DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF SINGLE ROW POWER WEEDER FOR RICE
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Date
2016
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Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Raipur
Abstract
Weed control is one of the most difficult tasks on an agricultural farm. Three methods of weed control are commonly known in agriculture. These are mechanical, chemical and biological control. Mechanical weed control is easily adopted by farmers once they get convinced of its advantages. Mechanical weed control not only uproots the weeds between the crop rows but also keeps the soil surface loose, ensuring better soil aeration and water intake capacity. Weeding by mechanical devices reduces the cost of labour and also saves time.
Various types of mechanical weeders have been developed. In human operated weeders, muscle power is required and so it cannot be operated for long time. The traditional method of hand weeding is time consuming.In order to assess the possibility of mechanization of the weeding operation, the power operated single row active weeder are to be designed and developedin the workshop of Swami Vivekananda College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology and Research Station, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering, IGKV, Raipur.The developed weeder should have the following features: 2.0 hp,2-stroke petrol engine. It is compact light low weight equipment, self propelled with durable floating system. It is centrally driven with worm gear box for transmission. The working width of the developed machine could be adjusted between 140mm to 250mm. It is equipped with rotating blades with 176 rpm and is centrally driven. Due to compactness and low weight it is easily maneuverable.Different types of blades were designed (4 blade, 6 blade and 8 blade).The power transmission from the engine to the blade was done by means of a flexible shaft. The shaft dimensions were designed for the adequate strength by using standard formulae for torque and power transmission.
The developed power weeder was tested in the line sown paddy crop at different conditions and ergonomically evaluated.Highest working speed of operation was found as 0.69 m/sec by using 4 blades in power weeder followed by 0.61 m/sec on using of 6 blades at 15 DAS.The lowest fuel consumption was found in using of four blade in power weeder as 0.55 l/h while the maximum fuel consumption was found on using of 8 blades as 0.71 l/h.The maximum field capacity was found with 4 blade (0.054 ha/h) followed by 6 blade (0.048 ha/h) at 15 DAS.The weeding efficiency was observed as 88.62 % under single row active power weeder with using of 6 blade in a flange followed by 4 blade 82.92% at 35 DAS and 82.10% for ambika paddy weeder.
The cardiac cost involved in the operation of power paddy weeder was found out and the mean working heart rate value of the subject was 108 beats min-1. The energy expended during operation of a power paddy weeder was 19.50 kJ min-1. The oxygen uptake in terms of VO2 max was 46% which was above the acceptable limit of 35% of VO2 max. Mean overall discomfort rating on a 10 point visual analogue discomfort scale ( 0- no discomfort, 10- extreme discomfort ) was 3.0 and scaled as "light discomfort". More tillers have been produced after using this equipment and soil aeration and root growth was improved. It is comfortable to operate this machine. If only one worker is engaged for the weeding operation with this equipment, 7 min rest could be provided after operating the equipment continuously for the 30 min period.
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136 p.