The “boom sprayer” is a hybrid between a tractor and an autobot from the Transformers; its has two 20-feet booms that spread out like outstretched wings. On them are equally spaced nozzles that spray bio-decomposers on the freshly harvested rice field where about 700 of these machines will be at work across 5 lakh acres in Punjab and Haryana. The decomposers are a powder (earlier introduced as capsules) mixed in water meant to accelerate the process of turning rice stubble into compost. Untreated rice straw takes 4-8 weeks to disintegrate which is too long for the average farmer to wait to be able to sow the winter wheat crop. The other option is to employ farm labour, who will cut the stalk and pile it into bundles, but that's expensive and unaffordable for more than 95% of the farmers. Here, by not alighting the fields, carbon as well as essential soil micronutrients will be retained. After spraying, the soil needs to be turned over and irrigated. When done correctly — spraying, turning the soil over and irrigating it for four days. As per the company claim, with the boom sprayer, an acre can be sprayed in 7 minutes whereas manually it takes half a day.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Krishi Vigyan Kendras: Working for Farmer's Welfare
Krishi Vigyan Kendras (Farm Science Centres) are the District level institution serving as an agriculture knowledge resource & capacity development centre which plays indispensable role in front line extension regarding agriculture system in scientific way.
Sixth generation Computer: The future computing technology
We are in a transition towards a digital world, where everything will be dealt with in digital format.
Massive Underground Water Reservoir Found on Mars
Scientists have discovered a reservoir of liquid water on Mars deep in the rocky outer crust of the planet.
Tofu: The Budget-Friendly Superfood for Vegetarians
Tofu is a plant-based protein-rich food item that can be easily prepared at the household level with limited resources.
Exploring the Marvels of Carbon Quantum Dots: A Leap into the Future of Nanotechnology
In the ever-changing world of nanotechnology, carbon quantum dots (CQDs) have emerged as super tiny but incredibly powerful entities that have massive potential in various fields.
Sniffing Cancer- Honeybee, a potential cancer detector?
Imagine harnessing the super-sense of a honeybee to sniff out lung cancer.
From Ancient Roots to Modern Remedies: The Timeless Value of Turkey Berry in Nature's Healing Arsena
The Timeless Value of Turkey Berry in Traditional and Modern Medicine
Massive biomolecular shifts occur in our 40s and 60s
If it's ever felt like everything in your body is breaking down at once, that might not be your imagination.
Pectin: An Esteemed Plant-Derived Molecule in the Food Industry
This article provides a concise overview of the significance of pectin, a plant-derived molecule, in the food industry.
Skip the Antibacterial Soap: Use Plain Soap and Water
When you buy soaps and body washes, do you reach for products labeled \"antibacterial\" hoping they'll keep your family safer? Do you think those products will lower your risk of getting sick, spreading germs or being infected? According to the U.S.