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ThesisItem Open Access Optimum thresher parameters for high moist paddy(Department of Farm Power Machinery and Energy, Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Tavanur, 1993) Hamza, Mollakadavath; KAU; Sivaswami, MThe study undertaken by the newly development 1 hp paddy thresher to optimise its parameters for high moist paddy revealed that the peripheral velocity from 10.80 to 21.72 m/s on the rasp – bar, spike tooth, double directional spiral cylinders didn’t influence much on the threshing efficiency. When the moisture content was increased to 35 per cent, the threshing efficiency was brought down from 98.4 to 92 per cent for rasp – bar cylinder and was increased from 88 per cent to 94 per cent in the case of double directional spiral cylinder. The maximum threshing efficiency of 99 percent was achieved for spike tooth cylinder at 19.2 per cent moisture level. The maximum threshing efficiency of 94% and the maximum output of 340 kg/h were achieved with the double directional spiral cylinder when the moisture content was 35% per cent. The proto – type thresher was found to reduce the cost of threshing to 81 per cent and reduction in labour to 85.16 per cent compared to the manual threshing.ThesisItem Open Access Development and field evaluation of a cardomom polishing machine(Department of Farm Power Machinery and Energy, Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Tavanur, 1999) Anu, Ray Mathew; KAU; Mohammad, C PCardamom capsules when dried have a dried flower stalk which is hard to be removed by manual operation. For destalkinq, a power operated cardamom polishing machine was developed, tested and its performance was evaluated. A polishing drum with attached wooden blades seperated the dried capsules fed in. from the flower stalk attached and were collected seperately. A single phase 1 hp motor served as power source. A 3-factlJr, factorial experiment in Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with drum speed, feed/batch, and retention time as independent variables was performed.ThesisItem Open Access Design, fabrication and testing of a power operated paddy dibbler(Department of Farm Power Machinery and Energy, Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Tavanur, 1996) Jayarajan, R; KAU; Jippu, JacobA 2-row power operated paddy dibbler was designed, fabricated and tested at Kelapaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Thavanur. The main components of the dibbler were two seed boxes, plungers reciprocating within the seed tubes, fluted roller seed metering mechanism, dibbler wheels, stationary cam, frame and transport wheels. The seed tubes were fixed radially around the dibbler wheel with 45 mm of it projecting outwards for penetrating the soil. The plunger was actuated by a stationary cam and during its upward stroke it uncovered the farther end of the seed transfer tube and transferred the seeds into the seed tube and then into the holes made in the soil. In the downward stroke the plunger closed the seed transfer tube. Simultaneously the fluted roller transferred the seeds in to the seed transfer tube. The average speed of operation of the dibbler was 1.32 kmph and its field capacity and field efficiency were 0.031 ha/h and 78.18 per cent respectively. The average number of seeds dropped per hill was 5 and the seed rate obtained was 78 kg/ha. The seeds were placed within the confines of the holes made by the seed tube and plunger. There was absolutely no scattering. The depth of placement varied from 3.8 to 4.6 cm. The operating cost of the dibbler was Rs. 502.58/ha. This mechanism offers scope for developing dibblers with more number of rows for being operated more economically.ThesisItem Open Access Erodibility and runoff potential of laterite soils under simulated rainfall conditions(Department of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Tavanur, 1999) Sajeena, S; KAU; Kurien, E KSoil erosion is one of the most serious environment degradation problems. However reliable measurement of erosion remains limited and estimates of soil productivity are even rarer. Assessing the extent and seriousness of erosion therefore remains a difficult task Nevertheless, identification and assessment of erosion problems could have an important role in influencing better land use and conservation practices. Rainfall simulators are considered as an effective tool in soil conservation research. Simulators make it possible to produce predetermined storms at any desired time and location. They make the replication of research easier and facilitate the study of storm sequences. Laterite soils are by far the most important soil group occurring in Kerala and cover the largest area. The objective of this study was to estimate the erodibility and runoff potential of laterite soils of three well defined series under simulated rainfall conditions. The rainfall simulator designed and fabricated by Kurien and George (1998) was modified