Development and performance evaluation of tractor drawn cowpea planter

The existing tractor drawn seed drill-cum-planter was modified for its metering plate. The seed selected was Pusa Komal with spacing of 45×30 cm having seed rate of 20–25 kg/ha. In order to design the seed plate, seeds were measured for their dimensions i.e. length, width and thickness to determine groove size and plate thickness. The data indicated that 3.3 mm thick plate with grove length of 8.2 mm, which was 10 percent extra of seed size, was ideal. As per ratio of ground wheel to seed plate rotation, the seed plate was designed for six cells. Then seed plate was developed and its performance was evaluated for its seed rate, missing, singles and multiples. The average seed rate of 8.34 kg/ha was found with the developed seed plate of cowpea. The average value of missing percentage was 0 at speed S₁, 31.67 at speed S₂, 28.90 at speed S₃ and 33.34 at speed S₄. The average value of singles percentage was 100 at speed S₁, 38.33 at speed S₂, 71.10 at speed S₃ and 33.33 at speed S₄ using brush attachment. The average value using brush attachment of doubles percentage was 0 at speed S₁, 30 at speed S₂, 0 at speed S₃ and 33.33 at speed S₄. The average value of multiples percentage was 0 at all four speeds both with and without brush attachment.