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Open Access
Investigations for the development of electrostatic pollinator
(Department of Farm Machinery and Power Engineering, Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Tavanur, 2019) Rinju lukose; KAU; Dhalin, D
The problems in fruit setting with artificial pollination (contact type) can eradicate by the application of electrostatic forces (non - contact pollen collection and deposition), hence the study was undertaken to develop an electrostatic pollinator. Anagha variety of tomato and Preethi variety of bitter gourd were selected. Morphological characteristics of these flowers were studied for design of pollinator. A high voltage amplification unit with flyback transformer and MOSFET, a spherical shaped electrode and a DC input source were the major components of the electrostatic pollinator. The pollen collection capacity of two electrodes E1 (10 mm) and E2 (7.5 mm) were evaluated at voltage potentials of 3 kV, 4 kV, 5 kV and 6 kV at 5 mm, 10 mm and 15 mm distance from the anther tip of flower. The maximum number of pollens (409 for tomato and 2827 for bitter gourd) was collected by electrode E1 with a charging potential of 6 kV at 5 mm distance, both in case of tomato and bitter gourd. This high pollen collection rate was due to high detaching forces acting on the pollen grains at shorter distance between the anther tip and electrode. The pollen collection capacity was minimum (87 for tomato and 1227 for bitter gourd) for electrode E2 with an electrode potential of 3 kV at 15 mm distance. Pollens were deposited into the flower using the two electrodes (E1 and E2) at voltage potential of 1 kV, 3 kV and 6 kV at 5 mm distance from the tip of stigma. The fruit set efficiency of electrostatic pollination in tomato was 80% and artificial manual pollination was 40%. In bitter gourd, fruit set efficiency of electrostatic pollination and artificial pollination was 100%. But damage of stigma during hand pollination caused reduction in size, weight and number of sound seeds.
Open Access
Design development and testing of a power operated paddy hill seeder
(Department of Farm Machinery and Power Engineering, Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Tavanur, 2019) Bandi Nageswar; KAU; Manoj Mathew
Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is important leading food crop and it is widely cultivated in India. The farmers are facing problems due to lack of labour, time, inputs cost and also due to drudgery in work. Nevertheless, mechanization in paddy cultivation can boost higher productivity and considerably reduce the cost of production. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to design and develop a power operated paddy hill seeder in paddy cultivation. The power operated paddy hill seeder was developed and tested based on the, engineering and physical properties of dry and pre-germinated paddy seeds. The tests were conducted on sand bed to evaluate the seed metering mechanism performance with respect to spacing, seed rate, quality of feed index, multiple index, miss index, and seed damage at two different forward speeds (1.5 and 1.8 km h-1), two cell sizes and three transmission speeds (1:1.7, 1:1.2 and 1:0.95). The mean hill to hill spacing was ranged from 0.09-0.20 m, 3 to 7 seeds per hill, seed rate of 21-58 kg ha-1. The missing index and multiple indexe were less for the different combinations of study parameters (speed 1.5 kmph, cell size 9 mm, Transmission ratio 1:1.7), (Speed 1.8 kmph, Cell size 9 mm, Transmission ratio 1:1.7) and (Speed 1.8 kmph, Cell size 12 mm, Transmission ratio 1:1.7). The quality feed index were 86.1, 88.6 and 91.1 respectively for above sequence of combinations of study parameters. The average field capacity of the paddy hill seeder was 0.22 ha h-1 and 0.26 ha h-1 with efficiency of 80.00% and 76.00 % for forward speeds of 1.5 and 1.8 kmph respectively. Based on the performance evaluation results, it is concluded that the developed power operated paddy hill seeder is economical and efficient for direct sowing of paddy.
