DEVELOPMENT AND PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF A THREEROW MULTI-GRAIN PLANTER
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Date
2024
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
NIGERIA JOURNAL OF ENGINEERING AND APPLIED SCIENCES (NJEAS)
Abstract
Mechanization has revolutionized farming practices by facilitating timely operations, reducing
losses, and cutting operational costs, ultimately enhancing agricultural productivity. The rising
demand for functional and affordable planters, coupled with the inability of Nigerian farmers to
afford imported planters, highlights the need to develop locally produced planters to address the
primary limitations and obstacles faced with existing planting equipment and systems, such as low
efficiency, labour intensity, safety concerns, and soil compaction issues. The study focused on the
design and fabrication of a three-row push-type multipurpose planter using locally available
materials. The aim was to address the specific needs and challenges faced by rural and medium-scale
farmers. The performance of the developed planter was evaluated through both laboratory and field
tests. The laboratory assessment aimed to measure the rate of seed discharge and assess seed damage
during operation, while the field test sought to gauge field efficiency and throughput capacity of the
developed machine. Results from both tests indicated promising outcomes. The three-row planter
discharged seeds; maize weighing 4.67 to 4.71 g, soybean ranging from 10.65 to 10.89 g, and cowpea
weighing from 4.07 to 4.69 g while effectively metering out two to three seeds per discharge at an
average planting depth of 3.88 cm. Minimal seed damage was recorded, with percentages of 1.07%
for maize, 0.92% for soybeans, and 0.71% for sorghum. Field tests revealed a commendable field
efficiency of 73.5% and an average field capacity of 0.188 ha/hr., Hence, the designed planter is
simple to operate, portable, easy to maintain., and it has the potential to alleviate the challenges faced
by farmers in rural areas.