for better performance. The modified simulator could produce rainfall intensities varying from 741 to 23.00 cmlh. Also uniformity of the rainfall produced could be increased to higher values of 88.10 and 91.53 per cent, thus giving a better performance. Intensity of rainfall increased as the 11 pressure of supply water to the simulator increased and a relationship was established between intensity and the supply pressure of water as 1= -87.205 p2 + 108.61 P - 10.786 (R = 0.99) Experiments were also conducted to study soil loss and runoff from three different series of laterite soils, i.e.Mannamkulam series, Naduvattom series and Vellanikkara series. The soil loss and runoff increased with increase in the rainfall intensity for all slopes studied for each series of soil. A general trend of increase In soil loss and runoff with increase in the slope was observed for all the three series of soils. Empirical equations were developed for estimating soil loss (E) and runoff (0) for various intensities of rainfall and land slopes for the three series of soils selected for the study. The equations are: Mannamkulam series E = 1167.797 I + 835.109 S - 21686.07 (R = 0.90) Q = 65.0161 + 16.747 S - 235.923 (R = 0.99) Naduvattom series E = 324.766 I + 112.799 S - 3912.219 (R = 0.97) Q = 74.542 1+19.434 S - 394.323 (R = 0.99) Vellanikkara series E = 115.662 I + 431. 064 S - 11512.284 (R = 0.98) Q = 58.742 I + 26.837 S - 310.019 (R = 0.99) ii1ThesisItem Open Access Performance evaluation of high discharge low head pumps(Department of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Tavanur, 1998) Rini Rani, S; KAU; John Thomas, KPaddy cultivation in Kuttanad and Kole lands is made possible only after large scale dewatering operations. These water logged lands have to be drained in the shortest possible time to initiate seed bed preparation. The short time available for seed bed preparation need adoption of high discharge low head pumps. The most commonly used centrifugal pump is incapable of giving corresponding increase in discharge rate even if the lift required is reduced to a minimum. So this study was undertaken to help to identify a suitable portable pump for meeting the specific requirement of drainage in Kerala. Mixed flow and axial flow pumps imported from Thailand were used for this purpose. The study included testing of lS-cm mixed and axial flow pump at the specially designed and constructed test bed at different speeds and at different water levels in the pumping sump. For each test, from the data obtained discharge, input power and efficiency were calculated. Using the calculated values performance characteristic curves were plotted and regression equations were developed for discharge efficiency, discharge - total head and discharge - input power relationship at each speed. Performance curves were also plotted keeping total static head const ant and regression equations of speed - discharge, speed - total head, speed - input power and speed efficiency relationships were developed. The maximum efficiency of IS-cm mixed flow pump was 42.16 per cent at a speed of 1000 rev/min, against a total head of 217.33 cm and a discharge rate of 49.47 L/s. The input power corresponding to this efficiency was 3.4 hp. The best performance of mixed flow pump was noted at a working speed of 1000 rev/min. The maximum efficiency of IS-cm axial flow pump tested was only 18.05 per cent at a total head of 160.55 cm and a discharge of 24.88 L/s. The corresponding speed was 2500 rev/min and input power was 2.95 hp. The best performance of axial flow pump was noted at a working speed of 2500 rev/min.ThesisItem Open Access Synthetic generation of streamflow data using computer simulation model(Department of Land and Water Resources and Conservation Engineering, Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Tavanur, 1993) Leven , K V; KAU; Jobi V, PaulA Study has been made to develop a computer simulation model for the synthetic generation of streamflow data for Chaliyar, one of the larger basins of the state. The data were collected from different river gauging stations for different durations. A suitable mathematical model namely Thomas Fiering Model was developed for the generation of synthetic data. The model was fitted for the observed monthly steamflows. The validity of the model was checked by comparing the statistical parameters of historical and generated data and by comparing the flow duration curves. It is seen that the model preserves various statistical parameters like mean, standard deviation and correlation coefficient. The study reveals that the computer simulation model developed is a very effective tool in the proper management of water resources system.ThesisItem Open Access Effect of soil solarization using ldpemulch on moisture conservation and soil temperature variation(Department of Land and Water Resources and Conservation Engineering, Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Tavanur, 1997) Anu Varghese; KAU; John