DEVELOPMENT OF BULLOCK DRAWN BATTERY POWERED SOWING MACHINE
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Date
2019
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DEPARTMENT OF FARM MACHINERY AND POWER ENGINEERING COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY ANAND AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY, GODHRA
Abstract
Sowing is one of the most important operations in raising crops. Timely sowing has a
dominant effect on germination of seed, plant growth, plant population in the field
and ultimately on the total production. The most important source of power in the
farm all over the India and especially in Gujarat is bullocks. Bullocks are the largest
contributor of farm power in Gujarat and yet, the major source of power for marginal,
small and even medium farmers who account for more than 60 per cent of total
agricultural holding. Since the majority of farmers are small and marginal using
animal as a source of power and to provide a better option, a bullock drawn battery
powered sowing machine was developed at CAET, AAU, Godhra for the small-scale
farmers. Bullock drawn battery powered sowing machine consist of main frame,
furrow openers, seed box, seed metering mechanism, DC motor as power unit for
metering mechanism, seed tube and 12V rechargeable battery. The seed rate during
calibration in laboratory for three crops (soybean, pigeonpea and maize) at 3.0 km/h
were recorded as 22.82 kg/ha, 12.08 kg/ha and 20.0 kg/ha, respectively. Performance
evaluation of the sowing machine in the field was carried out for three different angle
of pull (20°, 25°, 30°) and at three different levels of angle of penetration of furrow
(20°, 25°, 30°).