Residue burning is widespread in rice-wheat systems of Pakistan, causing serious air pollution and loss of nutrients. In response to this problem, the Farm Machinery Institute (FMI) of Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) Islamabad recently designed and built a prototype machine (the "FMI Seeder") for managing rice stubble and direct seeding a single operation based on a similar machine developed in another ACIAR project in the Punjab. However, while the problem has almost been solved mechanically, experience to date in India has shown that there are a number of agronomic issues to be resolved to achieve good establishment and crop performance. There is a need to evaluate and refine the technology for a range of stubble, soil and seasonal conditions, and to develop guidelines for achieving good establishment, efficient use of N fertilizer and high yields in RW and alternative systems. The project will also develop machinery design and operational guidelines for the novel seeder as the basis for commercialisation and widespread dissemination of the seeder.
The project activities started on time (October 2005) in Pakistan and Australia, although there was a delay in release of funds in Pakistan. Despite these difficulties, the project has made some good achievements, due to the determination and dedication of key project staff. Major achievements include:
1. construction of Mark III of the FMI seeder, in time for sowing in mid-November 2005; however some modifications were needed, and consequently most of the experimental sites were sown with Mark II. The main improvement in Mark III are reduced weight (~550 kg) and improved operator visibility and straw spreading.
2. installation of 3 unreplicated large plot ( mostly 0.5 acre) trial sites in farmers' fields in Pakistan, comparing establishment methods, and a replicated experiment with establishment method as the main plots, and N rate sub-plots. Establishment methods included sowing into rice residues (~8 t/ha) and partially burnt plots with the FMI seeder. These were compared with conventional practice (partial burning then disc harrowing then broadcast seeding) and sowing into fields with the zero till drill after manual removal of all the rice straw.
Establishment was generally good in all plots/treatments, except in some low lying areas affected by waterlogging. Yields were around 3 t/ha, and there were no significant differences between establishment method, suggesting that there is no disadvantage of sowing into full rice residues with the FMI seeder. This is a good result in the first year.
3. successful establishment of soybeans in 4.5 t/ha of barley residues and barley in 10 t/ha of maize residues in Australia using the Combo Happy Seeder imported from India.
4. several field days and presentations to farmers in both Pakistan and India, piggy-backing on activities largely organised by other groups in both countries e.g. the ADB/IRRI Rice-wheat project in Pakistan, and NSW DPI activities in Australia. Key policy makers and influencers in Pakistan (the Prime Minister, the DGs of PARC, NARC and Punjab OFWM) have already been familiarised with the technology and most have visited some of the field sites.
Progress in Pakistan
Evaluation and refinement of FMI seeder for direct drilling into rice and other heavy stubbles in Pakistan
Two main modifications were made to the Mark-III model of FMI Combo Seeder at Sayyed Machinery Ltd (SML) Lahore on the basis of last year's test results. The new machine was fabricated by SML technicians with the proposed modifications. In a further development, the Combo Seeder has been replaced by the "FMI Rocket Seeder", which was developed for a lighter and more vigorous straw cutting. The new idea is based on the straw chopper kit of New Holland combine harvesters. In the new machine flails were replaced with knife blades on the rotor. This new machine was first tested on the farms of Mr. Ch. Mushtaq and Mr Shahbaz; the preliminary results were encouraging.
A simple straw spreading kit was also developed for all common models of combine harvesters; this has always been seen as a prerequisite for the adoption of the seeding technique. The first prototype kit designed and developed at FMI has generated much interest from many combine rental companies due to its low cost, low power requirement and simple construction.
Field experiments continued in the second year at three selected farm sites near Lahore. Six half-acre demonstration plots comparing establishment methods were established on the farms of Shahbaz Ali (SA) and Chaudhary Mushtaq (CM), as well as on a site adjacent to the controlled, randomised plot trial at the Rice Research Station Kala Shah Kaku (KSK).
At both farmers' field sites (CM, SA) the rice crop was harvested by combine harvesters, while at KSK it was harvested manually. All plots at the three sites were established using the FMI Seeder (Mark III model), while mungbeans were sown with the new Rocket Seeder.
There were significant differences in yield between treatments, with mean yields ranging from 2.1 t/ha (14% grain moisture) with the FMI Combo Seeder after partial burning, to 2.9 t/ha with the FMI seeder sown into full residues at the SA farm. At the CM farm the treatment with the Combo Seeder sowing into standing stubble only yielded 2.19 t/ha, compared to 2.89 t/ha with the same seeder sowing into full residues. Yields in the plots with farmer practice ranged from 2.59 to 2.68 t/ha.
Extension in Pakistan
Extension activities in Pakistan were not possible due to the extremely wet rabi season in 2006/2007.
During the PARC Silver Jubilee celebrations from12-14th December 2006, an open house was organized to showcase PARC achievements during the last twenty five years. Attendees from all over from Pakistan participated, including high level government officials from all provinces, federal government, high level policy makers and progressive farmer. The President of Pakistan attended as the chief guest on last day. A big agri-machinery display was arranged, including the FMI Combo Seeder.
Progress in Australia
Due the loss of all project staff in CSIRO and low water allocations in the Riverina due to prevailing drought, filed activities had to be deferred and no data was generated. Further efforts conducting field trials with the Happy Seeder into rice stubbles were unsuccessful due to heavy rain just before wheat sowing in May 2007.
Links:
[1] http://www.aciar.gov.au/country/Pakistan
[2] http://www.aciar.gov.au/programarea/Land and Water Resources