Open Access
Design and development of a multipurpose tool carrier for homestead agriculture
(Department of Farm Machinery and Power Engineering, Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Tavanur, 2019) Arya, K T; KAU; Shaji James
Homesteads lack appropriate machinery that suits their diverse requirements. Homestead agriculture warranted an affordable and versatile powered multipurpose tool carrier capable of improving the efficiency of human power. Hence development of a MPTC powered by the engine of a 1.5 kW backpack brush cutter which is commonly available in farming households was under taken so as to avoid the requirement of different implements and power sources for different operations. Main components of MPTC were support frame along with handle, transmission systems with gear reduction units which converted 9340 rpm of the engine to 226 rpm with necessary transmission shafts and transportation wheels. Tools developed as attachments to MPTC were rotary tiller/weeder for vegetable crops, paddy weeding attachment, surface pulveriser cum two-row vegetable weeder, horizontal auger for coconut basin listing and vertical auger for digging pits. The multipurpose tool carrier with its different attachments was tested in fields with moisture contents ranging from 10 to 30%. From the field evaluation of rotary weeding attachment, it was found that the depth of cut was 3-5 cm and the average weeding efficiency was 90.07%. The fuel consumption, field efficiency, average weeding efficiency and average plant damage in the case of paddy weeder were 0.675 l h-1, 66.4%, 71.09% and 4.87%, respectively. Surface pulveriser cum two-row vegetable weeder attachment for row crop vegetables gave an average weeding efficiency of 80.27% with a fuel consumption of 1.64 l h-1 and a field capacity of 0.024 ha h1. Coconut basin lister could make 14-25 shallow basins per hour based on soil conditions. Earth auger could dig 8 pits with a maximum depth of 45 cm and 15 cm diameter. Total cost of fabrication of different attachments with MPTC was Rs.35640/-.
Open Access
Development and testing of potting mixture Filling machine for filling grow bags
(Department of Farm Machinery and Power Engineering, Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Tavanur, 2019) Amal Dev, J; KAU; Jayan, P R
Grow bag cultivation is getting popular in our state due to urbanisation. It necessitated easy method of filling grow bags as per the favourable agronomic conditions for crop growth. A grow bag filling machine was hence developed and tested for filling grow bags of different size. The machine was developed by modifying the KAU manure pulverizer by suitably fixing a collecting hopper beneath the sieve, grow bag holders attached to one leg of the stand for holding different bags and pedal for controlling the filling. The machine consists of an electric motor, a feeding chute, pulverizing drum, transmission unit, rotating blades, sieve and a supporting stand. Materials were pulverized and mixed due to rotations of the blade which caused the cutting and shearing actions and got pulverized in the clearance between the blade and the sieve. The grow bag mixture was discharged through the sieve and got collected in the bottom hopper. A pedal operated valve was inserted into the small hopper to facilitate metered discharge of the potting media. As and when it is allowed to open a metered quantity of the mixture was discharged into the grow bags placed below it. The machine was tested to determine its performance and to optimize the machine parameters and material parameters at different moisture contents of 10,15,20,25 and 30 percent, clearances of 15, 20 and 25 mm, two ratios of soil: coir pith: FYM as 1:1:1 and 1:0.5:1 mixture and for three bag sizes of small medium and large. Dried soil, coir pith and FYM get pulverized, mixed and filled in the grow bags. The properties of grow bag mixtures obtained were found out and were on par with the ideal recommendations. The properties such as water holding capacity (165.02 percent), bulk density (0.493 g.cm-3), porosity (65.43 percent), fineness modulus (5.31), angle of repose (46.66º), pH (6.76), electrical conductivity (2.19 dS.m-1) and uniformity of mixture were observed at the ratio 1:1:1 (S:C:FYM) at the moisture content of 15 percent. Performance parameters such as weight of bags filled (6.18 kg) time of operation (230 s), capacity of the machine (385 kg.h-1), number of bags filled (63) and energy consumption (0.31 kWh for four bags) were obtained with an overall efficiency of 97.70 percent. The cost of grow bag filling machine is Rs.49500. The hourly cost of operation for the machine is calculated as Rs.357. The analysis of the results indicated that the performance of the machine was optimum for filling large grow bags at 15 percent moisture content at the ratio S: C: FYM as 1:1:1 for all clearances.
