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Design and Development of a Power Tiller Operated Multi-row Weeder for Wheat

K K Saha
Farm Machinery and Postharvest Process Engineering Divisional , BARI

M A Hoque
Farm Machinery and Postharvest Process Engineering Divisional , BARI

M A H S Jahan
Farm Machinery and Postharvest Process Engineering Divisional , BARI

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

A power tiller operated multi-row weeder was designed and fabricated at Farm Machinery and Postharvest Process Engineering Divisional workshop, BARI, Gazipur in 2012-13 for weeding of wheat. The weeder was compared with other available weeders namely BARI dryland weeder, hand spade and conventional weeding by using khurpi for wheat to find its performance during 2013-14. The power tiller operated multi-row weeder obtained the higher field capacity (0.123 ha/h) was found. Most at was the efficient tool for weeding, particularly in view of time taken in operation followed by BARI dry land weeder (0.023 ha/h), hand spade (0.012 ha/h) and khurpi (0.003 ha/h). In spite of higher percentage plant damage (4.63%) was done by the power weeder but it has not significant effect on crop establishment. Whereas the cost of weeding was found the lowest (1073 Tk/ha) compared to other weeding tools. Improvement is required for convenient operation of the weeder.

Keywords: Power tiller, Multi-row weeder, Wheat,

Location: Farm Machinery and Postharvest Process Engineering Divisional workshop, BARI, Gazipur

Start Date: 00-00-2012

End Date: 00-00-2013

Program Area: Farm Mechanization

Commodity: Weeder, Wheat

Objectives:

a) Design and fabrication of a power tiller operated multi-row weeder for row crops

b) Test the performance of the weeder for weeding in wheat

Methodology:

A power tiller operated multi-row weeder was designed and fabricated at FMP Engineering Divisional workshop, BARI, Gazipur in 2012-13. Some points were considered while designing the weeder. The machine should be:

suitable for weeding of wheat and other narrow row (200 mm) dry land crops
fabricated with locally available materials
simple to operate and transport
adjustable in depth and width of weeding
faster and less costly than weeding manually or by BARI upland weeder

Design features

The weeder was designed for wheat. It weighed about 65 kg without the power tiller. The functions of major parts are described briefly as follows:

Frame: The frame was made of MS angle and MS square. The dimensions of the weeder were 840×1200×680 mm. The whole frame was attached with the power tiller with 4 nuts and bolts. It retains the weeding shovels and the support wheels. Cage wheel: The weeder as well as the power tiller was supported on two cage wheels. The wheel diameter was 730 mm and width was 110 mm. Lugs made of 75×60×5 mm MS flat bar of 50 mm height were spaced 55 mm apart to provide grip on soil. The wheel to wheel distance was adjustable between 1000 mm. Depth control wheel: Two wheels of 126 mm diameter were attached on the frame by clamps act as a depth control for shovel type blades assembly. The depth of the shovel blades can be adjusted by the clamp depending on the root depth of weeds. The depth control wheels also bear the load of the weeder giving the operator comfort and helps in maintaining the direction of travel.

Shovel blades: Six numbers of shovel type blades were attached on the frame by clamp. The blades were made of MS flat and square bars. Dimension of the blades were 80 × 300 mm. The depth of cut and distance between the blades can be adjusted by clamp. Laboratory test: Laboratory test was carried out to determine various design parameter of the weeder, such as the engine speed, and fuel consumption. Fuel consumption was determined by operating the power weeder at field speed in tilled soil and measuring the time and volume of fuel required.

Source of Information: Annual Research Report, Farm Machinery and Postharvest Process Engineering Divisional , BARI--2013-14

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The field test results showed that the weeds between the rows of wheat were effectively killed or uprooted in different mechanical methods. Actual field capacity of power weeder was found maximum (0.123 ha/h) followed by BARI dry land weeder (0.023 ha/h), hand spade (0.012 ha/h) and hand weeding (0.003 ha/h) The wide difference in field capacity of different tools/implements is because of the width of soil cutting parts i.e. blade of the implement as well as forward speed. The power tiller operated weeder being a machine with engine moves much faster than the BARI dry land weeder and hand spade. Also it can work between six numbers of row at a time. BARI dry land weeder facilitates the worker to provide easy push and pull action to the implement as compare to the hand spade and khurpi. Intercultural operation with khurpi is usually done by the operator in sitting posture and the forward speed is quite less, which accounts the minimum field capacity of khurpi during weeding operation. The weeding index of treatments was found to be in the range from 92.11 to 96.50%. It was observed that the highest weeding index of 96.50% was obtained from khurpi. The weeding index of developed weeder (92.5 %) was higher than that of BARI dry land weeder (92.18%). The highest percentage of plant damage was found in case of power tiller operated weeder (4.63%) followed by hand spade (1.31%), BARI dry land weeder (1.18%) and khurpi (0.58%). This might be due to very narrow space (200 mm) between the rows to operate the weeder. The wheels of the power tiller were also accountable for plant damage. It was observed that if the rows were not straight the plant damage percentage was high. The cost of operation of 'khurpi' was found maximum (6067 Tk/ha) followed by hand spade (1716 Tk/ha), BARI dry land weeder (1359 Tk/ha) and power tiller operated weeder (1073 Tk/ha). As weeding is a labor consuming process and because of minimum field capacity of 'khurpi' the cost of operation of 'khurpi' for weeding was very high. The reason may be similar for cost of operation of hand spade and BARI dry land weeder. The cost of operation of developed weeder was found the lowest in spite of higher purchase cost of power tiller and this implement and lower annual use which were responsible for increasing the fixed cost. It might be due to having larger width of operation and higher speed of operation resulting in higher field capacity of this machine. Under the present day constraints and scarcity of labor and seasonal price hike, the experiment revealed that power tiller operated multi-row weeder could be a fastest and efficient means for weeding of wheat. It can save up to 82.67% of weeding cost over traditional method. Plant damage percentage was found higher than any other mechanical methods but it has not significant effect on crop establishment. The only limitation for the weeder was found its ease of operation because it was very difficult to operate between narrow rows. If the operator is not skilled enough there will be the chance of large number of plant damage. So, the experiment will be continued in the next year for further improvement

Knowledge Management: Report/Proceedings