Labor Saving Technology for Transplanting Chinese Yams Using a Seed Tuber Transplanter (Part 1)

Abstract

Chinese yam seed tubers are typically transplanted using manual operations, is slow work. Therefore, expansion of production centers does not greatly increase profits. To improve this problem, we produced a seed tuber transplanter for Chinese yams that comprises a two-row switching holder, a rotary ridger, and a seed tuber hopper. We investigated labor saving technology for transplanting Chinese yams.
This seed tuber transplanter of Chinese yams planted seed tubers at 40cm intervals and 7cm depth at 2.2h/10a ; 98% of the tubers were aligned in the proper direction. The necessary labor was 60% compared to that of conventional work. This seed tuber transplanter has 8.8ha coverage and a 7.8ha break-even point area. Using the transplanter, which improved the working posture of the user's back and legs, increased the AC1 rate by 44%, the level of labor load by 93% from that necessary for conventional work. Chinese yam cultivation using seed tuber transplanter increased yields by 1.4 times and the standard range by 1.2 times. Farmers who used this seed tuber transplanter showed an increase of their cultivation area 1.2-2.0 times.