Description

Abstract: The No-till system of farming is one of the farming techniques that, many scientists believe, should be adopted by large and small farm holders alike, in order to minimize the gradual damage caused by tilling. Likewise, their studies showed that the quality of life of farmers may be improved by using this method. Several countries have already adopted this method, while in the Philippines; it seemed that tilling was still most popular among farmers as evidenced by the interviews done in this study. The interview also showed that the farmers, in Baranggay Palola in Lucban Quezon, have no or very little knowledge about the no-till farming system.

This study aimed to develop and evaluate a first generation animal drawn no-till farming equipment for small farm holders in the Philippines. The study included the design, fabrication and testing of an animal-drawn equipment, a dibbler, and a residue roller. The data gathering and testing were done in Barangay Palola and the fabrication was done in the mechanical shops of Don Bosco Technical College.

Data gathering started with the baseline survey regarding the conventional method of farming. Design and fabrication then proceeded. Testing was done both in the laboratory and in the field. In the initial field tests, the equipment was pulled by one and sometimes two persons at an average speed of 0.5 m/s. The pulling force, depth and width, seed spacing and dispensing rate of fertilizer were measured in the tests. In the final field test, an animal was used to pull the equipment at a rate of 1 m/s. Observations were made regarding the function and ease of operation of the equipment while it was being pulled by the carabao. Comparison between labor requirements and projected annual costs were compared afterwards. Recommendations were also made regarding the design of the equipment and some future directives were also stated.

The study revealed that a significant reduction in labor requirements would be possible when the equipment would be used. Also, the study showed that it would be economically viable to use no-till farming system using the equipment with the assumption that productivity is the same for both conventional and conservative system. Regarding adaptability, this study showed that the equipment worked in both wet and dry soil and at a slope of 7 degrees