Vol. 8, Issue 1, Part C (2026)

Precision seed placement is a key factor influencing crop establishment, productivity, and resource-use efficiency in Chickpea (chickpea). A rotary dibbler was evaluated under On-Farm Trial (OFT) conditions at Dhanwad village, Taluka and District Jalgaon, Maharashtra, during the rabi seasons of 2024-25 and 2025-26 with the participation of 20 farmers each year. The performance of rotary dibbler sowing was compared with conventional manual sowing in terms of seed placement uniformity, crop emergence, labour requirement, operational efficiency, cost of sowing, and farmer perception. The rotary dibbler recorded significantly higher seed placement uniformity (91-92%) and crop emergence (88-90%) compared to manual sowing (72-73% and 78-80%, respectively). Labour requirement was reduced by 45-50%, while time required for sowing decreased from 4.7-4.8 h ha⁻¹ under manual sowing to 3.6-3.8 h ha⁻¹ with the rotary dibbler. The cost of sowing was reduced by about Rs 1200-1250 per hectare due to lower labour requirement. Farmers expressed high satisfaction due to ease of operation, reduced drudgery, and uniform crop stand. The study demonstrated that the rotary dibbler is a technically feasible, economically viable, and farmer-friendly implement for Chickpea sowing, particularly suitable for small and marginal farmers.