M. Sc. Dissertations

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Open Access
Optimization of ridge and furrow dimensions for development of tractor drawn multi crop ridger seeder
(CCSHAU, 2009) Jena, Swagatika; Sharma, D.N.
Dry land agriculture contributes a major share to economy of India’s total agricultural production. Therefore for sustainability of dry land agricultural production needs adequate emphasis on significance & choice of proper agricultural machinery for various agricultural operations. Heavy crust formation during the rainy season and inadequacy of moisture at the time of seeding of rabi crops especially gram and raya are the most important reasons of obtaining low yields in the dry farming areas. During Kharif season, moisture is generally high at planting stage but moisture conservation becomes important during the growing season. Whereas conservation practices have to be adopted during kharif season on the fallow lands where rabi crops have to be raised. In this context ridge and furrow system of planting of crops with the help of ridger seeder ensures seed placement in wet or moist zone which results in better seed germination. The ridger seeder can be used for sowing of both kharif and rabi crops with shallow soil cover over the seed. The advantage of sowing by ridger seeder is that it makes the dry upper layer soil into ridges and sowing was done in the furrows at appropriate depth. It also works efficiently even when the moisture is at a depth of 15-20 centimeters. The ridger seeder machine can not control all the factors involved in seedling emergence but it can have an important influence on formation of appropriate size of ridge & furrow and precise control of seed depth, placement of seeds into moist zone and non crusting condition above the seeds and good germination. So for development of appropriate ridger seeder these factors should be optimized to get better crop stand. Therefore, in this study an attempt has been made to optimize the ridge furrow dimensions as well as the draft requirement of the multicrop ridger seeder. The ridger bottom of potato planter was selected from four different type of ridger bottoms tested (ridger bottom of existing ridger seeder (B1), ridger bottom of bed planter (B2),ridger bottom of sugar cane planter (B3) and ridger bottom of potato planter (B4)) for use in improved multicrop tractor drawn ridger seeder. Ridger bottom of this had minimum draft requirement i.e. 150 kg /bottom as compared to other three ridger bottoms (i.e. B1(159.00 kg/ bottom), B2(163.25 kg/ bottom) and B3 (177.30 kg/bottom) respectively). Ridger furrow dimensions of B4 were also close to optimum ridge furrow dimensions i.e. 600mm, 300mm, 200mm (top, bottom, depth) of furrow. The optimum ridge furrow dimensions were selected based on maximum seedling emergence (i.e. 42 seedlings /m row length in raya crop, 14 seedlings/ m row length in chick pea crop), optimum moisture distribution across the ridge (i.e. 17.68% wb in raya crop, 17.67% wb in chick pea crop ) & significant saving in irrigation water (i.e. 50.42 % in raya crop, 52.29% in chick pea crop) under lab. conditions. The ridge furrow dimensions optimized as 600mm bottom width, 300mm top width & 200mm height of ridge. Modifications were carried out & incorporated in ridger bottoms of potato planter i.e. Extended mild steel plates of appropriate size and shape were attached to ridger bottom wings at a height of 30cm from base of ridger bottom to avoid dropping of top dry soil on already sown line. Proper adjustment was done to set the ridger bottom according to optimum ridge furrow dimensions obtained under lab. condition. The field evaluation of improved tractor drawn multicrop ridger seeder was conducted at farmer’s fields of Neolikhurd and Balawas villages & farm area of SST Department in two crops raya (Cv. RH-30 ) & chickpea (Cv. HC-5). The results were compared with farmer’s practice. The field capacity of the machine was found to be 5 ha / day in both raya & chick pea crops. Seed germination of raya crop sown by improved tractor drawn multicrop ridger seeder recorded was about 10-14 seedlings / m row length & plant stand of 9-10 plants / m row length. Where as only 6-7 plants / m row length were obtained in farmer’s practice. In chickpea seed germination of 9-14 seedlings/ m row length& and plant stand of 7-13 plants/ m row length were observed in crop sown by improved tractor drawn multicrop ridger seeder in comparison to only 5-7 plants / m row length in sowing done by seed cum fertilizer drill . This signifies that seed germination was increased to about two fold by using improved tractor drawn multicrop ridger seeder as sowing machine for raya and chickpea crops. The extent of saving in irrigation water was found in to 45% tube well irrigation source & 39.62 % in canal irrigation water source with the use of tractor drawn multicrop ridger seeder. In addition moisture across the ridges and furrows recorded after first irrigation was also quite uniform in a set of ridge furrow ridge i.e.15.17, 18.52, 15.40% wb., respectively. The ridge & furrow system of planting of rabi crops with the help of improved tractor drawn multicrop ridger seeder has manifold advantages over farmer’s practice. This also adds to recent conservation tillage system in modern agriculture.
