Development of multipurpose tool carrier for sowing and spraying operations for field crops

Introduction

In India, where agriculture is a cornerstone of the economy, employing a significant portion of the workforce, particularly small and marginal farmers, enhancing agricultural productivity is paramount( Government of India, 2023).Agriculture is the backbone of global food security, and the adoption of advanced machinery is critical to meet the growing demand for food (FAO ,2021).Traditional farming methods often demand substantial manual effort, leading to inefficiencies and potential health issues (Singh & Singh , 2019) [14] .To mitigate these challenges, the development of multipurpose tool carriers (MPTCs) has emerged as a viable solution for small and medium-sized farms (Kumar & Pandey, 2020) [5] . MPTCs are engineered to execute various agricultural tasks, including seed planting, fertilizing, spraying, and inter-cultivation, utilizing a single frame with interchangeable attachments (Yadav& Khurana ,2021) [15] . Pesticide spraying is a critical operation in agriculture, essential for protecting crops from pests and diseases FAO (2020). However, the traditional methods of carrying and operating spraying equipment often lead to physical strain, particularly shoulder pain, due to the manual handling of heavy pumps (Mehta & Chandel (2018) [10] . This challenge is especially pronounced in regions where farmers rely heavily on manual labor, leading to inefficiencies and health issues over time (Narayanamoorthy,2017) [11] . Sowing is one of the most important operations in crop production, which requires precise placement of seed with set seed rate to maximize crop yield (Kachman & Smith, 1995) [7] . Uniformity in seed dropping in rows depends on the planter seed metering rotor performance (Karayel, et.al, 2006) [8] . The assessment of plant spacing and seed rate as provided by the planters is also crucial in analysing their performance (ASABE Standards,2020). Conventional sprayers having the difficulties such as it needs lot of effort to crank lever up and down in order to create the pressure to spray the pesticide (Patel & Tiwari ,2019) [12] . Sprayer can also be operated using battery driven or engine operated and ground wheel driven also in order to overcome the problems of farmers in purchase of fuel which increases the running cost of the operation (Kumar & Singh, 2020) [6] . Hence wheel driven Multipurpose Tool carrier need to be designed consisting of sowing attachment and sowing operations for field crops like cotton, red gram etc (Yadav & Khurana, 2021) [15] . The fabrication of the machine will be done as per the detailed drawing of the machine (Srivastava, et al., 2006) [13] . Developed machine will be optimized in the laboratory for effective performance while sowing and spraying operation by selecting performance parameters for determination (Liu, J et al. (2016) [9] After laboratory testing of the equipment, further it will be modified as per the requirement which suits to actual field condition will also be evaluated and demonstrated at farmer's field (Kumar & Pandey, 2020) [5] . The development of a multipurpose tool carrier (MPTC) for sowing and spraying addresses the inefficiencies and physical strain of traditional farming methods. By integrating multiple operations into a single machine, it reduces labor, time, and costs while improving precision and productivity, particularly benefiting small and marginal farmers in India.

Objectives

Materials and Methodology

The methods followed for the development of different components required for multipurpose tool carrier consisting of sowing and spraying attachment and other details required for the development of multipurpose tool carrier to suit selected field crops were also narrated. The evaluation techniques used to find the performance of the machine for the field conditions for the selected field crops were enumerated under the following sub heading.

2.1Components and Attachments 1. Main Frame:

The base structure supporting all attachments, constructed from durable materials to ensure stability and strength. 2. Spraying Attachment: A pesticide sprayer designed to minimize manual effort and reduce shoulder pain during operation.

Sowing Mechanism: A precision seed placement

device for efficient sowing in ploughed fields.

Development of Multipurpose Tool Carrier (MPTC)

The multipurpose tool carrier integrates sowing and spraying functionalities, powered by a ground wheel and battery.

Features

 A separate frame for mounting the spray tank and seed hopper.  A front-mounted ground wheel for ease of operation.  Adjustable settings for boom/nozzle height, single seed placement, and seed spacing.

Design and Fabrication 1. Frame Construction

 The frame is made from two long, 3mm thick, 20mm diameter rods, bent and welded into an ergonomic handle.  A supporting frame at the handle's end secures the main equipment body.  A stand is provided below the frame to reduce operator fatigue during rest.

Front-Mounted Wheel

 A 480mm diameter wheel is connected to the equipment via sprockets and chains.  This wheel drives the sowing or spraying mechanisms, ensuring smooth operation.

Spraying Attachment

 A nozzle-equipped tube is fixed to a boom attached to the sprayer.  The boom is connected to the frame for stable and directed pesticide application.  A handle-mounted lever controls the spraying action, providing precise control.

Modularity

 Attachments are designed for easy dismantling, allowing quick switching between sowing and spraying tasks.  This modularity simplifies maintenance and enhances the tool's adaptability.

Fabrication of Single Wheel-Driven Boom Sprayer 1. Body of the Sprayer

 Constructed from a 25mm diameter hollow circular rod.  Includes a pesticide tank, on-off valve, wheel with gear mechanism, and a boom set with four nozzles.  The tank and wheel are strategically placed, with the gear mechanism enabling spray control.

Functional Parts of sprayer 1. Pesticide Tank

 A 16-liter tank with dimensions 340×190mm is mounted on a frame stand.  Positioned 110mm away from the handle end for balance.

Wheel and Gear Connection

 A 480mm diameter wheel is connected to a gear system (39-tooth and 13-tooth gears) with a 3:1 speed ratio.  The gear mechanism converts rotary motion into reciprocating motion for the piston.

Adjustable Handles

Constructed from mild steel flat bars (895mm long) with a 20mm external diameter pipe for grip.

