Agricultural Research Management Information System

Home
Research Summary
Search
About Us
- ARMIS
- Brochure
Contact Us
Report
User Request
Data Input
Help
- Operation Manual
  - PDF
  - Video
- Program Area & Commodity
We have reached 37600 number of research entries at this moment.

- Logout

Research Detail

Home
Research
Detail

An Improved Method of Broadcasting Seeds and Fertilizers for Small Farmholders

A. T. M. Ziauddin
Department of Farm Power and Machinery,Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh.

Ferdous H. Khan
Department of Farm Power and Machinery,Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh.

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

A manually operated seed-fertilizer distributor was designed and developed in the Department of Farm Power and Machinery of Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh to broadcast seeds, fertilizers and granular insecticides in the field. Theory of Kinematics of particle and the principle of gravity flow were used in designing the machine. Experiments were conducted for determination of Uniformity Co-efficient of Distribution (UCD), field capacity of the machine and application rate of the seeds (lentil, black gram & wheat) and fertilizers (fine Urea & TSP). The UCD of the seeds and the fertilizers were determined by Catching Paper Box method and were compared with that of traditional hand broadcasting method. This simple mechanical device of 6.0 kg weight was designed to carry on the shoulder of an operator during operation. lt had a fabrication cost of TK.1000 (US $20) only (in year 2000). Normally, the UCD of traditional hand broadcasting system ranges between 40% to 70%, depending upon the operators skill. The average UCD of this device at a beater speed of 700 rpm for fine urea, TSP, wheat, lentil and black gram were found to be 97.75%, 93.5%, 88.75o/o, 97.21% and 96.25%, respectively. The average effective field capacity of the device was calculated as 2.26 ha/hr, whereas it was about 0.32 ha/hr only in case of traditional hand sowing method. The extensive performance tests conducted in the farmers' fields indicated that the seed-fertilizer distributor could be used by farmers with high satisfaction. The technology has already been transferred formally to four machine manufacturers in the country for manufacture and marketing. To day, a good number of machine, known as BAUZIA Seed-Fertilizer Distributor are being used in the field. It is expected that the machine, with its own advantages, will penetrate the farmers world within a very short period of time.

Keywords: Distributor, seed, fertilizer and uniformity

Location: Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh.

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Farm Mechanization

Commodity: Performance evaluation

Objectives:

1) To redesign a seed-fertilizer distributor based on principles of kinematics of particle and gravity flow.

2) To improve the metering and transmission system of the distributor. and

3) To test and calibrate the machine for fine urea, TSP, lentil, black gram and wheat.

Methodology:

Five different types of techniques are available today to spread small particles in the field. These are; 1) Spinning disc type distributor, 2) Distributor type rotor, 3) Pneumatic distributor, 4) Oscillating spout machines, 5) Plate and flicker machines The rotor type mechanism was selected because of simplicity of fabrication and operation. The material to be distributed, could be kept in a tank from where it may fall through an opening by gravity flow on a platform. During gravity flow of material on the platform, a rotating beater may broadcast the material at a desired rate. The beater could be powered by an arm of an operator. The length of the beater arm was designed using the principle of circular motion and plane curvilinear motion of particle. Circular motion of a beater arm and curvilinear motion of a particle are represented. The vertical and horizontal distance traveled by a particle, P due to beating action of a beater. The velocity of a point on the beater is V= ror=2nNr ..(1) Where, V = velocity in m/s ro = angular velocity in rad/min N = rotor rpm, and r = length of beater arm in m. The application rate of fine urea, TSP, lentil, black gram and wheat were found to be 17.587 to 106.32 kg/ha, 13.72 to 108.53 kg/ha, 21.00 to 40.88 kg/ha, 30.88 to 46.66 kg/ha and 106.83 to 152.09 kg/ha, respectively. The application rate of materials increases very insignificantly with the increase of beater speed. But it increases significantly with the increase of hopper opening (Fig. 8). The average effective field capacities of the distributor were calculated to be 1.903, 2.115, 2.565, 2.529 and 2.196 for fine urea, TSP, lentil, black gram and wheat, respectively. lt was observed that the average effective field capacity of the machine was over 2.26 ha/hr where as it was only 0.32 ha/hr for traditional hand sowing. It was shown that the comparison between hand broadcasting and machine broadcasting. The average effective field capacity of the machine was 7 times higher than that of traditional hand broadcasting method. The overall cost for machine-sown materials has also been reduced by 7 times. The average UCD of the machine-sown of the materials was found over 95% having a standard deviation of 3.70. However it was found 73.94 o/o in case of hand broadcasting with a standard deviation of 10.86 . The results of the performance tests of the machine indicate that the machine broadcasting system was found significantly better than the traditional hand sowing system. Calibration of a machine is nothing but identification of different points on the dial gauge for various application rates of the materials. Knob positions for each crop at various application rates were identified and marked on the dial gauge. lt would help farmers to select the correct knob position for desired rate of application. Test for Application Rate: Application rate of the materials depends on the discharge rate of material and the actual field coverage by the distributor. The application rate of the material (kg/ha) for different hopper opening was calculated using the following relationships. Application rate of materials, A = ?, kg/ha ... (6) Where, D = Actual discharge rate of materials, kg/hr F = Effective field capacity of the machine, ha/hr.

Source of Information: The society for engineering in agricultural food and biological system; Paper Number: 421058; 2002 ASAE Annual lnternational Meeting / CIGR XVth World Congress, Sponsored by ASAE and CIGR, Hyatt Regency Chicago, Chicago,lllinois, USA, July 28 to July 31, 2002.

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The BAUZIA Seed-Fertilizer Distributor is a manually operated simple device, having a fabrication cost of TK. 1000 (US$20) only (in the year 2000), can distribute many types of agricultural seeds (such as wheat, lentil, black gram etc.) and fertilizers (such as urea, TSp, Mp). the distributor is capable of spreading seeds or fertilizers at a uniformity index of over 95%. The average effective field capacity of the device was found to be 2.26 ha/hr. This simple mechanical device of 6 kg in weight was designed to carry on the shoulder of an operator during operation. lt was recommended that the machine should be operated at a normal walking speed of 4 kph and a comfortable hand rotation for the chain-sprocket system. The BAUZIA Seed-Fertilizer Distributor could offer an excellent uniformity of distribution and could save significant amount of time and money and reduce drudgery. The machine is considered environment friendly and free of health hazard since there is no scope of physical contact of fertilizer to the farmer. investigation of the impact of the machine on crop productivity is in progress. The technology has already been transferred formally by Bangladesh Agricultural University to four machine manufacturers in the country for manufacture and marketing. A good number of machine is being used by the farmers in the field. lt is expected that the machine, with its own advantages, will penetrate the farmers' world within a very short period of time.

Knowledge Management: Report/Proceedings