Open Access
Comparative study of performance parameters of combine harvesters
(CCSHAU, 2010) Dinesh Kumar; Bansal, N.K.
The investigation was carried out on the comparative study of performance parameters of combine-harvesters. The main objectives of the study were to compare the existing engine performance data with the results obtained from the test report released by testing institutes and to study the extent of labor, fuel and cost involved in testing the engine. Kirloskar engine (Model 6R-1080) used in three different makes of combine harvesters, was tested three times with combines at NRFMT&TI (Hisar) during different years. Although this model of engine was already tested at A.R.A.I.(Pune) as per the BIS codes. The average mean values of engine performance data, tested at NRFMT&TI (Hisar) were compared with the engine performance obtained at A.R.A.I. (Pune). Ashok Leyland engine (Model ALU-400) used in 22 different makes of combine harvesters was tested 22 times with combines at NRFMT&TI (Hisar) in different years. The testing performances of Ashok Leyland engines used in 22 different combines were compared on the basis of mean values of performance data. Four testing performance parameters of engine viz. power (kW), torque (N-m), fuel consumption (l/h) and specific fuel consumption (g/kW-h) were selected to compare the engine performance, as given in the engine test report of the combine harvester. Mean values of all the performance parameters in Kirloskar engines (Model 6R 1080) obtained under varying speed and varying loads in different testing institutes were similar. The percentages of variations in all the testing parameters were found to be very low in varying speed and varying load test. There was no significant effect on performance parameters of the engine tested during different periods and different testing institutes. So, there was unnecessary expenditure in conducting testing of Kirloskar engines (Model 6R 1080) again at combine testing institute with no fruitful contribution to the results already obtained at A.R.A.I.(Pune). Performance of all testing parameters in Ashok Leyland engines (Model ALU-400) obtained under varying speed and varying load tests were also similar. There was no significant effect on engine performance parameters in varying speed and varying load tests in engines tested during different periods, at NRFMT&TI (HISAR). Performance of all the testing parameters in Ashok Leyland engines (Model ALU-400) obtained in maximum power test and five hours rating test were similar. The percentages of variations in all the performance parameters were found to be very low in maximum power test and five hours rating test. There was non-significant difference in engine performance parameters under maximum power test and five hours rating test of engine tested during different periods, at NRFMT&TI (HISAR). Total cost of complete testing of engine of combine harvester, at NRFMT&TI (Hisar) observed was Rs. 1.38 lacs. Retesting of Kirloskar and Ashok Leyland engines used on combine harvesters, resulted in extra expenditure of Rs.1.38 lacs on testing and also unavoidable delays. Therefore this practice needs to be reviewed at the testing institute level to economize the cost of combine testing. Retesting of engines of combines at testing institutes may be discontinued to save time, labor, energy and money.
