Farm Power And Machinery (1+1)

Animal drawn multipurpose hoe

• Animal drawn weeding implements are pulled either by single animal or a pair of animals. These implements may either be single row type or multi row units.
• The three tyne cultivator or ‘Triphali’, Akola hoe, Bardole hoe or two ‘Blade hoe’ are the most popular implements in different regions for row crop interculture operations.
• It is essential to provide wider spacing (above 30 cm) for movement of animals and implement if animal drawn weeders are to be used.
The main parts of the blade hoe are
• Head piece
• Prong
• Blade
• Handle and
• Beam
The prongs make an angle of about 45o downward with the horizontal plane.
At the end of each prong, the blade is attached.
It loosens the upper surface of the soil and is generally used for interculturing sorghum (jowar), cotton, groundnut and other kharif crops.
The hoe width is maintained between 25 and 75 cm depending upon the size of the bullocks and type of soil.