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Development and Evaluation of Strip Till Seeder for Simultaneous Tillage and Sowing of Wheat in Paddy Residue Conditions
(Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2020) Chaleka, Ashley Tafadzwa; Manpreet Singh
A Strip-till seeder (STS) was developed to sow wheat in paddy residue conditions, and a study was conducted to evaluate and compare the performance of the machine with the already existing direct seeding machines i.e. Happy seeder (HS) and Super seeder (SS). Three levels of straw load (4.2, 5.2 & 6.0 t ha-1), three levels of forward speed (2.1, 2.6 & 3.2 km h-1) and two levels of machine rotor speed (127.5 and 137.2 rpm) were selected. Ratio of forward speed and rotor speed was expressed as speed index. Optimal combination of variables was selected on the basis of fuel consumption, effective field capacity, wheel slip, plant germination, weed emergence and grain yield. Effect of straw load was more pronounced on dependent variables than the effect of speed index. The STS performed best at a forward speed of 2.6 km h-1, rotor speed of 127.5 rpm and straw load of 6 t ha-1. Average fuel consumption using STS was between that of HS and SS. Weed density (30 DAS) in STS treatments was 36.7 and 53.7 % lower compared to HS and SS respectively. Plant germination was also comparatively higher in STS treatments. Average grain yield in STS-sown wheat was 12.7 and 18.9 % significantly higher than SS and HS, respectively. The STS performed better than the existing direct seeding machines. Therefore, strip tillage seeding technique proved to be a better option for in-situ straw management and it has the potential to combine benefits of residue mulching and incorporation.
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Development and evaluation of tractor operated bund former for mulched field
(Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2020) Sood, Ashish; Dixit, Anoop Kumar
In paddy-wheat crop production system, managing paddy straw fields is a cumbersome process. In these mulched fields bund forming is one of the major problem due to handling of loose as well as standing stubble of paddy straw. To deal with this a tractor operated bund former for mulched fields was developed and evaluated in the actual field. It performs three operations such as straw removing (up to 1.25 m width) followed by soil pulverization and trapezoidal shaped soil bund forming simultaneously in one pass. Field evaluation of the developed tractor operated bund former for mulched fields was conducted in harvested paddy field at University Seed Farm, Ladhowal, PAU, Ludhiana, Punjab. The effect of independent parameters such as three rotor speed ratio (3:1, 4:1 and 5:1), three opening width of bund forming plates (27, 34 and 41 cm) and two straw loads (4.0- 4.5 and 6.0 -6.5 t ha-1) was observed on the dependent parameters namely height of bund, width of bund, pulverization index, fuel consumption and field capacity. The effect of rotor speed ratio, opening width of bund forming plates and straw load was found significant (p<0.05) on height of bund, width of bund, pulverization index, fuel consumption. The best results were obtained at rotor speed ratio 4:1 and opening width of bund forming plates 34 cm under both straw loads. This combination gave optimum height of bund (27.76 cm), width of bund (72 cm), pulverization index (12.76 mm) and fuel consumption (7.05 l h-1) under both the straw loads. The effective field capacity of developed tractor operated bund former was found to be 1.17 ha h-1 at forward travel speed of 1.5 km h-1. The operational cost of the developed bund former machine was found to be Rs 1921.86 ha-1 while cost of forming bund per metre length was Rs 1.45 m-1. There was 77.78 % saving in labour over the conventional bund forming method.
