Combine harvester that reaps paddy, sows wheat alongside

In a ground-breaking innovation that could resolve the issue of crop residue burning after paddy harvesting, at least partially, the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) has developed an attachment for combine harvesters that enables farmers to harvest paddy and sow wheat simultaneously.

Partially, because it would be most suitable for farmers whose paddy crop is late for harvesting and coincides with the small window period for sowing wheat. These farmers mostly resort to burning of paddy straw, reasoning that they don’t have enough time to manage the residue, as delay would cause a decrease in the yield of the next crop, wheat.

The new technique which is a mix of surface seeding-cum-mulching techniques has already been tested in the fields of farmers in Gurdaspur. At present, PAU is working to spread it in other districts, including Amritsar.

In this new technique, the wheat seed is sown on the surface of soil with an attachment fixed just behind the blade. Super SMS, at the rear of the combine harvester, evenly spreads the paddy straw on the seeds. “The seeds germinate only after the field has been irrigated and the mulching of paddy straw helps it retain moisture and prevent growth of weeds,” said Dr Jasvir Gill.

Director (Extension) at PAU, Dr MS Bhullar said, “We are also conducting trials to use the technique for sowing other Rabi season crops.” He said that after harvesting of paddy, a large area of land is used for cultivating vegetable crop. “Vegetable farmers, due to shortage of time often resort to the quickest and easiest method, which is burning,” he said.

Dr Bhullar said, “The farmers in Gurdaspur had used the technique even last year and it had given better yield and less problem of weeds.” He said that the university is holding events in villages to acquaint the farmers and combine harvester operators with the new technique. As part of this outreach programme, events were held in Chinna Bidhi Chand village of Tarn Taran and Wadal Johal village of Amritsar by Dr Gurbax Singh from Khalsa College, and regional scientists of PAU, including Dr Parminder Singh Tung, Dr Parminder Singh Sandhu, Dr Raminder Kaur and Dr Rajan Bhatt.