@article{10.11648/j.aff.20221106.13,
  author = {Christian Tafere and Habtamu Assega and Betelehem Asrat and Zelalem Taddesse and Bayuh Belay},
  title = {Participatory Evaluation of Mechanical Hand Weeders in Rain-Fed Lowland Rice Production Ecosystems in North Western Ethiopia},
  journal = {Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries},
  volume = {11},
  number = {6},
  pages = {214-219},
  doi = {10.11648/j.aff.20221106.13},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.aff.20221106.13},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.aff.20221106.13},
  abstract = {Rice is a main field crop in Fogera rain fed lowland ecosystem as stable food and straw is mainly used for cattle feed. Weed is a major constraint for rice production causing a subsequent drastic reduction of yield. Manual weeding method is extremely labor intensive and time consuming which conveys to high cost of production. The study ambition was to test different mechanical weeders with farmers to acquire their preference. Pertaining to this, four prototype mechanical weeders were developed and evaluated under rainfed lowland rice production ecosystem at Fogera. The recommended planting space of rice in the experimental area was 20cm between rows and mechanical weeders were developed 18cm wide. The rice was sown in rice field with 20cm row spacing which allows for the use of manual weeders. On the first day, one representative farmers field was identified for evaluation. The researchers together with DA’s went to the village and selected 30 farmers who had willing to participate in the evaluation practice in the following day. Before selection, farmers were asked generally whether they are volunteer to participate in this weeder evaluation activity in their own rice field or not. Based on this information, the targeted number of women and men were selected. Rotary weeder, star rotary weeder, finger-push weeder and push weeder were developed and gauged to get farmers preference. Selected weeders were gender sensitive and equal number of men and women were participated in the evaluation of mechanical weeders. Data on cropping system, crop establishment method, weed infestation and type, weeding efficiency, effective field capacity and damaged plants were collected. From this evaluation activity, two mechanical hand weeders rotary weeder and finger-push weeder were selected and distributed to farmers for future use. Women were selected finger push weeder while men have selected rotary weeder. The maximum weeding efficiency (90.2%) was observed from the rotary weeder whereas the weeding efficiency of finger-push weeder was (82.8%). However, push weeder had provided (51.3%) weeding efficiency while star rotary weeders brought (42%) of weeding efficiency. The least cost but high-cost reduction amongst the mechanical hand weeders were found from the rotary weeder while the highest cost and minimum cost reduction were attained from the push weeder. Rotary weeder and finger-push weeder generate to decrease the total cost and express very effective weeding technologies in the clay soil and ponded water level for aquatic and grass weeds in the testing sites.},
 year = {2022}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Participatory Evaluation of Mechanical Hand Weeders in Rain-Fed Lowland Rice Production Ecosystems in North Western Ethiopia
AU  - Christian Tafere
AU  - Habtamu Assega
AU  - Betelehem Asrat
AU  - Zelalem Taddesse
AU  - Bayuh Belay
Y1  - 2022/12/28
PY  - 2022
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.aff.20221106.13
DO  - 10.11648/j.aff.20221106.13
T2  - Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
JF  - Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
JO  - Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
SP  - 214
EP  - 219
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2328-5648
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.aff.20221106.13
AB  - Rice is a main field crop in Fogera rain fed lowland ecosystem as stable food and straw is mainly used for cattle feed. Weed is a major constraint for rice production causing a subsequent drastic reduction of yield. Manual weeding method is extremely labor intensive and time consuming which conveys to high cost of production. The study ambition was to test different mechanical weeders with farmers to acquire their preference. Pertaining to this, four prototype mechanical weeders were developed and evaluated under rainfed lowland rice production ecosystem at Fogera. The recommended planting space of rice in the experimental area was 20cm between rows and mechanical weeders were developed 18cm wide. The rice was sown in rice field with 20cm row spacing which allows for the use of manual weeders. On the first day, one representative farmers field was identified for evaluation. The researchers together with DA’s went to the village and selected 30 farmers who had willing to participate in the evaluation practice in the following day. Before selection, farmers were asked generally whether they are volunteer to participate in this weeder evaluation activity in their own rice field or not. Based on this information, the targeted number of women and men were selected. Rotary weeder, star rotary weeder, finger-push weeder and push weeder were developed and gauged to get farmers preference. Selected weeders were gender sensitive and equal number of men and women were participated in the evaluation of mechanical weeders. Data on cropping system, crop establishment method, weed infestation and type, weeding efficiency, effective field capacity and damaged plants were collected. From this evaluation activity, two mechanical hand weeders rotary weeder and finger-push weeder were selected and distributed to farmers for future use. Women were selected finger push weeder while men have selected rotary weeder. The maximum weeding efficiency (90.2%) was observed from the rotary weeder whereas the weeding efficiency of finger-push weeder was (82.8%). However, push weeder had provided (51.3%) weeding efficiency while star rotary weeders brought (42%) of weeding efficiency. The least cost but high-cost reduction amongst the mechanical hand weeders were found from the rotary weeder while the highest cost and minimum cost reduction were attained from the push weeder. Rotary weeder and finger-push weeder generate to decrease the total cost and express very effective weeding technologies in the clay soil and ponded water level for aquatic and grass weeds in the testing sites.
VL  - 11
IS  - 6
ER  - 

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