Design, Development and Evaluation of a Power-Operated Cono Weeder for Wetland Rice Farming

Manual cono weeding in rice cultivation demands significant labor and energy. To address the same, a power-operated cono weeder was developed at the Agricultural Engineering and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Kumulur, Trichy, between 2018 and 2020. The new design incorporated a main frame, a 1 kW petrol engine, a power transmission system, a handle, plastic molded ground wheels, a slider crank mechanism for weeding cone motion, an adjustable depth control lever, and plastic molded weeding cones with MS blades. It offers adjustable depth settings from 15 mm to 70 mm. Field performance was assessed across three operational speeds (0.28 m s-1, 0.42 m s-1 and 0.56 m s-1) and water levels (10 mm, 25 mm, and 40 mm). Results showed maximum weeding efficiency (85%) and field capacity (0.026 ha h-1) at an operational speed of 0.42 m s-1 and a water level of 25 mm. Minimal plant damage (1.2%) occurred at an operational speed of 0.28 m s-1 and a water level of 10 mm. The weeder demonstrated an operational efficiency of 86.5% in the field. This power-operated cono weeder offers a promising solution to the labor-intensive manual cono weeding in rice cultivation. Its adjustable depth control and efficient field performance indicate potential for enhancing productivity while reducing labor costs and environmental impact.