Open Access
Design, development and evaluation of a variable rate applicator for real time application of fertilizer
(Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2020) Mirzakhaninafchi, Hasan; Manjeet Singh
There is a strong need to avoid use of excessive N as it is unlikely to be effective in increasing crop yields because of its diminishing returns. Therefore, a study was conducted to design and develop a variable rate fertilizer applicator to detect real time deficiency of nitrogen in the field and applying it as per requirement of the crop. To design and develop variable rate applicator, fluted roller type metering mechanism was selected due to having more uniformity than spinner disc type applicator. Suitable nitrogen (N) sensor i.e. Greenseeker was selected for the development of applicator. The microcontroller system was developed and PWM valve was used to vary the rotational speed of hydraulic motor resulting variation in the rotation of metering mechanism shaft. Field performance of the developed machine was measured at different levels of nitrogen (kg/ha), height (cm) of sensor from the crop canopy and at different growth stages of the crop. Fluted roller type metering mechanism was selected having lesser variation (CV ranging from 6.0 to 8.0 %) in fertilizer rate applied as compared to the spinner disc type fertilizer applicator having CV ranging from 20.0-50.0 %. Fertilizer rate at 10 rpm of metering mechanism shaft was minimum i.e. 15.18 kg/ha and was maximum 54.38 kg/ha at 40 rpm of the shaft speed. Speed of shaft of metering mechanism changed from 0 to 40 rpm when NDVI was changing from 0.75 to 0.35. The response time of the control system to apply fertilizer in the field was within the range of 6.45 to 7.81 s. Applied fertilizer by using developed variable rate applicator at different growth stages of the rice crop at 40, 60 and 80 DAT indicated that when fertilizer rate is increasing from N1 to N4, NDVI is increasing from 0.49 to 0.69. Hence, shaft speed is decreasing from 27 to 7 rpm to apply the fertilizer rate 35.47 to 9.00 kg/ha respectively. Total fertilizer applied by variable rate applicator was 122.32 kg/ha instead of 225 kg/ha as recommended by the university resulting 45% saving in fertilizer by using developed variable rate applicator.
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Design, development and evaluation of tractor operated seeder for mat type paddy nursery
(Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2020) Modi, Rajesh Uttreshawar; Manes, Gursahib Singh
A tractor operated seeder for mat type paddy nursery was designed, developed and evaluated. The machine cuts soil from both sides and transfers it through the inclined belt conveyor to the horizontally placed soil conveying auger which distributes the soil equally on the sieving system. The sieving system drops the soil into the hopper of soil distribution unit placed beneath it. Before soil distribution unit, a soil compaction roller fitted at front of the machine compacts the soil surface. Polythene sheet roller was provided to lay downs the polythene sheet on this compacted soil surface. Soil hopper has a soil metering roller which drops the soil at a uniform thickness on the laid polythene sheet. Simultaneously, seed metering mechanism placed rear of soil distributing unit distributes the seed on the prepared soil bed in a uniform manner in one go. The machine was evaluated in the laboratory/controlled field conditions at three level of sieve oscillation (238, 318 and 398 spm), two level of sieve opening size (25×20 and 50×25 mm) and for two depth of soil cut (40 and 80 mm). These independent parameters significantly affected the dependent parameters namely seed spread, soil mat thickness and pulverization index at 5% level of significance, whereas seed damage and plastic sheet damage were non-significant. The higher overall seed spread at the middle bite of transplanter cut was 91.00 % and overall soil mat thickness at 950 mm bed width was 92.93 % corresponding to the best operational parameter combination of sieve oscillations 398 spm, sieve opening size of 25×20 mm and depth of soil cut of 80 mm. The pulverization index was 2.01 mm whereas, seed damage and plastic sheet damage was negligible. The field evaluation was conducted at these operational settings of the machine on three soil types (sandy loam, loam and silt loam) at three forward speeds 1.7, 2.2 and 2.7 km/h. The soil type had a non-significant effect whereas forward speed significantly affected the performance of the machine at 5 % level of significance. Best results were obtained at a forward speed of 1.7 km/h for 950 mm bed. At these operational parameters the mean overall seed spread was 90.93 %, mean overall soil mat thickness 97.88 %, seed germination 89.73 %, fuel consumption 4.36 l/h and effective field capacity 0.11 ha/h.
