Jain, MukeshSonam2022-11-302022-11-302019-08https://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810190163The experimental study on “Ergonomic assessment and physiological cost analysis of power weeder” was conducted in two crops i.e. cotton and sugarcane. The soil and environmental parameters were recorded at two different weeding intervals in cotton (40 days after sowing and 60 days after sowing) and sugarcane (30 days after sowing and 60 days after sowing) crop. The weeding efficiency and physiological parameters like heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature etc. was measured during the experiment. The machine parameters like actual field capacity and field efficiency were recorded. Physiological cost was estimated on the basis of Oxygen Consumption Rate (OCR) and Energy Expenditure Rate (EER). The maximum values of oxygen consumption rate (OCR) were recorded to be 1.05 l/min and 1.09 l/min at forward speed of 2.09 km/h in cotton and sugarcane crop, respectively. The maximum energy expenditure rate (EER) was recorded at highest speed of operation i.e. 2.09 km/h and it was 22.8 kJ/min in cotton field and 21.9 kJ/min in sugarcane field. Vibration was highest at x-axis of left handle i.e. 13.3 m/s2 in cotton and 13.7 m/s2 in sugarcane at highest speed of operation i.e. 2.09 km/h. The highest weeding efficiency recorded was 82% (second weeding) in cotton and 87% (second weeding) in sugarcane. Total dust particle concentration was highest at maximum speed of operation. Particles ranging between 10 μm and 32 μm had highest concentration in the environment which was 14527.1 μg/m3 during weeding operation in cotton crop and 14894.7 μg/m3 in sugarcane crop which was more than the prescribed limit of 100 μg/m3 according to the standards given by National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) of India. Noise level ranged between 62 dB to 74 dB and it was highest at highest speed i.e. 2.09 km/h. The maximum heart rate recorded during weeding operation was 156 beats per min in cotton field whereas in sugarcane field it was found 151 beats per min after 30 minutes of operation. The cost of operation was calculated to be Rs. 287 per hour and Rs. 2662 per hectare. The maximum body temperature attained during the experiment was found to be approx. 98.8 ºF in both the crop i.e. cotton and sugarcane. The maximum systolic blood pressure recorded was 134 mm/Hg in cotton and 135 mm/Hg in sugarcane crop at a forward speed of 2.09 km/h after 30 minutes of operation.EnglishThesis