Open Access
Department and testing a power operated pre-germinated paddy seed broadcaster
(Department of Farm Machinery and Power Engineering, Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Tavanur, 2019) Sreedhara, B; KAU; Manoj Mathew
Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is important leading food crop and it is widely cultivated in India. The farmers are facing problems due to lack of labour, time, inputs cost and also due to drudgery in work. Nevertheless, mechanization in paddy cultivation can boost higher productivity and considerably reduce the cost of production. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to develop and evaluate the performance of a battery operated pre-germinated broadcaster in paddy cultivation. The power operated pre-germinated paddy seed broadcaster was developed and tested based on the, engineering and physical properties of dry and pre-germinated paddy seeds. The performance parameters of paddy seed broadcaster were the application rate, coefficient of variation, skewness ratio and uniformity coefficient of distribution. The maximum application rate of 149.02 kg ha"' was observed for the treatment Q2S201 in single pass. The minimum application rate of 0.14 kg ha"' was observed for the treatment Q2S201 in single pass. In multiple pass the maximum and minimum application rate of 182.52 kg ha"' and 47.05 kg ha"' were observed for the treatments Q2S101 and Q2S202 for three meter spacing of seven meter effective swath width. The maximum skewness ratio was about 101% for the treatment QlSlOl in single pass. The minimum skewness ratio observed was about 48% for the treatment Q2S102. The minimum coefficient of variation observed was about 57.15 % for the treatment Q1S201 in single pass. The minimum coefficient of variation of about 8.19% was observed for the treatment Q1S102 for four meter spacing application rate. The average effective field capacity and field efficiency for four meter was about 0.59 ha hr"' and 65% for six-meter effective swath width at walking speed of 1.5 km ha"'. The savings in cost and time for battery powered centrifugal broadcaster about 76.34% and 78.88% compared to manual broadcasting. From the perfonnance evaluation test, it was concluded that the battery operated centrifugal paddy seed broadcaster can perform paddy seed broadcasting operation efficiently and economically.
Open Access
Studies on the effect of active tillage tools soil properties
(Department of Farm Machinery and Power Engineering, Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Tavanur, 2019) Amrutha, K; KAU; Shivaji, K P
Three active tillage implements; rotavator, power harrow and spading machine were tested in three fields at various engine speeds in order to study the tilth produced by these implements. It was observed that the suitability of an implement was changed according to the soil properties considered. Power harrow and spading machine can be recommended for getting lower bulk density, whereas rotavator and power harrow were suitable for higher soil pulverization and soil inversion. The deeper operating depth can be achieved by the usage of spading machine. Rotavator consumed less fuel and lower operating cost per unit area. The soil tilths obtained by these implements were compared using value of tillage performance index and ranking by grey relational mialysis. In both the cases rotavator was found to be better compared to others. The cost of operation, energy requirements and time of operation of the tillage implements showed that lower values of Rs. 3300, 827.91 MJ and 3.03 hours per hectare were observed in operation of rotavator followed by power harrow, Rs. 4500, 1029.68 MJ and 4.76 hours, and higher values of Rs. 7900, 1686.10 MJ, 9.09 hours were found in spading machine respectively. The implements were operated in multiple passes on the same field to study the variations in tillage quality. Two pass of rotavator, two pass of power harrow and three pass operation of spading machine were found to be similar based on the soil properties. The respective ratios of cost, energy and time expenditure were obtained as 1 : 1.33 : 2.93, 1 : 1.42 : 3.43 and 1 : 1.18 : 2.41 for rotavator, power harrow and spading machine. While considering in the point of view of grey relational ranking and tillage performance index, rotavator operation was found best. The cost and energy analysis of the operations also have computed. It also indicated rotavator has the best results. The spading machine can be used for fields which need higher operating depth, even though it's operating cost and time of operation were higher.
