Development of Single Row Vegetable Transplanter with Rotating Cup Type Metering Mechanism
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Date
2023
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RPCAU, Pusa
Abstract
The role of vegetables in ensuring global food security is crucial due to their provision of essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals for a balanced diet. This study addresses the significance of vegetable cultivation, particularly in low-income countries, where they play a vital role in nutrition and economic well-being. Despite advancements in agricultural practices, challenges persist in terms of productivity, cost-efficiency, and sustainability. This research focuses on optimizing vegetable transplanting, a critical process in agriculture, by developing a battery-operated single-row transplanter with a rotating cup-type metering mechanism.
Historically, vegetable sowing methods have evolved from traditional practices to modern technological advancements. This study concentrates on Indian vegetable cultivation, heavily reliant on manual labor. While semi-automatic transplanters have alleviated labor burdens, this research aims to further enhance efficiency through the development of an automatic transplanter. The research objectives encompass developing the metering mechanism, designing the transplanter, evaluating its performance and economic viability.
This study involved several steps, including assessing seedling properties, designing the metering mechanism, fabricating the transplanter, evaluating its performance, and conducting cost analysis. The transplanter's specifications, power source, transmission system, and battery were detailed. Performance metrics, such as draft and power requirements, field capacity, transplanting rate, and survival percentage, were measured and analyzed. The cost economics of the transplanter were compared to manual methods.
The results of field trials on Chilli and Brinjal crops indicated the transplanter's efficiency, achieving high field efficiency rates ranging from 43.61% to 55.55% across different speeds. ANOVA showed Actual Field Capacity is significant at the 1 percent level. Actual Field Capacity (AFC) increased from 0.02 ha/h at 0.5 km/h to 0.03 ha/h at 1.0 km/h. The transplanter exhibited transplanting rates ranging from 920.13 plants/hour to 1679.89 plants/hour, significantly reducing labor requirements. Cost analysis demonstrated the transplanter's cost-effectiveness.
In conclusion, this research presents a single-row vegetable transplanter with a rotating cup-type metering mechanism that offers promising results in terms of performance, efficiency, and cost savings. The transplanter has the potential to revolutionize vegetable cultivation practices by streamlining transplanting operations and improving crop yields. Further validation and fine-tuning are recommended for different conditions and crops. This technology represents a significant advancement in sustainable and efficient agriculture.