|
1.1. Survey current farm machinery available in north western China
1.2. Develop and test bed forming and furrow forming machinery
1.3. Develop and test commercial zero till wheat / maize drills for PRB and bed harvesters
1.4. Integrate mechanical weed control
1.5. Develop a simple, furrow-based tractor guidance system |
Mechanisation benchmark
Tested and operational bed forming machinery
Prototypes developed for commercialisation
Tested and operational zero till planters
Data demonstrating effectiveness of 20hp tractors and PRB machinery
Knowledge of mechanical harvester effectiveness
Integrated mechanical weed control, procedures and tools
Effective weed control under stubble and trash blankets
Increased level of farming precision
Long term precise bed positioning |
A mechanisation survey was conducted at the beginning of the project. >85% farmers were found to have at least a tractor (mainly 2-wheelers) and some farm implements. However, in many cases the material was quite old.
A tested and operational bed former has been developed and is ready for commercialisation.
A machinery company (Zhulong Factory) has been identified.
A passive anti-blocking no-till planter (2BFML-5 no-till planter) for <3.7t/ha residue cover fields was developed successfully and is ready for commercialization.
A strip-chopping no-till planter for all kinds of residue cover conditions was developed with moderate success, and will be commercialized.
A power driven disc planter was tested and will be used as an alternative planter option to plant in heavy residue cover fields after moderate modification.
The data on effectiveness of no-till planter and harvester are available.
A 20hp tractor-mounted harvester prototype for current PRB system in Hexi Corridor has been developed based on some current existing work components, and is ready for commercialisation. (existing combines do not fit into the 1 m furrows).
A machinery company (Wang Nongda Factory) has been identified.
A sprayer-cultivator-combined weeder was developed successfully and is ready for commercialization based on two years’ testing and modifying.
A tractor guidance system using mechanical sensors guided by maize stalk has been developed successfully.
A planter guidance system guided by furrow was tested and will be used as an alternative guiding option to achieve long term precision of bed position after moderate modification. |
Problems with soil disturbance, residue clogging need to be resolved and tested.
Systematical responsibility for guiding in PRB system need to be improved. |