Agricultural Engineering International (E-Journal, CIGR - International Commission of Agricultural Engineering)
Not a member yet
1914 research outputs found
Sort by
Development of manually operated maize planter cum vermicompost applicator for narrow terraces of Sikkim
Full text linkThe purpose of the study was to develop a manual planter that would reduce time, labor and cost with increase rop productivity by maintaining plant to plant and row to row spacing. For the timely operation with less effort and drudgery, a lightweight manually operated planter is required for the uneven topography and small terrace. Hence, a manually operated maize planter and vermicompost applicator was developed for NEHR. Three commonly grown varieties of maize (i.e. sethi makai, pahelo makai and rato makai). The mean values of length, width, thickness, geometric mean diameter, sphericity and roundness of three varieties maize were determined for designing cell size of the drum. The independent variables considered were cell size 11mm, 12mm and 13mm and hopper fill level for seed and vermicompost (25%, 50%, 75% and 100%). The laboratory test was conducted to evaluate the performance and optimize the operating parameters of the developed planter. Optimum performance of the planter was recorded with cell size of 11 mm and 25 % hopper fill level. In next phase, the developed planter was operated in the field for ergonomic evaluation of the developed planter and various performance parameters and ergonomic parameters were compared with the traditional maize planting and vermicompost application. Average values of heart rates of the workers while operating developed planter and while following traditional method, were recorded as 114 bpm and 126 bpm respectively. The BPDR experienced maximum in both cases but traditional method observed extreme pain in backbone due to continuous bending posture. The ODR was found to be higher in traditional method range from 7 to 8 whereas developed planter ODR was found in the range of 4 to 5
PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF TRIANGULAR CELL SUNFLOWER SEED METER UNDER FIELD CONDITIONS USING POWER TILLER: PERFORMANCE OF TRIANGULAR CELL SEED METER FOR SUNFLOWER SEED
No full textAt present it was observed that triangular cell sunflower seed metering roller has not been evaluated under field conditions using tractor powered planter. This study was undertaken to evaluate its working performance under field conditions using power tiller. Randomized complete block design with three replications and three level of forward speed and quantity of seed in hopper was used to evaluate performance of triangular cell sunflower seed metering roller. Performance indices namely mean spacing, miss index, multiple indexes, quality of feed index, precision index, and coefficient of variation were used to describe performance of triangular cell sunflower seed metering roller and results were analysed statistically to determine the effect of forward speed, quantity of seed in hopper and their interaction on performance indices. Best performance was at combination of forward speed 1.3 km h-1 and 2.392 kg quantity of seeds in hopper which gave 26.16 cm mean spacing, 2.25% miss index, 0.43% multiple indexes, 97.33% quality of feed index and 16.58% precision index. Based on agronomical recommendations for sunflower planting and performance comparison with other sunflower metering device, it is concluded that triangular cell sunflower seed metering roller can perform efficiently and economically and may be adopted by small and medium farmers
Application of fuzzy logic to develop Internet of Things control system for durian planting
Full text linkThe concept of "Smart Farming" integrates fuzzy logic, a form of artificial intelligence, to manage control systems in an adaptive manner, similar to human decision-making under uncertain conditions. The cooperative operation of sensors measuring humidity, temperature, and irrigation systems ensures the most favorable conditions for plant growth. The researchers designed the experiment as follows: Group A: Newly planted durian trees grown using IoT technology inside a greenhouse. They are irrigated using Fuzzy Logic-controlled sprinklers, and the temperature is regulated through mist spray. Group B: Newly planted durian trees grown using IoT technology outside a greenhouse. They are irrigated using Fuzzy Logic-controlled sprinklers, but temperature control is not implemented. Group C: Newly planted durian trees with automatic irrigation.
The statistics used in this study for evaluating growth efficiency include one-way ANOVA that reveals significant differences in tree height, branch count, and leaf count among the three groups. Group A demonstrated the highest values, followed by Group B and Group C, with statistical significance.