Open Access
Design analysis of kau pokkali paddy harvester towards the development of its scale down prototype
(Department of Farm Machinery and Power Engineering Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Tavanur, 2018) Venkata Reddy, H K; KAU; Jayan, P R
The term ‘Pokkali’ used in the common parlor refers to a salt tolerant traditional rice cultivar grown in the coastal saline soils of Kerala, India. The Pokkali field is a unique eco-system prevailing in the coastal tract of Kerala with rich bio diversity and amazing capacity to produce organic rice and shrimp alternatively. Rice is grown during non-saline period and the farmers carry out shrimp culture during the saline phase with both having unique symbiotic benefits. Pokkali areas lie in Trissur, Ernakulum and Alappuzha districts covering a total area of 8500 ha. It spreads over 34 Krishibhavans of these three districts. In the saline, water-logged Pokkali farm lands, rice and shrimps are farmed alternatively. The conventional method of harvesting of Pokkali paddy crop by using sickles. The various farming operations in Pokkali paddy cultivation, the harvesting is done by women labourers by walking on the swampy and marshy inundated paddy fields at waist-deep water, which is laborious, tedious and cumbersome. Though a number of paddy combine harvesters are commercially available, none cannot be used in such marshy water logged areas for harvesting paddy. Hence, a power operated floating harvester with provisions for harvesting and conveying the ear heads (panicles) of submerged paddy was developed at KCAET, Tavanur. The overall size of the harvester is 9.6 x 2.2x 2.2 m with a total weight of about 3 tonnes. Due to the over size and weight, the manoeuvrability become a great problem for transportation and operation in small paddy lands. It necessitated designing a scale down proto type of the harvester to operate in all Pokkali areas for easy transportation and good manoeuvrability. The major functions of a Pokkali paddy harvester are floating in water/moving in puddled soil, cutting and conveying of the panicles. The design analysis of the harvester is sequentially carried out for the floating barge, harvesting unit and hydraulic system. Hydraulic drive system consisted of a hydraulic pump, pressure gauge, valves, filters, etc. to guide and control the system. The capacity of the hydraulic tank was 150 litres and double acting hydraulic pump has 61.0 l min-1. Harvesting unit of the Pokkali paddy harvester consists of a reel, cutter bar and conveyor. Reel delivers the stalks to the cutting mechanism, the cutter bar cuts crop and conveys through front conveyor and transferred to in the central conveyor. Width of the cutter bar was 2.1 m with serrated blade to avoid spilling of the stalks. The vertical centre of gravity of the harvester was designed as 0.854m and longitudinal centre of gravity as 4.58 m. It was found out that the design of the existing KAU Pokkali paddy harvester was perfect considering the buoyancy and stability aspects. The overall size of the newly designed scale down prototype is 6.2 x 1.7 x 1.7 m with a total weight of about 1700 kg. A scale down prototype of the harvester is designed in such a way that to suit for fragmented Pokkali areas. The vertical centre of gravity of the scale down prototype is 0.58 m, longitudinal centre of gravity is 2.67 m and transverse centre of gravity is zero. As the transverse centre of gravity is zero, scale down Pokkali paddy harvester is stable to float and longitudinal centre of gravity lies near to the centre and adjacent to the front and rear side of the harvester, it become a well-balanced machine.
Open Access
Design and development of artificial pollinizer for pollinating tropical vegetables under protected cultivation
(Department of Farm Machinery and Power Engineering Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Tavanur, 2018) Ramya, R; KAU; Sureshkumar, P K
Artificial pollination is a process that is highly require in vegetable crops grown under protected cultivation since, protected environment offers barriers to natural agents for pollination such as insects, wind or water. A study was undertaken to design and develop an artificial pollinizer for pollinating tropical vegetable crops under protected cultivation. To obtain preliminary data required for the design, floral and physical characteristics of flower, anther and pollen of selected tropical vegetable crops were studied in laboratory conditions. Accordingly a conceptual design was evolved and two models of artificial pollinizers were developed. Suitability of the developed pollinizer was evaluated in laboratory as well as field conditions. Results of the evaluation have been presented and analyzed. Six tropical vegetable crops were selected for the preliminary studies like floral characteristics, physical and dimensional measurements of flowers, anther and pollen grains were conducted in the laboratory. Sizes of pollen grains were measured by using Olympus Bx43 light microscope and the measurements were taken using the software Ultrascope version 9.1. Shape was determined from standard shape charts suggested by UPOV, 2007. The shape of pollen grains of tomato, pumpkin and ash guard are found to be „circular‟ with a Length/Width ratio ranging from 1: 1 to 1: 1.1. Pollen grain of chilli is „broad deltate‟ with L/W ratio of 1: 1.2. Pollen grains of water melon and cucumber are „narrow oblate‟ with a L/W ratio of 1: 1.13 to 1:1.15. Based on the preliminary studies, functional requirements and conceptual designs two models of the artificial pollinizers were designed and developed. Artificial pollinizer Model – I uses air as the medium for collection of pollen from flowers. Suction pressure developed by a vacuum pump suck the