Open Access
Design and development of manually operated ridge vegetable planter
(2016) Vinod Kumar; Vijaya Rani
India is second largest producer of vegetables with vegetable production of 121.02 million tonne contributing 10.65% of world’s total vegetable production next only to China and it occupies first position in okra production. At this level of vegetable production, sowing or planting operations are one of the least mechanized operations in vegetable production. The availability of agricultural labourers and lower wages for agricultural labourer worsen the problem. Power operated planters pose limits on precision and control with which planting operation can be performed while keeping them affordable. Also, manual method of seed planting results in irregular seed to seed spacing and poor depth control of seed placement in addition to fatigue. Thus this study was undertaken to design, develop and evaluate a manually operated ridge vegetable planter. The manual ridge vegetable planter consisted of seed metering mechanism–a plastic (ABS) seed roller having the Anjul cells on its periphery, main frame, speed reduction unit, handle, seed tube and tyne. Roller tyres were mounted on two forks which were attached to the main frame. Seed metering mechanism received power from rear roller tyre. Seed tube with conical seed capturing funnel were provided to guide seed to the boot of tyne. Tyne was mounted on tyne bolt for intra-row spacing adjustment. At forward speed of travel 1.60 kmh–1, and at optimum 7 mm cell and 1.40 kmh–1 peripheral speed of seed roller, it was evaluated for okra planting. There was no seed damage caused by the planter. Effective field capacity of the planter was 0.046 hah–1 with field efficiency of 86.79%. No missing and multiple index was observed. The draft requirement of the planter was 4.4 kgf. Planting of okra seeds by developed planter resulted into net saving of Rs. 813 per hectare. The payback period and benefit cost ratio of the planter was 2.01 years and 1.56, respectively. The labour requirements with the developed planter was 21.73 man-hours per hectare saving 51.1% time of planting in one hectare area in comparisons to manual dibbling.
Open Access
Performance evaluation of bed planter for intercropping in castor
(CCSHAU, 2011) Ajit Singh; Vijaya Rani
In India, the area and production of castor is 0.74 million hectares and 0.93 million tonnes, respectively. Castor (Ricinus communis L.) is most important oilseed crop of India due to the fact that its oil has diversified uses and has great value in foreign trade. The intercropping in castor is carried out on flat bed. Firstly, castor is sown manually or by pora method and the other pulse crops of short duration are inter-sowed by seed drill. The process of sowing castor which is done manually or by animals drawn sowing plough is very tedious and time consuming. Thus, there was a need to evaluate the feasibility of raised bed system for intercropping of pulse crop in castor over existing practice of intercropping. The different physical properties of the castor seed were determined for dry seed (5.9 %), seed soaked for 6 hours (25.8 %) and seed soaked and 12 hours (32.8 %). The average length, average width and average thickness were found to increase with increased moisture content. The values for spherecity and roundness were not close to 100 % and hence seed shape could be considered oval. The gravimetric properties of the castor seed as 1000 seed weight, single seed volume and bulk density increased as soaking hours increased from 0 to 12 hours. True density and porosity increased for first 6 hrs of soaking and then the values decreased when the hours of soaking further increased form 6 to 12 hours. The effective field capacity of planter was 0.50 ha h-1at average operating speed of 3.9 km h-1. The missing index, multiplying index and quality of feed index recorded for bed planter were 10.71 %, 1.19 % and 88.10%, respectively. Payback period of bed planter and seed drill were calculated were 1.51 and 0.58 year. Break-even points in hr per year were 44.75 and 25.85 in case of bed planter and seed drill. The plant stand obtained after 21days of sowing was higher for raised bed than flat bed by 24.33%, 23.33% and 24.33 % for castor intercropped with green gram, moth bean and cluster bean. Significant difference was obtained for plant height at 30, 45, 60 days and at primary spike for castor crop. The plant height was more for raised bed intercropping than flat bed intercropping for both castor and pulse crop. Number of capsules/spike, number of pods/plant, length of spike and length of pod were also higher for the raised bed intercropping than flat bed intercropping. Thousand grain and seed weight for pulse and castor obtained was higher for castor crop and for pulse crop on raised bed than flat bed. The yield (q ha-1) for pulse and castor obtained was 31.33 %, 29.77 % and 30.43 % higher for castor crop and 4.51 %, 5.2 % and 6.27 % for pulse crop, respectively on raised bed than flat bed.
