1. GNSS based Auto-steering system

Auto-steering system is a GNSS-based guidance technology to maintain precise steering control, thereby reducing errors caused by manual steering. Auto-steering system helps in operating tractor-mounted implements along a predefined path with enhanced accuracy, reducing missed areas, overlaps, and the number of passes required during field operations. The average overlapped area (in lines), when the tractor was operated with manual steering, was 3-12% for different tillage and seeding machines, whereas with auto-steering system, the average overlapped area was about 1%. Similarly manual steering control, while operating these machines, resulted in missed area (in lines) of 2.0-7.0%, whereas the missed area was less than 1% when the auto-steering system was used to operate these machines. The auto-steering system led to precise work minimal wastage of input resources, enhanced working hours, and improved productivity. The operator’s fatigue also reduced, allowing him to focus on implement management. Further, parallel sowing lines facilitate subsequent mechanical intercultural and harvesting operations.

2.PAU Manually Operated Seeder for Vegetable Crops.

The PAU manually operated seeder for vegetable crops is a machine for direct sowing of vegetable crops like peas, radish, turnip, spinach, gram, fenugreek, okra, mustard, millets etc. The seeding unit of the machine comprised a shoe-type furrow opener, cylindrical seed box, and revolving plate-type metering mechanism. The number of seeding units and spacing between them i.e. row to row spacing is adjustable. Different seed metering plates can be used for accommodating diverse seed types and achieve different plant-to-plant spacing. The field capacity of the machine is 0.15-0.28 acres/h. Depending upon type of crop, there is saving in cost of operation by 48-82% and saving in labour by 55-85% as compared to conventional pora method or manual seeding by hand (choka/ chundi method). Ergonomically, machine is easy to operate. The machine could be very useful for small farmers.

 3.Tractor-operated PAU turf manager for cutting and collecting grass

The tractor-operated Turf Manager is a PTO-driven machine designed for simultaneously cutting and collecting the grass. The machine consists of high performance rotor mechanism with multiple flail blades that trim grass and plant residues while generating airflow to transport the material into a rear mounted collection hopper. The field capacity of the PAU turf manager ranges from 0.2 to 0.3 ha/h. The fuel consumption varied from 12 to 20 l/ha, depending on intensity of grass in the field. The quantity of grass collected during evaluation of machine varied from 0.3 to 0.7 t/h. The collecting hopper can hold grass up to 200 kg. The integrated hydraulic system allows easy dumping of the collected material into the field.

4. Super Seeder for cotton and wheat residue incorporation

In-situ residue incorporation of cotton stalks and wheat sowing as well as in-situ incorporation of wheat residue with Super Seeder, resulted in higher seed cotton yield, wheat grain yield and improved soil physical parameters. Soil infiltration rate improved from 2.75 mm/h to 3.44 mm/h.  Also soil bulk density reduced from 1.58 gm/cm³ to 1.46 g/cm³.

5. Tractor-operated mat-type nursery Seeder:

This machine can sow mat type nursery which is sufficient for transplantation in 150-180 acres paddy field area per day. There is a cost saving of 64-67 % and labour saving of 92-94 % with Tractor operated mat type nursery seeder as compared to conventional manual method of mat type nursery sowing. The machine can help in timely sowing and healthy mat type paddy nursery, thereby, can help in large scale adoption of mechanical transplantation of paddy in the state.

6. Pneumatic Planter :

A pneumatic planter uses air pressure to precisely place seeds in the soil. It utilizes either vacuum or positive air pressure to control seed flow, ensuring accurate spacing and depth, which leads to improved germination and higher yields. It drops one seed at a time. There was found no missing/doubling and results in the saving of costly seed. No Damage to the seed was observed during the sowing operation.

7. Tractor-operated PAU surface seeder:

PAU Surface Seeder comprises of straw cutter-cum-spreader fitted with seed and fertilizer box attachment. This machine can be easily operated by a 40 hp tractor or above. It is a low-cost machine that does uniform application of wheat seed & and basal fertilizer along with cutting & and spreading of paddy straw in a single operation. It is followed by irrigation for initiating the germination of wheat.

