This research work was carried out to improve the storage space and effective handling of dried vegetables specifically tomatoes, onion and okra, for consumers and marketers. The machine basically consists of an upper compression plate, machine mould, piston, lower compression plate and a 3-tons hydraulic jack. The machine performance was evaluated based on Output Capacity and Machine Compression Efficiency. The results showed that the machine output capacity and efficiency were 0.291 kg/h and 96.3%, respectively. The machine production cost stood at N35,000.00 only. The machine is therefore recommended to farmers.
Weeds are unwanted and undesirable plant that interfere with the utilization of land and water resources and adversely affect crop production. After preliminary study, it was found out that power tiller could be adopted for weeding. Therefore, the study aimed at improving its performance through modification of some major component such as: weeding blades and depth gauge. Three sets of pairs of blade gang of four, six and eight were made from 3 mm mild steel sheet metal. The fabrication was carried out at the Department of Agricultural and Bio-Resources Engineering, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. The modified machine was evaluated based on weeding efficiency, field capacity, Plant Damage and Fuel consumption in the maize field during 2017/2018 irrigation season at Institute for Agricultural Research, IAR, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria research farm. Four levels of blade types ‘B’ and three levels of weeding depth ‘D’ were considered. The field was laid in a 4×3 Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) at two (2) Weeks After Sowing (2WAS). DMRT was used for mean separation ran in SAS package. The results showed effects of blade types and weeding depth were significant on the weeding performance of the machine.
The study aimed at evaluating the functional performance of a developed portable ginger rhizomes slicing machine. The study was conducted at various levels of impeller speed, impeller gang and slicing compartment in the Department of Agricultural and Bioresources Engineering, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria between April 2018 and June 2018. A factorial experiment in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) was used. The indices for the performance evaluation were the Slicing Efficiency and Throughput Capacity. The machine was powered by one horse power petrol engine and ginger moisture content of 77.44%. Data collected were subjected to statistical analysis using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) to test the significance level of the experimental factors and their interactions; and those found significant were further subjected to Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT) for mean separations at (P = .05), respectively. The results showed that, the ANOVA for all the factors evaluated and their interactions on Slicing Efficiency were highly significant at (P ≤ .01). However, the ANOVA for the factors evaluated on Throughput capacity were highly significant but interaction between type of compartment and speed of impeller was not significant at (P =.05). The mean Slicing Efficiencies for the cushion and spring compartments were: 63.5 and 50% while the mean Throughput Capacities were: 58.32 and 6.32 kg/h, respectively.
The production of sugarcane is increasing in Nigeria nowadays. Juice extracted from sugarcane can be used extensively in manufacturing brown sugar, industrial sugar and bioethanol fuel through the process of fermentation; hence, the need to develop a machine that can extract juice from sugarcane effectively. This work involves the design, fabrication and performance evaluation of sugarcane juice extractor. The machine was designed to extract juice from sugarcane at small scale level suitable for small and medium scale sugarcane processors. The prototype machine was designed, fabricated and assembled in the Department of Agricultural and Bio-resources Engineering, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. The machine consists of rollers, gears, cane guide, juice collector, frame, and prime mover. The developed machine was evaluated using koma variety of cane and obtained an output capacity of 148.2 kg/h and extraction efficiency of 67.44%, respectively at a speed of 30 rpm. The production cost stood at N 90,000 which is affordable and therefore recommended for small scale processors.
Dual (cushion and spring) compartment ginger slicing machine was developed to address the dificulties associaed with manual slicing of ginger. However, there is no establisbed operational perfomance on record for this particular machine; thus, the need for this study. To achieve this, the machine perfomance was evaluated at the Department of Agricultural and Bio-Environmental Engineering, Waziri Umaru Federal Polytechnic, Birnin Kebbi in April, 2019 interms of Slicing Efficiency and Percent Broken and Bruises at a ginger moisture content of 80.2 and 78.5%, using completely randomized Design (CRD) with 5 x 2 x 2 factorial experiment. The experiment was conducted with one horse power petrol engine. The data collected were analyzed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) for significance level of the experimental factors and their interactions and those found significant were further analyzed using Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT) for mean separations at (P0.05), respectively. The results showed that, the highest mean Slicing Efficiencies for cushion and spring compartments were: 61.2 and 45.1%, respectively. The lowest mean Percent Broken and Bruises was with cushion compartment as 38.8% and 54.9% spring compartment, respectively.
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