Open Access
Comparative performance evaluation of mechanical transplanting and direct seeding of rice under puddle and unpuddle conditions
(CCSHAU, 2011) Rakesh Kumar; Bansal, N.K.
Rice is a major crop that is grown in more than 110 countries. The total area planted under rice in India is 44.0 million hectares which is largest in the world against a total area of 156.6 million hectares. The total rice production in the world was 650.19 million tonnes out of which 141.13 million tonnes were produced in India. The average yield of rice in India is 3.20 tonnes/hectare. The lowest yield of (29.75 q. /ha) was obtained in Zero till-mechanical transplanting (T4) and the maximum yield (32.67 q./ha) was obtained in Unpuddle-mechanical transplanting (T5.). Economic of rice cultivation under different crop establishment techniques is presented in the Table 4.6. The rental value of the land is assumed to remain the same offset the price fluctuation. The gross returns of T4 and T2 (Zero till-direct seeded rice without residues) were found less as compared to other treatments. The lowest and highest net returns were found to be Rs.5314 (T7) and Rs.16090 (T3) with per hectare, respectively. The height benefit cost ratio was obtained as 1.27 and 1.30 for T2 and T3, respectively. The lowest benefit cost ratio was obtained as 1.08 and 1.16 for T7 and T4, respectively. A comparison between transplanting treatments T4 & T5 (unpuddled field) and T6 & T7 (puddle field) clearly shows that any attempt to switch from the irrigating practice of transplanting under puddle conditions to transplanting under unpuddled conditions will require additional water applications i.e., the water applied in transplanted treatments with unpuddled field was more than 20 cm than that applied under puddled field conditions. It is also important to note that the fields of study were historically under puddle transplanted conditions. It is assumed that there may be slight effect of previous years puddling on the infiltration rate of the soil. Consequently, the water required for unpuddled field is expected to be even more than what was observed under this study.
Open Access
Design, development and testing of modular metering mechanism for multi crop planter
(CCSHAU, 2012) Chaudhary, Pooja; Bansal, N. K.
India will have to produce 300 million tonnes of food grains to feed her 1.19 billion populations. Sowing technique is most important operation performed in agriculture because production mainly depends upon field emergence and initial crop establishment. Presently, different sowing machines are used for various crops like Bt. cotton planter, zero till machine for wheat and DSR machine for direct seeding of rice and it is not possible for a farmer to have different machines for sowing different crops. Therefore, tractor drawn multi-crop planter was designed, developed and evaluated having provision of sowing all major cereal crops, pulses and oilseeds at desired row to row as well as seed to seed spacing especially for paddy by direct seeding technique and Bt. Cotton. The developed ground wheel was of 380 mm diameter having provision of chain sprocket arrangement of power transmission through a designed gear box with varying speed ratio of 1.6 to 4.5 times reduction from ground wheel to seed metering plate. The diameter of seed metering plate was 140 mm with varying number of cells and cell size to suit recommended spacing of major crops. The speed reduction of ground wheel to fertilizer metering shaft is 2.3:1. The fertilizer hopper has inclinations for accomplishing easy emptying and better utilization of fertilizer from hopper to fertilizer box having vertical roller discs with eight cells in each disc. The two depth control levers and separate seed hopper and seed metering mechanism/attachment with six vertical roller discs having 8 cells each was provided for small seeded crops. The performance evaluation of developed prototype was carried out under field condition for Bt. cotton and direct seeding of rice. The effective field capacity of machine for both crops was 0.50 ha h-1 and 0.45ha h-1 respectively at an average forward speed of 3 km h-1 with time lost in turning of prototype 35 sec/turn and the corresponding field efficiencies were 61 per cent and 83 per cent respectively. The field emergence (No. of plants /10m furrow length) observed in Bt. cotton planter was 12-21 plants (7days after planting), 18-30 plants (15 days after planting) and 20-28 plants (21days after planting) in Bt. cotton crop whereas field emergence of 125-140, 135-155 and 140-150 plants 7DAS, 15DAS and 21DAS was recorded in DSR crop. The distribution of plants in row and crop response at field indicated that mean plant spacing observed was 48 cm and 10 cm with a quality of feeding index 77 per cent and 78 per cent respectively for Bt. cotton and DSR crop. The missing index and multiplying index recorded in Bt. cotton were 15% and 8% respectively, while, 16% and 6 % in DSR crop. The precision in spacing observed was 6.3 percent and 7.08 per cent in Bt. cotton and DSR respectively. The average plant height recorded 21 DAS in Bt. cotton and DSR was 15 cm and 13 cm respectively. The cost of operation calculated for Bt. cotton and DSR crop was Rs ha-1 700 and Rs ha-1 777 respectively.
