DEVELOPMENT AND PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF A THREE-ROW MULTI-GRAIN PLANTER.
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Date
2024
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Published by School of Infrastructure, Process Engineering and Technology (SIPET) and the School of Electrical Engineering and Technology (SEET) of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria.
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.
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Citation
Busari R. A*; Adebayo K. R; and Alabi K. P; Gbadamosi, B. S and Oluwatobi, O.S (2024). Development and Performance Evaluation of a Three-Row Multi-Grain Planter, Nigeria Journal of Engineering and Applied Science (NJEAS). 10 (2): 45 – 55.