Development of an Animal Drawn Zero Tillage Seeder for Small Grains

Abstract

Multiple row seeders adequate for direct (zero tillage) seeding of small grain cereals using animal traction have not been commercially available in South America. Given the probable benefits of the use of zero tillage to small farmers in the inter-Andean valleys of Bolivia, an inter-institutional project was initiated to design, construct and test seeders for these conditions. A three-row seeder has been produced that gives higher plant stands, results in considerable savings in time compared to the traditional system of seeding into tilled land, and has a lower draught requirement than the traditional wooden plough. Although adoption of the seed drill is yet to take place, farmer interest is high, mainly because of the time saving the use of the seeder represents.