Open Access
Optimization of machine crop parameters for harvesting of scented and non- scented paddy varieties by head feed combine
(CCSHAU, 2016) Ingole, Omprakash Avdhut; Anil Kumar
Paddy is one of the most important crop for food security in India, contributing significantly towards providing food and livelihood for 130 million people. The area under paddy cultivation in India is around 44 million ha with production of 105 million tones in 2014 (Anonymous, 2015). The head feed combine (DSM 72) having loop type threshing mechanism was tested at Tohana in Fatehabad, Haryana for optimization of machine parameters viz., cylinder speed (14.42, 15.53 and 16.64 m s -1 ), forward speed (3.5, 4.0 and 4.5 km h -1 ) and crop parameter viz., grain moisture content (18.1 to 22.4 per cent) were studied in relation to threshing efficiency, cleaning efficiency and total grain losses for scented and non-scented paddy varieties. Moisture content of 18.1 per cent, cylinder speed of 15.53 m s -1 and forward speed of 4.0 km h -1 was found optimum for harvesting of scented paddy variety Pusa – 1121 and CSR – 30. Moisture content of 18.1 per cent, cylinder speed of 16.64 m s -1 and forward speed of 4.5 km h -1 was found optimum for harvesting of non scented paddy variety HKR - 127 and HKR - 47. Moisture content was the most important factor influencing threshing efficiency, cleaning efficiency and total grain losses followed by cylinder speed and forward speed in all scented and non scented varieties. The average threshing efficiency varied from 99.76 to 99.81 per cent, whereas cleaning efficiency varied from 99.14 to 99.16 per cent in scented paddy varieties. The average threshing efficiency varied 99.62 to 99.72 per cent, whereas cleaning efficiency varied from 98.95 to 99.14 per cent in non scented paddy varieties. The total losses varied from 1.43 to 1.64 per cent in scented and 1.34 to 1.45 per cent in non scented paddy varieties at optimum parameters. The cost of operation was Rs 2772 ha -1 and Rs 2625 ha -1 in scented and non scented paddy varieties, respectively at optimum parameters. The break-even point, pay back period and B:C ratio were found to be 340 and 603 hours, 3.22 and 5.71 years and 1.62 and 1.33 in scented and non scented paddy varieties, respectively. The head feed combine was found economical and viable in scented varieties. It was because of negligible breakage losses and less break- even point, resulted more beneficial for rice millers and farmers.
