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A slotted waveguide antenna was designed and developed with series slots cut on the broad side that constituted a popular means of coupling microwaves with grain for drying. The radiating characteristics of the slotted wave guide antenna mounted in a setup that simulated the coupling to a grain conveying tube were studied at a frequency of 2.45 GHz. The antenna consisted of a WR-340 waveguide made of copper. The effect of the slot inclination angle O, moisture content and the shape of the slots were investigated. The results indicated 55 degrees as an optimum slot angle for slots having a width of 13 mm and a length 58 mm. Slots with a width of 6 mm did not exhibit any regular behavior and the effect of O was not clearly identified.

Threshing of sesame seeds from the harvested capsules is one of the important operations and it consumes more labor, time and cost. Hence the development of a power operated portable sesame thresher is timely essential for the small farmers. The physical properties of sesame seeds namely size of the seed, Number of seeds per capsule, 1000 grain weight and length and thickness of capsules were studied for developing a power operated portable sesame thresher. The most popular variety used in Tamil Nadu is TMV 7. The average length and thickness of capsules were measured as 35 and 12 mm respectively. The average number of seeds in single capsule was determined as 60. The average 1000 grain weight was determined as 3.1 g. and the average size of the seed is 3×1.8× 0.9 mm. Based on these results the portable sesame thresher was fabricated based on double roller (two rollers are rotating with opposite direction) mechanism with an overall size of 1392 ×700 ×1170 mm and its performance was assessed in terms of threshing efficiency, output capacity, saving in cost and time and compared with conventional methods of manual threshing. The developed portable power sesame thresher was field tested and its threshing efficiency and seed output capacity were 96.7% and 18.2 kg h-1, respectively. The saving in cost and time were 92 and 72% respectively as compared to conventional method of manual threshing.

This study employed a comprehensive technique for the systematic estimate of the water balance in Thenpennaiyaru river basin irrigation systems (TRB-IS) in Tamil Nadu, India. KRP reservoir and Sathanur reservoir in TRB are the primary water sources in the study area. We computed the actual water loss in open canals (e.g., leakage and evaporation). A water balance technique provides for the accounting of various system volume inputs (e.g., water abstraction, imported water, water volume owing to precipitation or surface runoff), authorized consumptions, and water losses in canals and intermediate reservoirs. The proposed methodology enables the evaluation of various water loss components (e.g., evaporation losses, unauthorized uses, metering errors, leakage, and discharges) and the calculation of water loss performance indicators that enable the identification of the most significant water loss problems and provide guidance for managing water losses. The approach is evaluated and implemented using a hybrid irrigation system. Results indicate that discharges in canal systems account for over half of the total volume of water loss, followed by leakage in canals and metering problems. These findings emphasize the need to enhance the everyday operation of these systems and restore their infrastructures.