Temperature + 10oc ~ 30o C (Low heat) Capacity : 500-600 kg (2 Hour) per batch Fuel Consumed : 3.3 Liter (Per hour) The Flatbed Dryer is a small capacity batch-in-bin dryer, designed for farm or village use.

How it works STEPS

ILLUSTRATIONS

Step 1 After winnowing, pour and spread the rice seeds in the drying chamber.


Unit Nine: Drying Rice

37

Step 2 Turn on the machine.

Step 3 Use the spade to turn the rice grains from one side to the other. If the drying chamber is full to capacity (500-600 kg/2hr), turn the grains at an interval of 1 hour.

Step 4 Measure the moisture content to 10/9.9 using a moisture meter.

Step 5 Pack the rice in well protected grain sacks.

Advantages It’s simple to construct, easily available and easy to operate with unskilled labour. Both direct and indirect heaters can be used with the flat-bed dryer. It’s suitable for all kinds of seeds and foods, such as chili, beans, garlic, coffee bean, cassava, sesame, rapeseed, paddy, wheat, corn, and sunflower seed.


Unit Ten: Threshing

38

10

THRESHING

A motorized rice thresher Outlet for the rice straws

Feeding tray

Belt guard

Handles Outlet for the paddy rice

Fuel tank Starter Engine Wheels Figure 8.1: Parts of a motorized rice thresher

A thresher is a machine used for removing rice from straws of the rice plant. Its output is 600kg to 700 kg per hour using a litre of fuel (source: Agricultural engineering and appropriate technology research center Namalere - Kawanda)

How a motorized rice thresher works STEPS

ILLUSTRATIONS

Step 1: Cut and heap the rice in one place


Unit Ten: Threshing

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Step 2: Position the machine where it is convenient to access the rice for loading.

Step 3: Start the machine.

Step 4: Feed the machine. The machine shall beat its maximum output capacity with 3 people providing labour; one heaping rice, another feeding the machine and the third collecting threshed rice.


Unit Ten: Threshing

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Step 5: Collect the threshed rice from the outlet for paddy rice.

Advantages It is motorized Wheels make it easy to move the machine from one place to another thus gender sensitive. Even women can carry. It is light in weight (80 kg) Spare parts are cheap and readily available Easy to maintain Easy to operate

Limitations Does not have a manual alternative in case there is no fuel. However, when the manual alternative was developed between 1999-2000, the following limitations were realized: 1. Farmers complained of the machine being tiresome. The machines were abandoned and they preferred manual beating

Figure 8.2: The manual versions of a rice thresher


Unit Twelve: Milling

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MILLING

Separator, cleaner and milling/polishing rice machine This machine separates dust, dirt, stones and other residue from rice. It produces final polished rice.

Figure 8.1: Parts of a 3 phase miller with a separator (Namulonge)

How it works

Figure 8.2: Illustration of a separator



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Steps Pour the threshed rice with chaff in the feeding hopper of the separator The rice grains shall be separated from dirt, dust, stone and other residue The fine grains shall be automatically poured into the feeding hopper of the miller Collect the polished rice from the finished rice outlet

Advantages It can be operated by one person Saves labour and time

Limitations Uses electricity

Combined rice mill Feeding hopper

Controller

Rubber rollers (inside)

Roller adjuster

Sieve for unpolished rice

Polishing chamber Mortar Outlet for clean polished rice

Figure 8.3: A rice milling machine

After cleaning rice from the blower, it is ready for milling. The machine uses rubber rollers to remove husks from the rice grains. Ngetta Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute


Steps

Illustration

Step 1 Close the controller

Step 2 Load the blown rice into the feeding hopper.

Step 3 Open the rubber rollers chamber to monitor the operations of removing husks from the rice grain. Use the roller adjuster to control the rubbers.

Step 4 Check and collect the polished clean rice from its outlet. Stones are sorted through the stone outlet.

Stone outlet

Advantages Combines milling, sieving and polishing of rice in a single phase

Limitations No manual alternative in case there is no power. Ngetta Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute

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