Seed Hopper

Made of mild steel with a frustum cross-section (20×20cm) to hold seeds.

Adjustable Furrow Opener

A pointed bar-type opener made of mild steel for creating narrow slits in the soil.

Seed Tube

A 15mm diameter rubber hose pipe (500mm long) guides seeds from the hopper to the furrow.

Furrow Covering Device

A rectangular mild steel plate (230×30mm) covers the seeds after placement.

Chain and Sprocket

Power is transmitted from the front wheel to the seed metering mechanism via a chain and sprocket system (18tooth and 48-tooth sprockets).

Performance Evaluation of Developed Equipment Under Laboratory Conditions

The performance of the developed multipurpose tool carrier (MPTC) was evaluated under laboratory conditions to optimize its operational parameters. The evaluation focused on both the sowing and spraying equipment, ensuring their efficiency and precision in field applications.

Determination of Biometric Parameters for Sowing

The biometric parameters of selected seeds were determined to optimize the sowing equipment. These parameters included:

 Type of Crop: Selected based on regional agricultural practices.  Physical Dimensions: Length, width, thickness, and sphericity of seeds were measured.  Bulk Density: Calculated to determine the seed hopper capacity.  Moisture Content: Measured to ensure seed quality and germination rate.

Performance Evaluation of Sowing Equipment

1. Seed Rate  The number of seeds dropped by the metering mechanism was manually counted at the recommended forward speed.  The equipment was calibrated under laboratory conditions to ensure accurate seed delivery at different speeds.

Seed-to-Seed Distanc

 An artificial sand bed (25 cm deep, 5 meters long) was prepared to simulate field conditions.  The sowing equipment was operated over the bed, and the number of seeds dropped and the average distance between seeds were recorded.  The test was repeated twice to ensure consistency.

Performance Evaluation of Spraying Equipment 1. Discharge Rate

 The discharge rate of the sprayer was measured at three operating pressures.  Three types of nozzles (hollow cone, solid cone, and flat fan) were tested, and the discharge from each nozzle was collected and averaged.  Field discharge rates were also determined by operating the sprayer for one hour at different forward speeds.

Spray Uniformity

 Spray uniformity was assessed using a spray patternator.  The nozzle was positioned 500 mm above the apatternator, and the spray liquid collected in the channels was measured.  The coefficient of uniformity (Cu) was calculated using the formula:

Where, C u = coefficient of uniformity, percent X= absolute numerical deviations of the individual observations from the average application, mm m= average of all observations, mm n= total number of the observations

Performance Evaluation of multipurpose tool carrier in Field Conditions

The MPTC was tested in field conditions to assess its practical performance for field crops.

Chemical Application Rate

The spraying equipment's chemical application rate was measured to ensure precise pesticide delivery.

Field Capacity

The operational efficiency of the MPTC was evaluated by measuring the area covered per unit time.

Uniformity of Seed Placement

 The uniformity of seed placement was assessed by measuring the distance between seeds in the field.  The results were compared with laboratory findings to validate the equipment's performance.

Calibration and Evaluation of Single Wheel-Driven Boom Sprayer 1. Total Spray Output (L/min)

 Fill the spray tank with water and place a measuring jug under one nozzle.  Run the sprayer for one minute and measure the collected water.  Repeat for all nozzles and sum the measurements to determine total spray output. Travel Speed  The average travel speed of the boom sprayer was 3.25 km/h, the average travel speed of time was 110.53 sec.  Despite the lower speed, the boom sprayer's ability to cover four rows simultaneously compensates for this, enhancing overall operational efficiency.

Travel Speed (km

Nozzle Adjustment Angle

The nozzle adjustment angle was optimized at a boom height of 46 cm, with an angle of 112.41°. Nozzles with spray fan angles less than 110° minimize drift at heights above 0.5 m (P.C.H. Miller, 2004), ensuring precise and uniform pesticide application.

Field Capacity

 The theoretical and effective field capacities were 0.08125 ha/h and 0.0658 ha/h, respectively, with a field efficiency of 80.98%.  This efficiency is higher than the knapsack sprayer's 0.072 ha/h, demonstrating the boom sprayer's superior performance in covering larger areas in less time.

Spray Overlap

 Spray overlap varied with boom height and nozzle spacing, with a maximum overlap of 111.1% at a height of 118 cm and nozzle spacing of 45 cm.  This ensures uniform pesticide application, reducing the risk of under or over-spraying. superior performance in terms of seed uniformity and spacing, making it more suitable for precision sowing.  The low mechanical damage rate (3%) ensures minimal seed loss, contributing to higher crop yields.  The high field efficiency (93.91%) highlights the tool's effectiveness in real-world conditions, reducing operational time and labor costs.

Conclusion

The single wheel-driven boom sprayer and sowing attachment demonstrated significant improvements in efficiency and precision over traditional equipment. The boom sprayer achieved a high discharge rate of 1263.25 ml/min, covering four rows simultaneously with minimal spray drift, ensuring uniform pesticide application. Its field efficiency of 80.98% outperformed the knapsack sprayer, reducing operational time and chemical wastage. The sowing attachment exhibited excellent seed uniformity (98.86% for the 4 mm metering device) and low mechanical damage (3%), ensuring precise seed placement and minimal seed loss. With a field efficiency of 93.91%, the tool proved highly effective in real-world conditions, reducing labor and time requirements. This multipurpose tool carrier is a versatile and efficient solution for modern agriculture, particularly for small and marginal farmers. Future work should focus on optimizing the design for diverse crops and field conditions, making it more accessible and sustainable for widespread adoption.

References

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