TECHNICAL SEMINARON

“AGRO TEXTILES”By

A.PRAKASH (05T404)III-B.Tech Textile

INTRODUCTIONWith the increase in the population worldwide, stress on the agricultural crops has increased.

Traditionally adopted ways of using pesticides and herbicides are expensive and have long lasting ecological impact.

Adapting the hi-tech farming technique, where eco-friendly textile structures are used, could enhance the quality and overall yield of agro-products.

AGROTECH INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING APPLICATIONS.

Non-woven jute mulching.Roof Garden-Lawn.Woven Ground Cover.Hail Netting.Crop Netting.Natural Fibre Tree Mats.Wind break and Shade Netting.Insect Netting.Pot Tops.

Etc. , ………………..

Objectives of mulchingTo produce a Non-woven Jute mat with required specifications for Agro textiles.To test various characteristics of the material, such as air permeability, water permeability, and thickness.To select and condition a suitable plantation with a feasible maturity period. To mulch the plantation with the Non-woven jute mat.

To asses the performance of mulching technique through weed count and yield obtained. To compare the results of the mulching technique with that of manual weed control, chemical weed control and no weed control results.

Methodology Collection of Raw Material

Jute non woven manufacturing Testing of jute non woven fabric

Selection of plantations with a Feasible experimental time

Assess performance

Report results

Plan of plantationTHE CONTROL OF WEEDS ARE CARRIED OUT BY

Using Non Woven Jute Mulch

Manual Weed Comtrol

Chemical Weed Control

No Weed Control

MulchingPrinciple:

It blocks the sunlight and thereby it prevents the germination of the weed.

But this no way effects the growth of the plant

Since mulching is done only after the plant grows to certain extent.

Conventional cultivation of curry leaves

Cultivation through fiber mulching

Closer view of mulched plant

Advantages Reduced maintenance costs whilst plants are establishing.

Discourages weeds and unwanted grass.

Improved water retention due to uneven surfaces.

Reduces soil erosion on sloping ground whilst roots develop.

Manual Weed Control This involves manual control of weeds where weeds are pulled out manually.In certain cases simple tools are used to pull out the weeds. Weeds should be removed right from the root to avoid weeds growing again from the ruins. The crop gets matured within three months. Weeds have been removed once in 20 days.

It takes a day and a half for ten men to pull out weeds from one acre of plantation.

Chemical weed control Chemicals Used in Curry Leaves:

GramaxzoneNeeded amount is about one liter approximately for one

acre.It is mixed in a proportion of hundred ml in ten liters of

water.Mixed solution are applied to field through spray motor,

sprayer requires ten to fourteen liters per tank.One acre consumes about ten to fifteen tanks of mixedsolution.Weeds will start destroy after one month of applying.Effect of chemical will continue for about two to threeMonths or until toiling.

No Weed ControlHere no care is taken to this plot. The plot is irrigated like other plots.

Usually weeds grow like a bush here and cover the overall area.

This plot needs more amount of water. The seeds from these weeds fall over the land and spoil the fertility of the soil.

Weed count in various weed control techniques

S.no Week no.

Weed count in

No weed control Manual weed control Chemical weed control

Mulch weed control

1 1 3 1 2 0

2 2 3 3 2 0

3 3 5 4 3 0

4 4 6 0 1 0

5 5 5 2 1 0

6 6 10 2 5 0

7 7 21 4 2 0

8 8 21 0 2 0

9 9 24 4 2 1

10 10 27 6 2 1

11 11 30 9 4 1

12 12 30 0 2 1

Yield comparison in various techniques

Plot

No weed control

Manual weed control

Chemical weed control

Mulch weed control

Yield in Kg/Acre

1600 2408 2357 2617

Objectives of Roof Garden-Lawn

To create a portable Roof Garden – Lawn with a Non-woven Jute as a base.

To study the advantages of this type of gardening over conventional roof gardening.

Roof Garden-Lawn

Lawn created over Non woven jute mat

Lawn preparationInitially the jute mat is laid on the concrete floor. A homogenous mixture of red soil, fine sand, urea and water in 6:2:1:1 ratio.

This mixture is then spread over the non woven jute mat. This mixture is watered for two or three days and dampness in the soil is maintained.

A healthy grass strip is bought from a nursery and these strips are divided into separate clusters and planted over the mixture so that the roots are buried into the mixture.

Advantages of jute based roof gardening

The lawn created through this technique is similar to that of conventional lawns in growth and appearance, but the significance lies in the portability of this sort of lawn. These lawns can be shifted to desired location.

They can be even placed over the concrete floors without any modifications. They can be used in indoor and outdoor.

Leaching is prevented .

OTHER USES

Woven Ground Cover Hail Netting

OTHER USES

Crop NettingNatural Fibre Tree Mats

OTHER USES

Wind break and Shade NettingInsect Netting

OTHER USES

Pot Tops

Pot Tops

In world level India has 6% market share in this sector.It is expected to grow about US$ 8079 million in 2010 with an annual growth of 3.8%.India’s Market share is expected to touch Rs.465 crores in 2007-2008.Research can be carried out in blending of synthetic fibers with jute to reduce cost and increase the durability of these products.

CONCLUSION

References Manoj D Sankhe and R S Chitnis, “Agrotextiles”, Asian Textile Journal, October (2004) 85-90.Sankhe Monoj Chitnis R S et al., “textile structures and their application in agriculture”, The Indian Textile Journal, vol CXII, No 3, December (2002) 9-12.David Arvil., “An innovative approach to spunbond agricultural crop cover,” Journal of Industrial Textiles, vol 30,No 4, April (2001) 311-319. Dr.G.P.Nair & S.P.Pandian, “Technical textiles” Agrotech, Colourage, January (2006) 93-98.www.capatex.com

Thank U !