Author : Flores, Edgar D.; Galapon, May-ann F.; Estimada, Marvin S.; Antolin, Ma. Cecilia R.; Apaga, Arnel Ramir M.

Summary : There are several inefficiencies in the present planting method of vegetables such as high cost of labor and inefficient spacing resulting to low yield using manual broadcasting. This study aimed to address these issues by using a mechanized planting system that could efficiently plant different vegetable crop seeds. Existing mechanical seeder for bulb onion was evaluated and verified with traditional farmers’ practice in direct seeding using manual
broadcasting of pechay, mustard, radish and upland kangkong. Following the prescribed testing methods of the Philippine Agricultural Engineering Standards (PAES) 123:2001, the seeder had an effective field capacity of 0.340, 0.333, 0.336 and 0.313 ha/h for pechay, mustard, radish and upland kangkong, respectively. Likewise, the seeder had a field efficiency of 75.47, 80.64, 81.76 and 80.94% for pechay, mustard, radish and upland kangkong, respectively. It surpassed the 60% field efficiency standard set by PAES for mechanical seeder. The time required for planting of vegetables using the mechanical seeder was significantly reduced to more than two to three times than the traditional farmer's practice. This translates to more cultivated areas leading to the reduction of cost and labor requirements in vegetable production. Most of the vegetable crops planted using the mechanical seeder had
higher yield and comparable with traditional farmer's practice in terms of plant survival. Partial budget analysis indicated that the mechanical seeder can potentially increase the net income of vegetable farmers. A more intensive pilot testing of the technology is recommended not only to validate its financial benefits but to demonstrate and create awareness of the presence of an alternative planting technology.