Design Modification of Two Row Battery Operated Vegetable Transplanter
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Date
2022
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Dr.RPCAU, Pusa
Abstract
Vegetables are the essential part of diet in India. India is the second largest producer of the vegetables after China. Generally, in India vegetable is transplanted either by traditional manual method which requires high labour cost and high drudgery during transplanting. To reduce the drudgery and manpower requirement in transplanting operation mechanization in vegetable cultivation is needed. The mechanical transplanting of vegetable has been considered the most promising option, as it saves labour, ensures timely transplanting and attains optimum plant density that contributes to high productivity. Keeping this in view, the study was conducted to evaluate the field performance of CAET developed battery operated vegetable transplanter and modification was done as per requirement. The Modified Single Row Battery Operated Vegetable Transplanter (MSRBOVT) had main frame, DC motor, battery, power transmission unit, furrow opener, ski type furrow closing device, seedling delivery tube, seedling holding tray, escalator and motor controller. Field performance of Existing Two Row Battery Operated Vegetable Transplanter (ETRBOVT) and MSRBOVT was done with chilli and brinjal plug seedling. Both transplanter was ergonomically evaluated in terms of physiological cost of operator like subjects heart beat rate and energy expenditure rate during 15 minutes of working. For transplanting chilli and brinjal plug seedling by ETRBOVT at an average speed of 0.192 km/h the average field capacity and field efficiency was observed to be 0.015 ha/h and 86.10%. The transplanting
efficiency and survival plant percentage was found 87.61% and 85.78% respectively. Row to row distance, plant to plant distance and depth of transplanting was found to be 0.45 m, 0.45-0.5 m and 0.04 m respectively. The average transplanting rate by existing transplanter was observed to be 692 seedlings per hour. For transplanting chilli and brinjal plug seedling by MSRBOVT at an average speed of 0.289 km/h the average field capacity and field efficiency was observed to be 0.016 ha/h and 92.82%. The transplanting efficiency and survival plant percentage was found to be 88.95% and 86.98% respectively. Row to row distance, plant to plant distance and depth of transplanting was found to be 0.6 m, 0.45-0.5 m and 0.05 m respectively. The average transplanting rate by modified transplanter was calculated 547 seedlings per hour. Average heart beat rate for operating the ETRBOVT for continuous working by Subject A, B, and C was measured to be 113, 136 and 119 beats/min respectively. Average energy expenditure rate for operating the ETRBOVT by Subject A, B, and C was found to be 19.65, 29.18 and 22.14 kJ/min respectively. The work load in operating modified transplanter shifted to “heavy work” to “moderate work” category. Average heart beat rate for operating the MSRBOVT for continuous working by Subject A, B, and C was found to be 100, 119 and 102 beats/min respectively. Average energy expenditure rate for operating the MSRBOVT for continuous working by Subject A, B, and C was found to be 14.11, 22.14 and 15 kJ/min respectively. Cost of operation per hectare with ETRBOVT was Rs.4249.33/ha. Cost of operation per hectare with MSRBOVT was Rs.3673.12/ha. Hence, developed MSRBOVT was better in terms of field performance, physiological cost, work load and economic point of view from ETRBOVT.