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Development and Evaluation of Tractor Operated Pea Pod Picker Mechanism
(Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2020) Bhad, Rahul; Goyal, Rajesh
The pea is most consistently the little spherical seed and belongs to Fabaceae family. India isn't just the biggest consumer of green peas, yet in addition it takes second place in worldwide green pea cultivation, following China. In India the area under green pea cultivation is 540.5 thousand hectares. Presently, green pea crop is cultivated on approximate 35 thousand hectares in Punjab. Out of this 90% area is cultivated under early maturing variety of green pea. Picking of green pea is labor intensive. Therefore, to lower the cost of manual labor, mechanized picking of pea pod is required. A conceptual design of tractor operated pea pod picker mechanism was conceived by keeping in view the agronomic practices and harvesting of pea pods. The developed machine consists of crop guide, picking drum, continuous belt conveyor and aspirator unit. As the machine moves in the field the rotating drum strips out the pea pods from the vines. The machine was evaluated in terms of picking efficiency, percentage of damaged pods, trash content in detached pods, fuel consumption and field capacity at different independent parameters like forward speed 1.5 km/h (F1), 2.0 km/h (F2) and 2.4 km/h (F3), drum peripheral speed 95 rpm (D1), 110 rpm (D2) and 125 rpm (D3) and curved (T1) & straight (T2) tines. Forward speed showed significant effect on picking efficiency and field capacity. The best combination of independent parameters for the pea pod picker mechanism according to maximum picking efficiency (68.27%), minimum damaged pod (8.57%), trash content in detached pods (22.45%) and fuel consumption (1.17 l/h) was found with 95 drum rpm (D1), 1.5 km/h forward speed (F1) and straight tine (T2). To maximize the picking efficiency and further minimize the damaged pea pods and trash content in detached pea pods, modifications and refinements are needed to be done in the developed pea pod picker mechanism.
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Design, development and evaluation of a dust separation system for wheat straw combine
(Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2020) Ali, Mudasir; Dixit, Anoop
In northern India, wheat straw is the main and major feed source for domestic milch animals and has huge demand and economic value. During straw combining operation a lot of dust and foreign materials goes into collector which comes from settled dirt on straw lying in the field, the undulations on the field which cause the cutter bar to hit them during operation, very low height of cut with the intention to retrieve more straw and also due to bunds and rodent burrows in the field. Excessive dirt intake may lower feed intake, disrupt digestion and may have adverse impact on animal health. The design and development of an integral dust separation system for straw combine is the need of the farmers particularly in Punjab, so as to obtain the quality straw. An integral dust separation system for wheat straw combine was designed and developed to reduce the soil entrainment into the bruised straw. A perforated sheet of 2050×425 mm effective size with 7 mm diameter hole size, was provided at a distance of 130 mm behind the cutter bar and under the straw conveying unit. To remove soil clods, which goes along the cut straw while straw being pushed towards the bruising unit, a clod trapper was made of rectangular metal sheet of size 1415×180×3 mm hinged vertically and inclined with the lower body of the machine by helical spring. A bruising drum (1450×740 mm) consisting of serrated tooth M type blades (204 blades) for bruising the wheat straw was developed. The width of concave was 1435 mm with peripheral length of 920 mm. A counter cutter (3 rows and 53 blades) for effective size reduction of straw was provided adjacent to concave, under the bruising drum with a cleaning sieve of 5.0 mm diameter hole size placed below it. A centrifugal blower having 762 mm diameter was used for the blowing of bruised wheat straw. The bruised straw was collected into the wire meshed trailer, hooked behind the machine by means of a maneuverable duct. The dust separation was evaluated in the laboratory using sieve setup. During laboratory