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Details Of Innovation
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Fertilizer injector: Generally, the efficiency of fertilizer is reduced by volatalisation as well as leaching losses. In order to avoid such losses, the fertilizer has to be placed in such a way so that this is fully absorbed by the plant. This was a challenge when the Salem Co-operative Sugar Factory announced a special prize offer on 03-08-1992 for Rs.5,000/- for those who innovates a new practice or an equipment to minimise the fertilizer loss. This has made Mr. Raju , who is 57 years old field assistant working in the same factory to take up the challenge and finally he designed a device for placing the fertilizer. He belongs to a small agricultural family and has studied upto SSLC.In his area. The farmers apply the recommended dose of 110:25 kg / ha NPK for sugarcane crop. Though the crop is irrigated by river, 3/4th of the fertilizer is being washed off. So, he immediately started to design a pit manuring device and successfully finished after 3 years. Details of the device: This device can be attached to the shoulder and operated easily with the use of a lever handle. So, we need not bend down towards the ground level for the purpose of placing the fertilizer or any chemical input. Working Method: The fertilizer tank, which has the capacity of 5-10 kg is filled with fertilizer or granules. This material is passed through a hosepipe to the applicator tube. When we operate the handle, the sharp iron end of the device makes a small hole with a size of 2 inch breadth and 2 inch depth near the rootzone of the crop. After, that by pulling the lever handle, approximately 5 gms of tank material (fertilizer / granule) is placed to that hole and this can be filled by soil with leg. The cost of the device is around Rs.480/- and the time taken for the application is 28 hours / ac. Special FeaturesIn conventional method, 4 women labours are required to broadcast the granules and the wages costs Rs.160/- If this device is used, 7 extra men labours are required to make the hole and 2 women are required to apply the granules. Even though the cost of labour is increasing, the wastage of fertilizer is minimised. Though the labour cost is increased, we can reduce considerable the quantity of fertilizer to the rate of 30%. Usually, farmers apply a recommended dose of 110:25 NPK which is in the form of 4 bags of urea, 3 bags of comple and 1 bag of potash totalling 8 bags of fertilizers. However, in this method, 6 bags of fertilizers are sufficient for getting the same yield. The fertilizer is applied directly to the rootzone of the crop. So, the leaching loss is reduced and the yield is increased to the extent of 5-10 tonnes / ac which gives an additional income of Rs.2330. During the year 1998, the Salem Cooperative Sugar Factory honoured him by rewarding the prize amount of Rs.5,000 for designing this device. His device is becoming popular, very much appreciated and welcomed by the farming community of his area, Now he is arranging for patenting his device.Othen than, this he is also involved in the production of compost manure by recycling the press mud with the help of bacterial cultural which otherwise unutilised and considered as waster material. His method involves pulverising the pressmud and then sprinkling of water along with bacterial culture for quick decomposition. The Salem Sugar Factory is marketing this organic fertilizer very profitably for the past 2 years.
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