pollen grains from the male flower to a pollen collection chamber. The pollen collection unit is provided with a brush tip which detach the pollen grains from the flower and sucked by a vacuum pump are deposited in a pollen collection chamber. A screen mesh filter of 15 μm aperture is used in the chamber to prevent the pollen grains from carry away. Components of artificial pollinizer model – I includes pollen collection unit, pollen collection tube, adaptor for pollen collection chamber, pollen collection chamber, air tube, air tube adaptor, a connector and a vacuum pump. An electric powered air blower of 220 V, 50 Hz and 0.55kW is used as vacuum pump. The blower produces a suction velocity of 20-22 ms-1 at 13,000 rpm. Artificial pollinizer Model – II uses water as the medium for collection of pollen from male flowers. Water is sprayed from a nozzle to the male flower kept carefully in a pollen collection chamber. Water spray produced by a pneumatic hand pump from the nozzle wash out the pollen grains from the flower and is collected in the water tight container. Components of artificial pollinizer Model – II includes a spray nozzle, pneumatic hand sprayer, water container and pollen collecting chamber. Collected pollen can be sucked by a syringe for spraying to the female flower for artificial pollination. Dry pollen collected by Model – I is also mixed with water and used for artificial pollination using a syringe. Evaluation of artificial pollinizer was done by accessing pollen viability and fruit set efficiency. Viability of pollen was observed under laboratory condition and fruit set efficiency was observed under field conditions. From the studies it is observed that, pollen viability is decreasing with increase in storage period for both the crops. Maximum pollen viability is observed when artificial pollination was done with fresh pollen grains. Also, the viability is found higher for pollen stored in 1 % sucrose solution than pollens stored in plain water in both crops. Study on fruit set efficiency is also seems to be decreasing with increase in storage period for both the crops. Maximum fruit set efficiency is observed when artificial pollination was done with fresh pollen grains. Fruit set efficiency is higher for pollen stored in 1 % sucrose solution than pollens stored in plain water in both crops. Also the fruit set efficiency values are on par with manual pollination. Stages of fruit development in cucumber and watermelon crops are also observed on the 3 rd, 7th and 15th days after artificial pollination and found that the artificial pollination done using the artificial pollinizer was successful.
Open Access
Computer aided analysis of 'sit and stand' type coconut climbers for mechanical stability
(Department of Farm Machinery and Power Engineering Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Tavanur, 2018) Pooja, V; KAU; Jayan, P R
Coconuts are harvested by climbing the palm and cutting the nuts down by hand. Manually climbing up and down the palm is hazardous and tedious. Now a days a few models of mechanical coconut palm climbers are available to overcome these drawbacks. Testing the mechanical strength and stability of the coconut palm climbers is necessary to ensure its safe performance under working condition. Among these types, KAU and Farmer’s models were selected and its three dimensional models were generated in Solidworks 13.0 software. The static and fatigue analysis of these selected models were carried out in the ANSYS 15.0 software. The assembly of each component of the top and bottom frames of the models were created and saved in step file format. The file was then imported to the ANSYS 15.0 software for the static and fatigue analysis. Preprocessing steps such as meshing, selection of material and application of boundary conditions were then carried out sequentially to establish static and fatigue problems. In the KAU model top and bottom frames were steel and aluminium materials, wherein the Farmer’s model top and bottom frame were made of structural steel. The boundary conditions imposed are the application of loads and fixing of supports. Various loads of 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900 and 1000 N were applied and under each load the analysis was carried out. In the KAU model, the inner face of the bent tube and V tube and in the Farmer’s model, the rope and curve plate were considered as fixed supports. The static analysis interpreted were the equivalent (Von-Mises) stress, equivalent elastic strain and total deformation while fatigue analysis interpreted the fatigue life and factor of safety. The results showed that as the load increased the Von Mises stress was found increased. Also, there were decreasing trends for the factor of safety and fatigue life. The top frame of KAU models have factor of safety more than three, two and one up to 400, 500 and 1000 N load respectively. The infinite fatigue life cycles were observed up to 800 N. The bottom frame of KAU model have factor of safety more than one up to a load of 1000 N and have infinite fatigue life cycles up to 1000 N load. Hence KAU model is safe to operate up to a load of 1000 N. The top and bottom frames of the Farmer’s model also found out the factor of safety more than one and have infinite fatigue life cycles up to load of 1000 N. Hence Farmer’s model is safe to use up to a load of 1000 N. further changes in material, design or dimensions are suggested to get more factor of safety for loads from 700 to 1000 N for both the selected models. As there is no specified test codes available for manually operated mechanical tree climbers, a draft test code with Minimum Performance Standard (MPS) was also prepared under this study.

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