Economic Analysis of Low-Cost Tractor Drawn Plastic Mulching Machine

Abstract

The global yearly use of plastic mulching in agriculture is 2.1 million tonnes in 2020.  Agriculture is the second most significant source of GHG emissions, accounting for around 13.5% of total global anthropogenic emissions. Plastic mulching is of paramount importance in horticulture for its numerous benefits. It reduces weed development, conserves soil moisture, regulates soil temperature, and prevents soil erosion by forming a protective barrier. Traditional method of mulching is laborious, time consuming having lower efficient and accurate mulching as compared to developed low cost tractor operated mulch laying machine. It comprises soil bed preparation, drip laying, mulch laying, mulch covering, and making holes for transplanting simultaneously. This paper contains the cost analysis of developed machine and its comparison with traditional mulching method. The draft, operational speed, power requirement effective field capacity, field efficiency, and energy consumption of developed machine were found as 175 kgf, 3.5 km.h-1, 21.93 kW, 0.36 ha.h-1, 85.6 %, and 21.43 MJ.ha-1 respectively. In cost estimation it is found that the cost of operation and overall cost of developed machine were 1048.3 ₹.ha-1 and ₹13000 respectively. It turned out that the machine was economical, saving time, energy, and operating costs. By introducing the concept of affordability and simplicity, the machine has the potential to change cultivation practices, increase yields and improve farmers’ livelihoods in agricultural regions.