Mintu Job
Corresponding Author: Assistant Professor, Department of Agricultural Engineering, Birsa Agricultural University, Kanke,
Ranchi,834006, Jharkhand, India. Email: mintujob@rediffmail.com
D.K. Rusia
Associate Professor, Department of Agricultural Engineering, Birsa Agricultural University, Kanke, Ranchi,834006, Jharkhand, India.
S. R. Bhakar
Professor, Department of Soil and Water Conservation, College of Technology and Engineering, MPUAT, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India.
Received on April 26, 2021, Revised on: April 28, 2021, Accepted on: April 30, 2021
DOI:https://doi.org/10.47884/jweam.v2i1pp55-63
ABSTRACT
Plastic mulching is a soil moisture conservation method that involves placing poly film over raised or a flat bed toprovide a more favorable environment for growth and production. Plastic mulch normally is used in conjunctionwith drip irrigation to maintain optimum soil moisture and for improved stand establishment. Plastic filmmulching with drip irrigation is a proven technology for vegetable production and its popularity is everincreasing among vegetable growers. Mulches leave behind large amount of plastic in the soil which in thecurrent practice is buried or burned in the field which are both hazardous to environment. So, a mechanism is tobe developed for retrieval of mulches for reuse or recycle. Basic mulch laying technique should include thatmulch is stretched and placed firmly against compacted soil and edges of mulch are properly buried under soil,so, that wind can’t loosen them. Tractor operated mulch laying machine in available but its use is limited to largeareas and where crop spacing allows it as area lost in between two rows is very large. To suit the requirement ofsmall farmers partial mechanization of laying of mulch film is envisaged by developing a Manual Multipurposetrolley for plastic mulch laying and recollection. This machine besides being simple in design and operation alsocaters to a very important operation, which is otherwise overlooked, that is of retrieving the used plastic mulch byrolling it back for better storage which significantly enhances its life beside being environment friendly.
Keywords: Plastic mulch; Drip irrigation; Manual multipurpose trolley; Recycling; Reuse; Mechanization.