Technical performance evaluation of a double row tractor operated yam minisett planter

Uniformity in plant spacing, evenness of dropping, planter capacity and among others has been identified as constraints facing planter performance. The main objective of the study was to evaluate the technical performance of the developed double row yam minisett (DRYM) planter. Category (I) tractor 50 hp was used to carry out field trials to determine the metering efficiency, effective field capacity, evenness of dropping, fuel consumption and wheel slippage. Three (3) yam varieties (pona, dente and CRI afase biri) of the average weight of 50 g with moisture content (82 %) were used for the test. Multivariate and (ANOVA) statistical method was used for analyzing the similarities among the tractor speed using OriginPro 2018 software. Metering efficiency (80.4%), effective field capacity (3.84 h/ha), field efficiency (66.6%), evenness of dropping (81.00%), and wheel slip (3.39%) were recorded. The use of developed planter will be expected to reduce human drudgery and also timeliness improvement. The study concluded that planter should be used on relatively flat (ploughed-harrowed) land to avoid wheel not touching the ground.