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ThesisItem Open Access Design, fabrication and testing of a power operated jab type paddy dibbler(Department of Farm Power Machinery and Energy, Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Tavanur, 1997) Maji Krishnan, G; KAU; Jippu, JacobA power operated jab type paddy dibbler developed and tested at K.C.A.E.T, Tavanur is described. A cup feed type metering mechanism, discharged the seeds into the distribution wheel. Rotation of this wheel caused the transfer of seeds from the distribution wheel to the seed tubes. The to and fro motion of the plungers inside the five seed tubes closed and opened the port between the seed tran9fer tube and seed tube at predetermined intervals. A cam and follower arrangement fitted on the main shaft regulated the to and fro motion of the plungers. In operation, the rotation of the dibbler wheel caused the tip of seed tubes to make holes in the soil. At the time of penetration the plunger occupied a position farthest to the main shaft thus keeping the tip of seed tube closed. This prevented the entry of soil into the seed tube. After the seed tube has reached the maximum depth the plunger is moved up quickly transferring the seeds into the holes. The dibbler gave seed rates of 87.1, 74.6, 68.0, and 61.1 kg/ha at the speeds 0.788, 1.152, 1.530 and 1.778 km/h respectively in the field. It placed at an average 3-6 seeds in a hill at a depth of 4-4.2 cm. The number of seeds mechanically damaged was only 0.89 per cent and loss of viability due to mechanical damage was only 3.77 per cent. The average power required was 0.093 hp. Labour requirement was 60.68 man-h/ha. Cost of operation of this dibbler was Rs 86.0/h including the cost of power source. The jab type dibbler is convenient for use by both men and women.ThesisItem Open Access Development of powertiller operated paddy reaper windrower(Department of Farm Power Machinery and Energy, Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Tavanur, 1997) Shiny, Lukose; KAU; Sivaswami, SA vertical conveyor reaper-windrower suitable for mounting on KAMCO 9hp powertiller was developed Kerala for the first time. After considering the maneuvrability, weight distribution, field capacity and power transmission, the 1.6m width vertical reaper was selected for the KAMCO powertiller and was locally fabricated. The complete rotavator unit was dismantled and a newly designed power transmission unit was fitted on the KAMCO powertiller. The handle was kept at an ergonomically suitable height of 1m. A combination frame was developed inorder to accommodate both the engine and the reaper at the most appropriate location to achieve the static and dynamic balancing during field operation after the removal of rotavator. The centre of gravity of the engine at the new location was 50mm in front of the wheel axle and at a height of 180mm from its original position. Field evaluation of the reaper was carried out during November and December, 1996 at Tavanur. The front mounted reaper- windrower was evaluated to find out the optimum engine speed and forward speed to achieve better harvesting and windrowing pattern, maximum field capacity and field efficiency with less harvesting losses were found out. For the recommended engine speed of 1200 to 1400rpm at low first and low second gears a forward speed of 0.53 to O. 94m per sec. was obtained in the field. The actual cutting width was 1.5m. The maximum field efficiency of 85 per cent was obtained for first gear when the engine rpm was 1200. Actual field capacity for this speed was 0.224ha per hr. It was seen that for the recommended engine speed between 1200 to 1400rpm a normal forward speed of (.53 to 0. 94m/sec was obtained with an average actual field capacity of 0.25 ha/hr and an average total grain loss of 1.9 per cent in the field. Downward handle reaction for this recommended speeds varied between 9 to 14 kgf at the time releasing the clutch or using the accelarator. By the use of powertiller reaper a labour saving of 82.5 per cent was obtained. The owner would get a monitory benefit of Rs.1210/ha while the farmer hiring the reaper would get a saving of Rs.830/ha compared to manual harvesting. The initial invest of the owner would be paid back within 2 years if he could hire it out for 1000hrs per year. The total weight of the unit is 451kg which is 34kg less than the original weight the powertiller with rotavator unit. Its overall dimensions are L:279S x W: 1650 x h: 1510mm and the total cost is Rs.1,16,500.ThesisItem Open Access Mathematical model for sediment yield in agricultural watershed(Department of Land and Water Resources and Conservation Engineering, Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Tavanur, 1998) Babu, V; KAU; Remadevi, A NThe knowledge of temporal distribution of sediment yield is required in the design and operation of soil and water conservation programmes on watershed basis. For the project planning purposes, the estimates made are mostly based on experience. Such estimates are very approximate and grossly inadequate for engineering analysis. Therefore there is an urgent need for , rational analysis of erosion data from catchments, inorder to obtain relationship for erosion rate. Therefore a mathematical daily sediment yield model is developed for Thuthapuzha drainage basin (940 km2 ) of Bharathapuzha basin, corresponding to Muskingum