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Agronomic Study of BRRI Multi-row Power Weeder for Rice Cultivation

H. Paul
Farm Machinery and Postharvest Technology Division, Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, Gazipur-1701, Bangladesh.

M. A. Hossen
Farm Machinery and Postharvest Technology Division, Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, Gazipur-1701, Bangladesh.

S. Islam
Farm Machinery and Postharvest Technology Division, Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, Gazipur-1701, Bangladesh.

M. M. Rahman
Farm Machinery and Postharvest Technology Division, Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, Gazipur-1701, Bangladesh.

M. A. Rahman
Farm Machinery and Postharvest Technology Division, Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, Gazipur-1701, Bangladesh.

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Weeds are the major biotic confinements of rice productivity. In Bangladesh, weeding operation is done manually pulling or by using simple tools like khurpi, push-pull Japanese weeder, BRRI, BARI and locally developed weeder. The main objective of the research work was to assess the ergonomic factors of BRRI multi-row power operated weeder. This study was carried out in the cultivators’ land, Tarhat Para, Gazipur Sadar under silty loam soil condition during Boro season, 2018-2019. Three operators were casually selected for ergonomic evaluation. Heart rate was measured every 30 minutes during operation. Body mass index (BMI) values were found to be 24.05, 21.48 and 23.48 kg m^-2 for operators O₁, O₂ and O₃ respectively. The mean working heart rate for operating BRRI multi-row power weeder was found to be 134.67, 137.33 and 138.67 beats min^-1 and the equivalent average energy expenditure rate was found to be 28.61, 29.72 and 30.28 kJ min^-1 during weeding operation for operators O₁, O₂ and O₃ respectively. The oxygen consumption rate was differing from 0.86 to 0.90 l min^-1. The rest pause during weeding operation was found to be 11 minutes followed by 30 minutes of operation. Based on the workload, the operation of BRRI multi-row power paddy weeder is ergonomically safe and it could be operated continually up to 8 hours of a long day if 11 minutes of work rest time to a operator may be taken after 30 minutes of operation.

Keywords: Body mass index, Oxygen consumption rate, Energy expenditure rate, Multi-row power weeder, Rice

Location: Gazipur Sadar

Start Date: 00-00-2018

End Date: 00-00-2019

Program Area: Farm Mechanization

Commodity: Weeder

Objectives:

To assess the Agronomic factors of BRRI multi-row power weeder for its suitability before large scale dissemination.

Methodology:

This research was carried out in the cultivators’ land, Tarhat Para, Gazipur Sadar during Boro season, 2018-2019. Rice variety BRRI dhan28 was transplanted by hand with 20 × 20 cm distance. The land was arranged by a power tiller of 2-WT, which is two plowing, followed by two puddling and leveling under the flooding conditions. Fertilizer was used according to the recommendation of the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI). Irrigation was delivered following the requirement of crop. 50 mm height and 49.8 mm diameter of a metal core was used to collect soil samples from three different places of 0-150 mm depth to identify soil textural class, soil fertility class, pH and organic matter. The analysis of soil samples was done in the Soil Analytical Laboratory, Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC), Gazipur. Soil particle analysis was found as sand (29.92%), silty (50.84%) and Clay (19.24%) while pH and organic matter were found 5.66 and 2.48% respectively. Textural class was determined as silty loam by the USDA Soil Texture Triangle. BRRI multi-row power weeder is an effective technology for proper weed management in line sowing paddy field. Weed can be controlled in more than one row (three rows) at the same time using this power weeder. This technology is manufactured and synchronized with a petrol engine, three rotors, mild sheet (MS) shaft for power transmission, gear, stainless steel (SS) body, stainless steel (SS) handle and covered of plastic. Recoil starting mode petrol engine (1.35 kW) was used as a power source. Engine power (6500 rpm) transmitted to rotors at 185 rpm of the weeder with the arrangement of a coupling spline shaft-bearing, worm gear and rotary shaft with engage-disengage facility.

Source of Information: J. Sci. Technol. Environ. Inform. | Volume 10, Issue 01, 685-693 | (2020)

Article Link (Online Journal): https://doi.org/10.18801/jstei.090120.69

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The ergonomic performance of BRRI multi-row power weeder was almost favorable condition for human body. Ergonomic parameters like heart rate, oxygen absorption rate and energy expenditure rate were increased during weeding operation for all the operators. The operation of BRRI multi-row power paddy weeder based on heart rate was graded of heavy. The weeding operation for the operator could be secure in ergonomically as 11 minutes of rest to operator may be taken to come to the normal heart rate after the operation of 30 minutes duration. Otherwise, the physiological condition of operators may be disordered due to more than 30 minutes of work continuously. It is suggested that the BRRI multi-row power paddy weeder under silty loam soil condition could be operated continually 30 minutes of operation followed by 11 minutes rest pause for 8 hours of a day. It is also proposed that two operators may be involved in an alternative to work for a long day with BRRI multi-row power paddy weeder.

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