The effects of speeds, digger lengths and spacing on the material efficiency of a ginger harvester: A response surface approach

Abstract

A developed ginger harvester was studied for its performance during operation using response surface methodology. Some of its parameters like speeds of operation, digger lengths and spacing, were varied to determine their effects on the Material Efficiency of the machine. Three levels of speeds (4,8,12km/hr), three levels of digger lengths (25,30,35cm) and three levels of digger spacing (4,6,8cm) were investigated as they affected the Material Efficiency of the machine. Results showed that the linear effects of speed, the quadratic effects of speed, the quadratic effects of digger lengths and the interactions of speeds and digger lengths were significant to the Material Efficiency of the ginger harvester at 5% probability (P≤ 0.05). These effects alone accounted for about 94.14% of the variations in the Material Efficiency of the machine. The response surface curve showed that the material efficiency increased with speed and digger spacing, but decreased with digger lengths. The highest overall Material Efficiency was obtained when the digger lengths were 25cm and the digger spacing was 8cm.