routing equation. The model is based on combined approach of translation and routing for simulating sediment graphs. Thirty seven selected storm events of the drainage basin observed during 1986- 92 are used for estimation of model parameters by Lagrange multipliers method and three storm events of 1993 are used for verification of the model. The model is used to compute temporal distribution of suspended sediment yield on storm basis and their performance is evaluated both qualitatively and quantitatively. Mathematical relationships of mobilized ~ sediment with effective rainfall; computed sediment flow rates with observed sediment flow rates and observed and computed sediment flow with effective rainfall and mobilized sediment were also established. The Correlation Coefficient of all those equations are found to be close to one. The statistical measures of Percentage Absolute Error in peak sediment flow rates, Absolute Prediction Error, Integral Square Error, Correlation Coefficient and Coefficient of Efficiency of the model are obtained as 3.9934, 9.0007, 5.3286, 0.9951 and 0.9659 respectively. The study reveals that the developed model is a very effective tool in the real time forecasting of sediment yield in Thuthapuzha drainage basin.ThesisItem Open Access Field testing and evaluation of a two layer soil water balance model(Department of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Tavanur, 1997) Mohanan, C K; KAU; Hajilal, M SA two layer soil water balance model was tested in the field with bhindi as the test crop. The model considers the dynamics of soil water balance by incorporating an empirical model of root growth and an empirically established result of plant response to available soil water. The input data of the model were daily values of rainfall, irrigation and reference crop evapotranspiration. The model calculated the values of root depth, potential evapotranspiration, actual evapotranspiration, percolation and soil moisture content at the end of each day. The root depth computed by the model was compared with that measured in the field. Maximum root depth of 39.0 cm was attained at 53rd DAS. Total amount of water percolated down the active root zone during the entire crop season was 8.15 mm. The actual evapotranspiration was less than the potential evapotranspiration, whenever the soil moisture content in the active root zone dropped below the critical soil moisture. Totally, AET was less than PET for 6 days durinq the period of study. The computed and observed values of soil moisture content were in close agreement with correlation coefficients 0.976, 0.971 and 0.965 for gravimetric, tensiometer and electrical resistivity methods respectively.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 Effect of different types of mulches on growth and yield of drip irrigated vegetables(Department of Land and Water Resources and Conservation Engineering, Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Tavanur, 1997) Gilsha Bai, E B; KAU; Jobi V PaulThe present project was to study the effect of drip irrigation along with two colours of plastic mulching on the growth and yield of summer season vegetable. Two types of irrigation methods, drip and surface, and two colours of plastic mulches, black and transparent, were used in the experiment. Three levels of irrigation water, v, 0.8V and 0.6V volume, were applied in drip treatments. Mulches increased the soil temperature. High soil temperature was developed under transparent mulch compared to black mulch. Black mulch increased the soil temperature in the root zone by 3 to 4°C compared to non-mulched plots. This increase in soil temperature under the black mulch was advantageous to the crop. Presence of mulch sheet over the soil reduced the evaporation from the soil. Hence, moisture depleted from the non-mulched plots were more than mulched plots. Water saving obtained by the use of plastic mulch was about 30 to 35% in the different treatments. Black mulched and non-mulched treatments did not show significant difference in the plant height. Maximum plant height was observed in the non-mulched drip irrigated treatment with O. BV volume of water. Maximum plant spread was observed in the surface irrigated black mulch treatment. Surface irrigated treatments gave more plant spread than drip irrigated treatments. Use of mulch sheets reduced the weed growth in the field. Practically, there was no need of weeding from the plastic mulched plots. Earlier flowering and maturity of fruits were observed in the mulched plots. All treatments with black mulch increased the yield compared to the control. Treatment with black mulch and drip irrigation with O.BV volume of water gave 76.5% more yield than the control. Most of the treatments with transparent mulch reduced the yield. This reduction in yield was due to the high soil temperature developed under the transparent mulch. Yield was increased with the soil temperature upto an optimal level of about 46°C and then decreased with the increase in soil temperature. In drip method O.BV volume of irrigation water level was the best. It gave highest yield and growth in mulched as well as non-mulched treatments. Drip irrigation along with mulching in summer vegetable can reduce the cost of cultivation through efficient water management. Also the area of cultivation can be increased with the available water in the water scarce areas.
