Mechanical methods of weeding are preferred over other methods of weed control because of their added advantages of simple construction, low cost and environmental friendly. Mechatronics concept was incorporated in development of a battery-assisted four-wheel weeder for weeding operation in wide row (more than 30 cm) crops. The developed machine consisted of brushed DC motor, DMSC, battery, power transmission system, drive-wheels, front wheels, frame and swinging handle. A brushed DC motor of 250W powered by 24V-14Ah battery with sweep type weeding tool performed satisfactorily in the field for weeding operation up to 147N draft.The operators are to only guide the weeder up to 147N draft while they need to apply their muscle power beyond 147N to prevent slippage.The average field capacity with this machine was 0.0554 ha/h at walking speed of 2.52 km/h with 97.5% weeding efficiency. The machine is gender-friendly with simple in design and technology and has potential to be adopted by small and hill farmers with reduced drudgery. The concept of transforming manual operated to battery assisted weeder was found satisfactory for wide row crops.
Amongst various sources of farm power, electrical power through stored electric energy is a potential source to meet the current challenge in agriculture. At ICAR-IARI, an attempt was made to use battery-power for developing a walk behind equipment with 250-800W DC/BLDCC motors for sowing, weeding, cutting and performing operations on a common platform during 2015-20. The study further led to developing a Versatile Electric Prime Mover for Agriculture (VEPMA) using 1.5 kW BLDC motor with the provision of various attachments that can meet the need of small farmers. The VEPMA is assessed to be an economically viable unit with a saving of 5-liter diesel fuel per ha and 5 to 10 times economical to tractor and power tiller operations. Its adoption in one percent cultivable area (1.4 million ha) in India can result in the net saving of approximately 32 million litres of diesel and reduce 85000 tons of CO2 in the atmosphere.
Spinach and coriander are cultivated using traditional method by majority of marginal and small landholders. No seed drill is available for sowing of these vegetable crops. The objective of present study was to provide such a seeder that can reduce manual work done by farmers. An attempt was made to develop electric power (e-power) walk behind seeder at ICAR-IARI, New Delhi in year 2015. The major workload was shared by e-power. The unit consisted of a DC geared motor, batteries, power transmission unit, independent seeding units with vertical cell fed metering mechanism, swinging handle and frame. The seeder was tested for spinach, coriander and wheat seeds. Lab study on sticky belt indicated that wheat seed showed better uniformity in distribution followed by spinach and coriander. From field studies, output with e-powered 350W seeder was 1130 m2/h at a speed of about 2.9 km/h with field efficiency of 90.3% for tested seeds. The average draft requirement of machine was 106.1N. The developed equipment provided 2.5 times more output than manually operated seed drill with reduced drudgery by 2.6 times in terms of muscular force requirement.
A study was carried out to assess the quantum of particulate matter in the breathing zone and workspace of combine harvester operator during 2018-19 in wheat fields of ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi. Mass concentration and particle size distribution of dust were assessed in the breathing zone for different size fractions related to health during wheat harvesting using a personal dust monitor. Sticky papers were used to determine the characteristics of particulate matter and wheat straw (>100 μm) in the workspace of the combine harvester. The average mass concentration of inhalable, thoracic and respirable particles were 9500, 4150 and 940 μg/m3 and PM10, PM2.5 and PM1 particles were 3722, 453 and 120 μg/m3 in the breathing zone. Particulate matter concentrations were 37 and 8 times (daily basis) and 62 and 11 times (annual basis) higher than the permissible value of PM10 and PM2.5. The equivalent diameter of wheat straw ranged up to 1400 μm with a density of 9-12 particles per mm2 surface area. It amounts to 1.2 million particles in the workspace with the potential of sticking on exposed body of the operator considering a 10% body surface area.
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