Thomas, KSoil solarization is based on mulching the soil surface with transparent polyethylene sheets which capture the solar radiation and thus heat the soil to a level lethal for various pests. Solarization is useful in the control of weeds and also helps in moisture conservation. To some extent this can satisfy the demand of water for pre sowing irrigation during the summer months by conserving the moisture in the soil. In the experiment two types of polyethylene sheets (0.10 mm and 0.05 mm) were used and three durations of solarization, i.e., 30 days, 40 days and 50 days were tried. A crop (bhindi) was sown in the area after the solarization period to know the effect of solarization on its performance. The average maximum soil temperature at 5 cm depth obtained in the non-solarized plots was 49.5°C only, but in solarized plots it went upto 56.5°C. The magnitude of rise in soil temperature of solarized treatments was higher due to 0.05 TP than 0.10 TP. The intensity of solar radiation reaching the soil surface was significantly higher in the non-solarized plots than in the solarized plots. There was significant increase in the moisture content values in the solarized plots compared to the non solarized plots at 5, 10 and 15 cm depth below the soil surface. The moisture content values in 0.05 TP solarized plots were slightly higher than in 0.10 TP solarized plots, but was not significant. In the solarized treatments, there was 37.9, 33.7 and 38.3 per cent increase in the moisture content values at 5, 10 and 15 cm depths respectively. Solarization also had significant effect in lowering the weed count as well as the dry weight of the weeds for around 5 months after the period of solarization. The yield of bhindi was significantly higher in the solarized treatments than in the non-solarized treatments. This increase in the yield of bhindi may be due to the drastic reduction in weed count and dry weight on account of solarization.ThesisItem Open Access Development and performance evaluation of a low cost water-wheel for lifting water at low heads(Department of Farm Power Machinery and Energy, Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Tavanur, 1992) Jayan, P R; KAU; Sankaranarayanan, M RA low cost water wheel was designed, fabricated and tested in the distributory canal of KCAET farm, Tavanur. The device was operated by the stream current with no additional power source and was tested for different submergence depths varying from 0.12 to 0.25 m. Water wheel with eight cups of 30 cm x 7 cm x 2 cm intake compartment was found to be the most efficient under various operating conditions. A maximum efficiency of 48% was obtained at 0.23 m of submergence depth. The device can lift water without additional operating cost as long at the mean stream velocity is greater than or equal to 0.44 m/sec for the optimum depth of submergence at 23 cm. The corresponding discharge of the system is 19.2 lpm at 0.6 m head. The investment cost of the device is Rs. 800/- and the annual operating cost is Rs. 204/- with low maintenance cost. Though the power output and the discharge capacity were low, it has a two fold advantage of functional reliability and simplicity of design and fabrication at village level. It can successfully be utilised by the small farmers when the cultivating fields are adjuscent to the canal water courses.ThesisItem Open Access Development and testing of a rotary type black pepper cleaner(Department of Farm Power Machinery and Energy, Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Tavanur, 1995) Abdul Wahab, V S; KAU; Jippu, JacobA power operated rotary type black pepper cleaner is developed, tested and its performance evaluated. The major parts are an inclined circular disc, an involute shaped scraper, a feeding unit and a collecting tray. The black pepper admixture is fed to the drum sieve through a hopper. By rotating the sieve, feed material fall uniformly over one-half of the area of the inclined rotating disc. Good pepper grains being nearly spherical in shape roll down at one end, whereas foreign materials which cannot roll down as freely, is scraped out at the other end by means of an involute scraper. Both cleaned and uncleaned grains are received in a collecting tray placed below the disc. A 3-phase 0.5 HP variable speed dynodrive motor along with a 10:1 gear reduction unit operates the machine. The important physical properties of black pepper relevant to cleaning process are also studied. The trials are repeated for the surfaces of mica and cotton under different levels of feed rate, angle of inclination and speed. Better performance is obtained in the case of cotton surface. Under these conditions, a cleaning efficiency of 88 per cent is obtained at a feed rate of 12 kg/h, angle of disc 11o and at a speed of 10 rpm. The cost of the machine excluding the power unit comes to Rs. 1’100/-. The operating cost of machine is found to be Rs. 16.45/h. It is recommended for further studies and modifications.