evaluation of the dust separation system, the independent parameters viz sieve opening size (S), sieve oscillations (O) and straw load (L) had significant effect on the straw quality parameters like ash content, acid insoluble ash and dust concentration. From the laboratory study S3O3 (sieve opening size 5.0 mm and sieve oscillations 400 stroke/min) as operational parameter was selected for field evaluation. The independent parameters for field evaluation were forward speed (2.0, 2.5 and 3.0 km/h), clod/stone trapper mechanism opening (32.5 and 25.0 mm) and wheat variety (HD 3086 and HD 2967). The dependent parameters for field study were straw size, ash content, acid insoluble ash, dust concentration, fuel consumption, and actual field capacity. From field evaluation the best suited performance combination of independent parameters was found at forward speed F1 (2.0 km/h) and clod trapping mechanism opening T1 (23.5 mm) in terms of minimum ash content (8.82 and 8.89 %), minimum acid insoluble ash (4.98 and 5.01%), minimum dust concentration (6.64 and 6.67 %), minimum fuel consumption (6.20 and 6.25 l/h) and desired range of straw size (19.71 and 18.20 mm), respectively for both varieties. The field capacity of wheat straw combine having developed integral dust separation system at forward speed 2.0 km/h was 0.36 ha/h, whereas, it was 0.34 ha/h for commercial wheat straw combine. The ash content, acid insoluble ash, dust concentration and straw size of bruised straw obtained from straw combine with integral dust separation system were 4.68 %, 1.72 %, 4.61 % and 20.86 % lesser compared to straw obtained from commercial straw combine (control). The cost of operation of the improved machine was calculated to be Rs 890/h.
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Design, development and evaluation of tractor operated spading machine
(Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2020) Karwasra, Nitin; Dogra, Baldev
One of the most important operation in farming is tillage that handles the breaking of soil. Soil tilth needs to be managed by best management practice in order to reduce energy consumption. Primary advantage of spading machine as compared to the other ploughing methods is that it does not over-pulverize and create compact layer at the bottom of tilled soil. The present study was conducted to design, develop and evaluate a tractor operated indigenous spading machine. A crank-rocker type motion of four-bar mechanism was selected to simulate the spading action. Analytical analysis of four-bar mechanism was conducted and the link lengths were optimized using simulation software. The gearbox was developed assuming 50hp tractor to be used for operating the machine and its 3D model was developed in CAD software. The machine was fabricated and assembled with the help of a manufacturer. Field evaluation of the developed spading machine was conducted at three levels of forward speed (S1= 2.26, S2= 3.37 and S3= 4.92 km/h), three levels of depth of operation (D1= 20 , D2 = 25 and D3= 30 cm) and three levels of angle of attack (A1= 30°, A2= 35° and A3= 40°). The performance was analyzed on selected dependent variables i.e. bulk density, PTO torque, pulverization index and cone index. Statistical analysis revealed that forward speed (S) and depth of operation (D) had significant effect at 5% level of significance, while no significant effect observed for angle of attack (A) on bulk density of tilled soil. Maximum and minimum mean bulk density was observed at S3D3A3 (1.54 Mg/m3) and S1D1A1 (1.17 Mg/m3), respectively. PTO torque was affected significantly by forward speed and depth of operation, while angle of attack had no significant effect at 5% level of significance. Maximum and minimum mean PTO torque was observed at S3D3A1 (550.78 Nm) and S1D1A3 (327.66 Nm), respectively. Pulverization index was affected significantly by forward speed and depth of operation, while angle of attack had no significant effect at 5% level of significance. Maximum and minimum mean pulverization index was observed at S3D3A1 (18.20 mm) and S1D1A3 (3.68 mm), respectively. Effect of forward speed and depth of operation was statistically significant while angle of attack had no significant effect at 5% level of significance for cone index. Maximum and minimum cone index was found at S3D3A1 (1888.09 kPa) and S1D1A3 (624.27 kPa), respectively.