DC power consumption efficiency was also recorded and calculated and showed that group A consumed significantly more power than Groups B and C. Groups B and C, however, did not significantly differ in power consumption. Despite higher power consumption, Group A benefited from reduced water usage due to the precision offered by the IoT technology. Group B, utilizing IoT technology in an open-field setting, consumed less power and conserved more water than conventional cultivation. Group C
Prototype for Moulding Poultry Litter
Full text linkThis study presents the possibility of using poultry litter as an effective soil fertilizer, fattening ruminants, and energy production. But fresh poultry litter typically has high moisture content and high volume per unit weight. Therefore, the transportation of large volumes at low bulk densities over long distances is difficult and expensive. Furthermore, its nutrient composition is not constant, and it cannot be safely used as a feed ingredient because it contains pathogens. The main aim of this research is to solve all these problems by developing a prototype that moulds poultry litter to the desired shape and weight by compression and formation to enhance storage, transportation, and off-site utilization. Also, this research aims to determine the effects of moisture content on some physical-mechanical properties of moulded poultry litter. The moulding prototype consists of a power transmission unit, a mixing unit, and a formatting unit. The working principle of the moulding prototype is that the mixture of poultry litter will be formatted under mechanical pressure by rammers fitted into compaction moulds to increase the density of the mixture while converting it into blocks. The results show that the bulk density of poultry litter blocks decreased with increasing moisture content. Durability, rupture force, and decomposition are also affected by moisture content. Moulding increases the bulk density of poultry litter. Therefore, this process is more economical for transporting poultry litter to distant areas. The processed blocks retain their shape during storage and distribution
The effect of superabsorbent and biological fertilizers under water deficit stress on leaf area index, relative water content and yield of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris)
Full text linkTo investigate the effect of soil additives in reducing the effect of water deficit stress on sugar beet, an experiment was performed as a combined analysis in two regions based on randomized complete block design with four replications. Experimental treatments were location factor at two levels of Miandoab and Malekan, water deficit stress factor at three levels of 50 mm (Lack of stress), 110 mm (moderate stress) and 170 mm (severe stress) evaporation from class A evaporation pan and soil additive factor at four levels of control (no soil additives), superabsorbent, mycorrhiza and livestock manure. In the present study, the use of soil additive treatments in both regions were able to improve the yield of pure sugar compared to control. In irrigation treatment after 170 mm of evaporation, the highest leaf area index (3.28), relative leaf water content (65.96%), shoot dry weight (3.45 t ha-1), root yield (49.48 t ha-1), gross sugar yield (9.73 t ha-1) and pure sugar yield (8.32 t ha-1) were obtained by mycorrhiza application and sugar content (20.48%) and pure sugar percent (17.11%) were obtained in control and superabsorbent application, respectively. In water deficit stress, application of mycorrhiza and superabsorbent were able to significantly increase the yield of pure sugar compared to the control. Due to the fact that sugar beet is exposed to different periods of water deficit stress in the tested areas, the use of mycorrhiza and superabsorbent can be a suitable method to reduce the effect of water deficit stress in sugar beet
Design and Development of a Tractor-Drawn Multi-Row Garlic Planter
Full text linkGarlic (Allium sativum) belongs to the alliaceous family, in the same family as onions. Garlic is one of the most important crops widely cultivated throughout the world including Ethiopia. Garlic is widely used as a seed, for consumption and medicinal purposes. Despite wide use, many problems are not solved in the production system, among which planting technique seems the first. Due to the lack of a garlic planter system farmers still use traditional methods for planting garlic seeds, this traditional method is inefficient, tiresome, labour-intensive, and time-consuming. So by providing planting machines the above problems was eliminated and improve planting efficiency and garlic productivity. The main aim of this study was to design and development of a tractor-drawn multi row garlic planter capable of planting garlic seed. The following method was used, studying physical properties of garlic seed, design all of components, construction process, laboratory test and cost analysis. The developed tractor drawn garlic planter consists of hopper, feed cup, seed metering mechanism, furrow opener, ground wheel, three-point hitch and furrow covering device. The physical properties of two varieties of garlic were studied. The shape index of two varieties was 0.78 and 0.755. The angle of repose of two varieties was and . With a production cost of 16100.815 Ethiopian birr, the garlic planting machine can assist the farmers to save time, reduce planting operation cost and prevent drudgery of labour. Creating a good platform for the farmers to adopt and use the garlic planter effectively and efficiently should be considered by the policy makers.
Key words: Design, development, Garlic planter, cost analysis.
