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2020 - 20212
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Subject: Farm, Machinery and Power × Author: KAU × Start date: 2020 × Thesis Type: M.Tech. ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Development of a machine vision system to identify matured pepper spikes
    (Department of Farm Machinery and Power Engineering, Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Tavanur, 2021) Meera, T; KAU; Sindhu, Bhaskar
    Black pepper is a perennial crop and one of the most economically significant spices in India. It has a high commercial value in the market all around the world. Its fruit is harvested, dried and powdered for many cuisines and processed for many value added products. Black pepper is a flowering vine growing up to 4 m in height. The berries turns from green to red on maturity and are harvested when it starts to turn red. For achieving good quality and good sized pepper, it should be harvested at its proper matured state. Farmers for their time saving and due to heavy work intensity, harvest almost all the fruits which are in a range of maturity along with the real matured ones. This eventually affects the crop yield and quality. Hence employing an automated identification system in this case would be effective. An application programme interface was developed for this, using the fruit features like the shape, colour and size. By using the machine learning techniques and computer vision technology, two programmes were developed in python language, one using OpenCV library and Haar Cascade classifier, and other platform with TensorFlow as library and faster-RCNN as classifier. Studies were also carried out to analyse the physical properties of black pepper. Using image acquisition, a dataset was created and was used for training and preparation of both the models. The hardware part of the system comprised of a webcam as sensor, Raspberry Pi processor, a RPI display unit and some accessory parts. The hardware and software parts were installed and assembled, and subjected to performance evaluation. It was revealed that the Tf-RCNN platform had better performance and efficiency. The performance evaluation parameters viz., sensitivity, specificity and accuracy values were 78%, 71% and 75% respectively for the second model. It was statistically verified that there is a significant difference between the two platforms and the second model had better consistency.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Development and perfomance evaluation of a tractor powered manure pulverizer cum application
    (Department of Farm Machinery and Power Enginnering, Kelappaji College of Agriculture Engineering, Tavanur, 2020) Sai Mohan, S; KAU; Jayan, P R
    Organic manures such as farm yard manure, green manure etc., when incorporated into the soil not only add nutrients but enriches the soil by the fixation of atmospheric nitrogen. Manures (FYM, vermicompost, edible oil cakes etc.,) are an important resources which provide nutrients that could reduce bagged fertilizer costs and improves the crop growth and performance. A well-managed manure is a valuable resource in providing nutrients for crop production. Use of farm yard manure and other organic manure is the way out to overcome the problems of soil degradation, loss of fertility and soil health. Manual application of manure consumes more time and labour. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to develop and evaluate the performance of a tractor powered manure pulverizer cum applicator. The components of the machine were developed to suit the various dosages of manure without much variation in the distribution efficiency. The actual field capacity and efficiency of manure pulverizer cum applicator was found out to be 0.311 ha h-1 and 86.5 % at a forward speed of 2.0 km h-1, 0.356 ha h-1 and 79.2 % at a forward speed of 2.5 km h-1 and 0.395 ha h-1 and 73.1 % at a forward speed of 3.0 km h-1. Maximum field capacity was noted at a traveling speed of 3.0 km h-1. A larger application rate of 1387.1 kg ha-1 for cow dung, 1624.4 kg ha-1 for goat faecal pellets and 1618.6 kg ha-1 for neem cake was noted at an engine rpm of 2500, forward speed of 2 km h-1 with a field capacity of 0.31 ha h-1. With increasing the forward speed to 2.5 and 3.0 km h-1, field capacity increases but the application rate is decreased. The cost of manure pulverizer cum applicator alone is Rs. 64,000. Cost of operation of manure pulverizer cum applicator as an attachment to tractor as explained in Section 3.4 was found as 583.05 Rs h-1 and 1943.5 Rs ha-1. Cost of manual manure application followed by manure pulverization was 582.7 Rs h-1 and 4662.2 Rs ha-1.