Open Access
Development and evaluation of system for torrefaction of paddy straw
(Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2019) Gurpreet Singh; Soni, Rajesh
The disposal of surplus paddy straw is a serious problem in North-West India. About two-third of the 22 MT paddy straw produced in Punjab is openly burnt in fields. All the existing onsite and offsite methods to manage paddy straw have met with limited success. Biomass co-firing with coal in large thermal power plants is a promising technology for its utilization. Agricultural residues including paddy straw are herbaceous type of biomass. This herbaceous biomass have several unfavorable characteristics that hinder their use in power plants. These include low bulk density, hydrophobicity, high moisture content, and degradation during storage, and low energy density. Pre-treatment of biomass through torrefaction (followed by pelletization) can resolve most of these problems. In this study, the paddy straw was torrefied in an oven at various temperatures viz 230, 240 and 250°C and various durations viz 20, 30 and 40 minutes. The effect of torrefaction on paddy straw properties were studied. Thereafter, a bench scale reactor for torrefaction of around 0.8 kg of paddy straw was designed and fabricated. The unique feature of this reactor was the division of the reactor into four vertical zones. The lower most zone was meant for combustion of the paddy straw to provide additional heat to the upper zones and to assist heat transfer to the upper zones. On the basis of lab studies done earlier, the duration and temperature of 30 minutes and 250°C respectively were selected for bench scale studies. With proper insulation of the reactor, the desired torrefaction condition could be achieved in the lower 10 cm of the reactor. The studies show that with the existing mode of heating, the height of the torrefaction reactor should be limited to 10 cm only. The grinding energy reduced to 6-7 kW/kg. The average particle size decreased, moisture content of straw also decreased to less than 6.4% while the gross heating value increased to 17.07 MJ/kg, mass yield and energy yield of torrefied paddy straw was 0.87 and 1.05 respectively. Thus torrefied straw acquired more coal like properties. This improves the suitability of torrefied straw co-firing with coal in unmodified thermal power plants.
Open Access
Development and evaluation of chain pot paper type onion (Allium cepa L.) transplanter
(Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2019) Kamalpreet Singh; Thakur, S.S.
The present study was conducted to develop and evaluate the chain pot paper type transplanter for onion crop. The transplanter was developed using Solid Edge V20 and then fabricated with the help of local manufacturer. Two varieties of onion were selected i.e Punjab Naroya and PRO 6. Two ages of seedlings were kept i.e 30 days and 40 days. Evaluation of the developed transplanter was performed using two surface treatments i.e flat and raised bed. Performance was evaluated on the basis of field capacity, plants per metre length, damage to seedlings, seedling height, bulb size and yield. There was significant effect of age of seedlings on their height. The average height of seedlings after 80 days from transplanting observed were 31.50 cm, 25.93 cm, 31.17 cm, 24.27 cm, 34.00 cm, 28.17 cm, 34.63 cm and 27.97 cm for treatments S1V1A1, S1V1A2, S1V2A1, S1V2A2, S2V1A1, S2V1A2, S2V2A1 and S2V2A2 respectively. The average plants per metre length was found to be 10 in all the treatments. The effect of varieties and age of seedlings on the bulb size was found to be significant. The average bulb size observed were 5.18 cm, 5.10 cm, 5.51 cm, 5.60 cm, 5.70 cm, 5.70 cm, 5.61 cm and 5.55 cm for treatments S1V1A1, S1V1A2, S1V2A1, S1V2A2, S2V1A1, S2V1A2, S2V2A1 and S2V2A2 respectively. The effect of varieties of onion and field surface on the yield was found to be significant. The average yield observed were 33.5 t/ha, 32.8 t/ha, 29.5 t/ha, 28.5 t/ha, 34.9 t/ha, 34.1 t/ha, 30.9 t/ha and 29.8 t/ha for treatments S1V1A1, S1V1A2, S1V2A1, S1V2A2, S2V1A1, S2V1A2, S2V2A1 and S2V2A2 respectively. Theoretical field capacity of the transplanter was 0.024 ha/h and actual field capacity of the transplanter was 0.016 ha/h.

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