 
Optimization of indented cylinder rice separator parameters using RSM for enhanced sorting efficiency and reduced loss
Full text linkThis research aimed to optimize the configuration of an indented cylinder rice separator using Response Surface Methodology (RSM). The study employed the Box-Behnken Design (BBD) with three center points to investigate the impact of sieve slope, trough angle, and sorting duration on efficiency and loss. The results demonstrated that all three factors significantly influenced the performance of the machine. By increasing the sieve slope and sorting duration while adjusting the trough angle closely to zero, the loss percentage decreased significantly, leading to improved sorting efficiency. A quadratic model was employed to determine the optimal conditions for the studied factors. The analysis revealed that a 2-degree sieve slope, a -0.1 scale of the trough angle, and a sorting duration of 120 seconds achieved a minimum loss of 0.42% and a maximum efficiency of 97.29%. Validation experiments confirmed that the actual performance closely matched the predicted values. This optimized condition provides practical guidelines for implementing the studied factors in a continuous type of indented cylinder rice separator
Evaluation of a gravity-fed drip irrigation system under varying hydraulic head and land slope for hilly terrain: Evaluation of a gravity-fed drip irrigation system
No full textThis study examined the performance of gravity-fed drip irrigation system under the varying hydraulic head and sub main line placed on varying field slope for hilly terrain of Sikkim, India. The coefficient of uniformity (CU) and emission uniformity (EU) of gravity fed drip irrigation system were evaluated for different combinations of hydraulic head and field slope. From the findings of the study, emission uniformity found to be 91.03%, 84.50%, 75.20% and 70.84% at 3.0 m hydraulic head for 0%, 5%, 10% and 15% land slope respectively. The coefficient of uniformity (CU) and the emission uniformity (EU) decreased with lowering the hydraulic head (tank height and increasing the sub main line slope. The coefficient of uniformity and the emission uniformity decreased significantly at sub main slope steeper than 10%. The coefficient of uniformity and emission uniformity follows a linear relationship with either hydraulic head or slope. At the 3.0 m head at all slopes, the performance of the gravity system was optimum as compared to less than 3.0 m head. Developed regression models for the coefficient of uniformity at varying head and slope may be used for predicting water distribution uniformity and standardization of gravity drip irrigation system in the region
Effects of treated piggery effluent from an amended constructed wetland on the growth of the Okra plant (Abelmoschus esculentus)
Full text linkThis research investigates the effects of treated piggery effluent from cassava peel-based biochar-amended constructed wetlands on the growth of the Okra plant (Abelmoschus esculentus). A batch-fed pilot-scale Horizontal sub-surface flow constructed wetland (HSSFCW) planted with Vertiveria zizanioides was operated with a 3-day Hydraulic Retention Time (HRT). Four different substrates comprising sharpsand SS, quarry dust QD, sharpsand amended with biochar (SS+B) and quarry dust amended with biochar (QD+B). The biochar and piggery effluent were characterized before and after treatment in the HSSFCW using standard procedures. The treated effluents from the four systems were applied to the Okra plant and growth parameters of Leave area index LAI, Plant height Ph and stem diameter QD, were measured for five consecutive weeks and analyzed. The results show that substrate types have a significant effect on LAI and QD but insignificant for Ph. The highest measured LAI, Ph and QD were 13, 317 mm and 12 mm respectively for SS; 12, 323 mm and 14 mm for QD, 25, 307 mm and 14 mm for SS+B and 27, 325 mm and 17 mm for QD+B. The biochar-amended quarry dust CWs effluent is recommended as the best for the treated effluent irrigation for okra plant cultivation
Comparative Analysis of Nutritional Properties of Livestock Feed from Restaurant Food Waste and Conventional Agricultural Feed Sources: Livestock Feed
Full text linkThe negative effects of increasing food waste in the world are worrying for everyone. This research has examined the nutrients of food waste and compares it with agricultural products used in the livestock and poultry feed in order to manage the food waste produced in the restaurant with the approach of converting it into livestock feed. After designing and manufacturing food waste dryer, the food waste was collected from restaurants and kitchens and without any pre-treatment was subjected to heat treatment. The time of 210 minutes with 3 temperatures of 70, 55 and 85 ˚C were selected as experimental factors. The results showed that the amount of livestock feed protein produced was very close to agricultural products. Also, the energy metabolized by the livestock produced from food waste has increased with increasing heat treatment temperature that on average, animal feed produced from food waste provides 50 percent of the energy metabolized from animal feed obtained from agricultural products. Finally, it should be said that with exact evaluation of the amount of microbial and fungal contamination in the livestock feed, it can be used for livestock and poultry consumptions