Mechanical Garlic Weeder for Sustainable Agriculture: A Greener Alternative

Weed management in garlic cultivation is resource-intensive, with chemical herbicides posing environmental risks. To address this problem, a tractor-drawn 19-row garlic weeder has been developed, offering an eco-friendly alternative. Rigorous testing revealed its efficacy through various treatments. Single weeding achieved 57.4% weed control, while double weeding reached 91.1%, and combining double weeding with manual methods peaked at 96.1%. Notably, this matched the 97.5% efficiency of three manual weedings. The weeder’s operating cost was Rs 2019/ha for single weeding, presenting a 49.8% cost-saving compared to three manual weedings. This innovation emerges as a cost-effective and sustainable solution for garlic cultivation in organic farming.