Open Access
Assessment of farm mechanization gaps and identification of farm machines to be developed alongwith their specifications in Haryana
(CCSHAU, 2016) Naveen Kumar; S. Mukesh
A study was conducted to assess the level of mechanization and identification of farm machines required to be developed as per prevalent socio-agro-economic conditions in Haryana. The districts were arranged in the descending order of tractor density and divided in four homogeneous groups for selection of districts. The districts Karnal, Fatehabad, Bhiwani and Mewat were selected for survey. From these districts 10 villages were selected from each district and a total of 200 farmers of different farm size category were interviewed through a predesigned questionnaire. The results showed that percentage area irrigated in the districts Bhiwani, Fatehabad, Karnal and Mewat were 62.7, 98.37, 100 and 68.7, respectively. Cropping intensity in these four districts were 187, 200, 195 and 172 per cent, respectively. Out of 200 surveyed farmers, 5 per cent farmers had small size farm (upto 1 ha), 33 per cent had semi-medium (1-4 ha), 43.5 per cent farmers belonged to medium (4-10 ha) size and 18.5 per cent farmers had large size farm (more than 10 ha). Amongst the farmers of the four surveyed districts, 18, 33 and 49 per cent have low, medium and high socioeconomic status. The overall adoption level of farm machinery in the crops paddy, wheat, cotton, mustard and cluster bean was 36.99, 53.35, 52.40, 61.44 and 61.53 per cent, respectively. The average farm power availability on the surveyed farms in Haryana was found to be 5.5 kW/ha. In the surveyed farms of the districts Karnal, Fatehabad, Bhiwani and Mewat farm power availability has been found to be 5.4, 6.2, 5.1 and 5.3 kW/ha, respectively. Out of 200 farmers, majority of farmers (46.8 %) had 30-50 HP range tractors. Farmers having tractor of above 50 HP and below 30 HP range were 36.5 and 16.7 per cent, respectively. It was observed that productivity has a positive correlation with the mechanization level. The mechanization gaps were present in paddy, sugarcane, interculturing and harvesting of cotton, mustard, cluster bean and vegetable crops. Wheat was the highest mechanized crop in Haryana. The farm machines required to be developed were identified and specifications were finalized.
Open Access
Development and performance evaluation of sowing machine for wheat under relay cotton
(CCSHAU, 2016) Saini, Karan; Bansal, N.K.
Cottonñ wheat is the second most impo r tant cropping sy stem af ter riceñwheat in India. The re are pockets of Cottonñ wheat sy stems in Madhy a Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharas htra states of India. The optimum time of sowing of wheat in the region is between the four th week of Oct ober and the second week of November , and delay in its sowing causes marked reduction in y ield. Sowing wheat af ter 20th November in this region reduces the productivity at the rate of 1.0-1.5 % per day (Nas rullah et. al. 2010), reducing average y ield af ter cotton by 0.5 t ha -1 . Cotton being a cas h crop, its early picking for timely sowing of wheat seems impossible. Planting of wheat af ter cotton harvest is ge nerally dela y ed by about one mo nth beyond the optimum date because of late picking of cotton and subsequent tillage and f ield operations prior to wheat planting. Delay in sowing of wheat without disturbing our cas h c rop can be avoided by relay ing in standing cotton at optimum sowing time with optimum seeding rate. Thus, this study was unde r taken to develop a mac hine for relay sowing of wheat in standing cotton and evaluate the pe r formance of the machine with that of broadcasting method of sowing wheat in standing cotton and conventio nal practice of sowing wheat af ter cotton harvest. The ef fective f ield capacity of devel oped machine was 0.12 ha h -1 with average forward speed of 1.73 km h -1 . The cost of operatio n of developed machine was Rs. 1898.75/ha with a benef it ñ cost ratio of 2.19. The biological y ield of wheat was observed lower by using developed mac hine for relay sowing of wheat in s tanding cotton when compared with that of conventional practice. The grain y ield was found almost similar when compared with that of conventional practice. The devel oped machine for relay sowing of wheat in cotton was found suitable but economical advantage in terms of increase in y ield (timely sown) was not observed. However , the re was net s aving in the cost of operation (Rs. 2460/ha) with the use of developed machine in comparison to that of conventional practice. This technology may be more suitable and prof itable if the re is remarkable tempe rature dif ference during the eme rge nce period of timely sown and late sown wheat. For this , long te rm expe r ime nts need to be conducted. Further ref ineme nts need to be incorpo rated under the conditio ns of high population of cotton c rop, weeds and high moisture conte nt. The re is also need to conduct its feasibility and adoption by providing two suppor ting wheel (casto r wheel) for the proper balanc ing of machine during operation.

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