Design modification and field performance of two row maize planter

Mechanization in maize crop is increasing in Pakistan day by day due to its good cooking oil and flour quality. The aim of this study was to modify and develop two row maize planter with locally available materials which ultimately decreased its cost. After modification, a field experiment was conducted at Crop Physiology Research Area of the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad to evaluate the efficiency of two row maize planter. The effect of three levels of seed rates S1 (25 kg/ha), S2 (30 kg/ha) and S3 (35 kg/ha), three levels of row to row distance RR1 (50 cm), RR2 (65 cm) and RR3 (80 cm), three levels of machine forward speed V1 (3 km/h), V2 (6 km/h) and V3 (9 km/h) and three levels of fertilizer rate F1 (20 kg/ha), F2 (40 kg/ha) and F3 (60 kg/ha) were investigated on maize dry biomass and emergence rate index using maize variety Montgomery. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. The data regarding row to row distance, fertilizer rate, seed rate, machine forward speed, maize dry biomass and emergence rate index was analyzed at 5 % level of significance. Maize dry biomass and emergence rate index (ERI) were not affected significantly by machine forward speed. Best results regarding dry biomass and emergence rate index (ERI) were recorded when seed rate was 35 kg/ha, row to row distance was 80 cm and fertilizer rate was 60 kg/ha. Average field efficiency of two row maize planter was calculated to be 73.8 %.