Studies on performance evaluation of vertical rotary plough
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Date
2018-08
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G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar - 263145 (Uttarakhand)
Abstract
The undulating and sloppy geography, small size fields with uneven topography, lack of skilled labour, poor repair and maintenance facilities, low purchasing capacity of farming community and non-availability of improved farm implements and machines are some of the main reasons for low level of mechanization in the hilly region of the state. By keeping in mind the problems faced by the farmers in hilly areas and to promote farm mechanization a new type of rotary plough cum weeder is designed. The designed rotary plough has 4 straight knife edge blades which were attached on circular mounting plate with the help of nuts and bolts. Power from main engine shaft is transmitted to the rotary blades by using bevel (Pinion: 10 teeth and 4 cm diameter, Crown: 40 teeth and 16 cm diameter) and spur gear transmission system. The effect of forward speeds, rotor speed and soil moisture content on actual field capacity, field efficiency, fuel consumption, energy required per unit area and total cost operation were studied. Two soil moisture content (12.5 ± 0.5 and 14.5 ± 0.5 %), three forward speeds (1.5, 1.75 and 2 km h−1) and three rotor speed (350, 450 and 550 rpm) have been chosen. The results showed that, the maximum actual field capacity of vertical rotary plough 0.097 ha h−1 was obtained when the rotor speed was 350 rpm, with the forward speed 2 km h−1 and the soil moisture content of at 14.5 ± 0.5 %. The highest field efficiency of vertical rotary plough was 88.09 % when the soil moisture content was 14.5 ± 0.5 % with a rotor speed 350 rpm and 2 km h−1 forward speed. The minimum fuel consumption of vertical rotary plough was 0.84 l h−1 when the rotary plough operated at 350 rpm of rotor speed with 1.5 km h−1 forward speed of operation and soil moisture content was 14.5 ± 0.5 %. The maximum energy per unit area of vertical rotary plough 1298.71 MJ ha−1 was obtained when the machine is operated at 2 km h−1 forward speed, 12.5 ± 0.5 % soil moisture content with 550 rpm of rotor speed. The minimum operation cost per unit area of vertical rotary plough ₹ 1504.22 ha−1 was obtained when the soil moisture content 14.5 ± 0.5 % at 1.5 km h−1 forward speed and 350 rpm of rotor speed. The maximum weeding efficiency of vertical rotary weeder was 84.44 % with a rotor speed 550 rpm and 2 km h−1 forward speed.
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