Field Performance Analysis of a Tractor-Drawn Turmeric Rhizome Planter

Abstract

A field performance analysis of a developed prototype tractor-drawn turmeric planter is presented. The experiment was randomized in a factorial design of three planter levels of rhizome lengths (30, 45 and 60 mm) and operational speeds of 8, 10, and 12 kmh-1. An average mass of 3 kg of wholesome turmeric rhizomes were introduced into the hopper of the planter and planted in 90 m2 of experimental plot. During field evaluation of the machine, the effective field capacity, field efficiency, missing index, multiple index and planting depth were considered; whereas laboratory tests were conducted to evaluate the planter’s seed rate, percentage rhizome bruise wheel slippage and fuel consumption. Results obtained show that the maximum seed rate was 0.283 th-1. The maximum percent bruised turmeric rhizome was found to be 30.08%. The mean effective field capacity varied between 0.63 - 0.96 hah-1, at operational speeds of 8 and 12 kmh-1, respectively and 45 mm rhizome length. The mean field efficiency was obtained to be 65.8%. The maximum wheel slippage of 4.37% and fuel consumption of 3.8 lha-1 were obtained at the machine speeds of 8 kmh-1 and 12 kmh-1, respectively; whereas the minimum wheel slippage of 3.14% and fuel consumption of 2.2 lha-1 were obtained at the machine speeds of 12 kmh-1 and 8 kmh-1, respectively for the range of the studied turmeric rhizome length. The highest and lowest percentage turmeric rhizome miss index of 35% were recorded for turmeric rhizome length of 30 mm at a speed of 10 kmh-1 and 8 kmh-1, respectively. An average planting depth of 68 mm was obtained. The numerical optimization approach was adopted to obtain an optimal operational parameters of 12 kmh-1 speed and 45 mm turmeric rhizome grading size with an overall desirability index of 0.73. An economic evaluation was calculated using the principle of payback period which was obtained to be very small (1.64 years) compared to the life of the planter of 17 years. Prospects for future works were suggested.

Rad prikazuje ispitivanja terenski razvijenog prototipa sadilice za kurkumu (Curcuma Longa Linn). Ispitivanja su randomizirana u faktorskom dizajnu sa tri različite dužine rizoma kurkume od 30, 45 i 60 mm, i radnih brzina agregata traktor – sadilica je 8, 10 i 12 kmh-1. U ispitivanju je prosečna masa od 3 kg celih rizoma kurkume ubačena u spremište – levak sadilice i posađena na 90 m2 eksperimentalne površine. Tokom terenskog ispitivanja mašine-sadilice razmatrani su: efektivni učinak, statistička greška, višestruki indeks i dubina sadnje rizoma kurkume. Laboratorijska ispitivanja su obavljena kako bi se procenila potrebna količina materijala rizoma za sadnju, % proklizavanja točkova traktora i količina potrošenog goriva. Dobijeni rezultati pokazuju da je maksimalna količina utrošenih rizoma kurkume bila 0,283 th-1. Utvrđeno je da maksimalni % modificiranog rizoma kurkume iznosi 30,08 %. Srednji efektivni učinak varirao je između 0,63 - 0,96 hah-1, pri stvarnoj operativnoj brzini rada agregata od od 8 i 12 kmh-1, odnosno dužini rizoma kurkume od 45 mm. Dobijen srednji učinak na polju od 65,8%. Maksimalno proklizavanje točkova traktora bilo je od 4,37%, a potrošnja goriva od 3,8 lha-1 dobijeni su pri brzinama agregata od 8 kmh-1 odnosno 12 kmh-1. Najmanje proklizavanje točkova traktora je 3,14% i potrošnja goriva 2,2 lha-1 dobijeni su pri brzinama agregata od 12 kmh-1 i 8 kmh-1. Najviši i najniži % prolaska rizoma kurkume kroz aparat sadilice je 35% , a konstatovan je za dužinu rizoma od 30 mm pri brzini agregata od 10 kmh-1 odnosno 8 kmh-1. Dobijena prosečna dubina sadnje rizoma kurkume je od 68 mm. Numerički optimizacijski pristup usvojen je da bi se dobili optimalni operativni parametri rada agregata brzine od 12 kmh-1 i veličine dubine sadnje rizoma kurkume od 45 mm sa ukupnim indeksom ostvarljivosti od 0,73. Ekonomska procena isplativosti izračunata je primenom načela povrata investicije, koja je dobijena kao vrlo mala (1,64 godine) u odnosu na mogući vek sadilice od 17 godina. Predloženi su zadaci i mogućnosti za buduće radove.