7. Tractor-operated PAU Smart seeder:

             PAU Smart Seeder manages the paddy straw by partial incorporation in a narrow band and retains the remaining straw as surface mulch. PAU Smart Seeder places wheat seeds in a well-tilled narrow band of soil and covers the seed rows with soil, using furrow closing rollers. Tillage in seed rows and furrow closing rollers enhances the soil seed contact and conserves furrow moisture, which results in early and uniform wheat establishment compared to Super Seeder and Happy Seeder. PAU Smart seeder can be operated with a 45 or above hp tractor. The field capacity of the machine is 0.8-1.0 acre/h and the fuel consumption of the machine is 5.0-5.5 l/acre.

8. Tractor-operated Super seeder:

It is a tractor mounted machine for direct sowing of wheat in combine harvested paddy field. The machine is a combination of Roto broadcaster (Roto seed drill) and disc type seeding attachment. The machine consisted of a straw managing rotor for incorporation of paddy straw and a seeding unit for sowing wheat directly after combine harvesting. Seed and fertilizer tubes are opened at the rear of the discs. The furrow opener discs are powered. The shape of the blade is C-J type. The machine is operated by a 55 hp or above tractor. The field capacity of the machine is 0.22-0.27 ha/h with fuel consumption of 8-9 l/h.

9. Happy seeder :

Happy Seeder is used for sowing of wheat directly into the combine-harvested paddy

fields. It is a tractor PTO driven machine which can be operated by 45 HP or above tractor and can cover 6-8 acres/day. Happy seeder consists of a rotor for managing the paddy residues and a zero till drill for sowing of wheat. Flail-type blades are mounted on the straw management rotor, which cuts (hits/shears) the standing stubble/ loose straw coming in front of the sowing tine and cleans each tine for proper placement of seed in the soil. The loose stubble should be evenly

spread.

10. Remote-controlled Paddy Transplanter:

A remotely controlled 2-wheel paddy transplanter was recommended for transplanting mat type nursery. The labour requirement for machine transplanting was reduced by 40%; the effective field capacity of the machine was increased by 10-11% and a net profit increase of 14.25% as compared to the conventional walk-behind paddy transplanter. The physical workload of the operator is also reduced resulting in increased work efficiency with the comfort and safety of the operator without entering in puddled field. The initial cost of the machine with the developed system has been increased up to 28%.

11. Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)/Drone fitted Spraying system 

For spraying, a hexacopter drone fitted with a standard/extended flat fan nozzle or anti-drift/air induction nozzles can be used for spraying. The drone can be operated at a forward speed of 2.0-3.0 m/s and height of 2-3 m from the top of the crop and a pressure of 1.38 kg/cm2. Drone/UAV can be used for spraying in all crops especially good for tall crops at all the growth stages of the crops. A certified and trained pilot is required or mandatory for the operation of UAVs/drones in the fields. The total cost of the operation of a drone for spraying will be Rs. 889.7/h or Rs 296.6/acre. 

12. PAU high clearance multi-purpose sprayer:

This sprayer has three types of spraying arrangements, namely auto-rotate gun, boom type and drop-up type nozzles, which were operated by a single pump. The pump can be operated at 800 rpm to develop the desired pressure up to 35 kg/cm2. Boom and drop-up nozzle mechanism consists of 14 nozzles on the boom and 13 drop-up nozzles (Make: Teejet) mounted on a foldable 9.8 m wide boom with 67.5 cm nozzle spacing. Boom nozzles were used to spray on the top side of the plant canopy, and other drop-up nozzles were used to spray inside the crop canopy up to 65-75 cm below the boom and within the row or the underside of the leaf through an adjustable drop-up arrangement of the nozzle to target whitefly residing locations. The height of the boom can be adjusted in the range of 30-250 cm according to the crop height.