ISHS Acta Horticulturae 710: International Symposium on Greenhouses, Environmental Controls and In-house Mechanization for Crop Production in the Tropics and Sub-Tropics
PERFORMANCE OF 4-WHEEL TRACTOR AND IMPLEMENTS FOR VEGETABLE PRODUCTION UNDER INSECT-SCREEN RAIN SHELTER STRUCTURE |
| Authors: | K. Rezuwan, MD. Akhir Hamid |
| Keywords: | four wheel tractor, implements, working rate, efficiency, insect-screen rain shelter structure |
| Abstract:
Manual operations for vegetable production inside insect-screen rain shelter structure are generally inefficient, laborious and time consuming. Therefore, a mechanized production system was developed to increase productivity, quality and field efficiency. Moreover, the system reduces labor dependency and saves time. An insect-screen rain shelter structure was designed and constructed according to the mechanized production requirements with sufficient horizontal and vertical spaces for machineries to maneuver. A small 4-wheel tractor as a prime mover and attached implements (rotary slasher, disc plough, rotary cultivator and soil miller with bed former) were tested inside and outside the structure. Field data such as field efficiency, working rate, fuel consumption, safety, machine maintenance and costs were recorded and analysed. The average working rates inside the structure for rotary slasher, disc plough, rotary cultivator and soil miller with bed former were found to be 2.150, 6.435, 3.859 and 3.999 hour per hectare respectively. However, the open field working rates of disc plough, rotary cultivator and milling with bed forming were 6.586, 3.069 and 6.561 hour per hectare. Both locations were ex-vegetable farm, small grass and clay soil. Open field has a higher working rate due to hard and compacted clay soil exposed to the weather as compared to under the structure. The field efficiencies of disc plough, rotary cultivator and bed forming operations under the structure and in the open field were found to be 89.44, 84.36, 81.25 and 90.8, 84.81, 85.57% respectively. Higher efficiencies in the open field were recorded due to ample space for the tractor and implement maneuvering and turning at the ends. This paper highlights the operating costs, safety and maintenance of the machine. In addition, the conditions of soil, field and climate during the testing processes are also highlighted. | |
Download Adobe Acrobat Reader (free software to read PDF files) | |
