Development of solar powered insect trap

Introduction

Light trapping is one of the common and effective practices to attract and trap nocturnal insects by using different light spectrum e.g. mercury vapour lamps, black light lamps or fluorescent tubes. Nocturnal Lepidoptera (moths), Trichoptera and Ephemeroptera are the insect groups which can be collected most efficiently by light-trapping but many nocturnal species in several other orders are rarely recorded with other methods, e.g. some Coleoptera. (Steiner and Hauser, 2009) [1] . Dubey et al. (1984) [2] was observed that the insect population was in increasing trend during ascending phase and yellow colour light was observed most effective as compared to other colours. Nag and Nath (1991) [3] studied the effect of moon light and lunar periodicity on the light trap. The response was higher in descending phase (full moon to no moon) as compared to the ascending phase (no moon to full moon). The effect of varying wavelengths of lights (blue, green, yellow, red, ultraviolet (black) and white) on different insect was studied and found that lowest number of insects was in the red light container and the highest number was in the ultraviolet light container Pate and Curtis et al. (2001) [4] and Ashfaq et al.(2005) [5] . Reducing and controlling the pest population using light traps is an age old practice in India. It required electricity connection which is the major constrain and almost absent in remote villages (Bhamre et al. 2005) [6] . Hence, there is a need to develop stand-alone light trap which utilize renewable source of energy (Solar powered light trap).

Materials and Methods

The research methodology was divided into three components: preparation of conceptual design, development of insect trap and performance evaluation of developed trap. The fabrication of solar powered insect trap was carried out at Centre for Resource Conservation Technology, Renewable Energy and Environmental Engineering, S. D. Agriculture University, Sardarkrushinagar.

Geographical Location of study

Dantiwada taluka is near to Palanpur at 24º 31' north latitude and 72º 32' east longitude with altitude of 209 m. The experiment was conducted at the Agro-Tech. Park Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada, Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar.

Development of solar powered insect trap

The trap system was mainly consisted of solar panel, sealed The intense movement of insects are in night so this is the best time to trap them. Therefore, the LED pest control light was required to work for 10 h to 11 h in the night time (from 7 PM to 6 AM). Based on the above requirements and availability of sunshine in the area during the monsoon, a polycrystalline silicon solar panel of 20 Wp capacity was selected.

Selection of battery

The battery stores DC electric power during day time and supplies it to LED at night time. For the system, a 12 volt 7

Ah Sealed Lead Acid, solar grade battery was selected, whose depth of discharge (DOD) was up to 80 percent.

Selection of LED lights

Three different colours (White, yellow and blue) LED lights with 5 watts and 350 lumens were selected to know the insect to orient toward their most favorite colour. www.extensionjournal.com was provided in place of collection chamber which was directly attached to collection transparent polythene bag. The funnel stem slightly bend which is enough to prevent the escape of the insects.

Collection bag for insects

The polythene bag was used for the collection of the insect. Insects could be easily visible and also dispose easily through polythene bags. Cost of the polythene bags were comparatively low and it is easily available in market.

Selection of supporting stand

Three supporting stands where selected to install the device. Supporting stands where selected according to locally available materials.

A. Stand for using Iron rod

Supporting stand was made up of iron rod (2.2 cm diameter, 180 cm height), solar panel is mounted at 27 cm above at top of the structure, trapping device hanging through chains at top 31 cm away from structure. Battery box is placed 36 cm from the top. www.extensionjournal.com

B. Stand for using PVC pipe

Supporting stand was made up of with PVC pipe (3.1 cm diameter, 191 cm height), solar panel is mounted at 27 cm above at top of the structure, trapping device hanging through chains at top 31 cm away from structure. Battery box is placed 55 cm from the top.

C. Stand for using Wood

Supporting stand was made up of by local available wood in V shape at one edge solar panel and battery box is place and at another one trapping device is hanging (bottom width 27 cm, top width 120 cm) height of the structure is 210 cm, battery box is placed 60 cm from the top of the structure.

Results and Discussion

Solar powered insect traps were installed in Agro-Tech Park, Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar. The data was generated on the parameters of solar intensity, current, and voltage developed by panel and battery, order wise insect collection etc. an economic feasibility of developed system was evaluated in terms of net present worth, benefit-cost ratio and payback period.

Performance of solar powered insect trap

The variation of solar intensity and corresponding power from solar panel was recorded at the interval of three days during June and July, 2019.The solar powered insect trap was installed after first spell of rain on 25 June, 2019 and the reading was recorded from 26 June, 2019.

Performance of solar panel

`From the Table 5 and Fig. 8, the average solar intensity was varied from 154.5 W/m 2 to 843.9 W/m 2 . The peak value of solar intensity was achieved at 14:00 h. The power developed by selected 20 W solar panel was varies from 4.45 W to 19.25 W. The peak value of power was achieved at 13:00 h.

From the above results it was observed that the power developed by SPV panel increased with respect to increase in solar radiation. It was revealed that, the power generated by selected solar panel was suitable for solar powered insect light trap.

Battery discharging behavior using solar panel

The battery discharging characteristics of solar powered insect trap was studied to determine the discharge time of battery. The variation of battery voltage and current with respect to time is shown in Table 6 and Fig 9.

It was observed that the battery is fully charged (13.9 V)

through solar panel and it was reduces gradually up to 10.89 V. The average operating time of solar powered insect trap was found to be 11 hours. It was revealed that the use of only battery as a power source reduced the efficiency of overall system due to gradual reduction operating voltage.

Order wise distribution of insects attracted towards different colour solar powered insect trap (white, yellow and blue)

The total number of insects caught in white, yellow and blue colour light was 3148, 2166 and 949, respectively during the period of study. Table 7, 8 and 9 shows the order wise and daily distribution of insects in white, yellow and blue colour LED light respectively. The highest population of Coleopteran insects was found in all three lights. The maximum number of Coleopteran insects was observed day 9 th and day 1 st with white LED light trap shown in Table 7. Similarly in yellow and blue LED light trap, the maximum number of Coleopteran insects was noted on 8th & 9th day and 4th& 7th day, respectively as shown in Table 8 and 9.The number of insects were increased in number on the day of rainfall during observations. [5] and Pate and Curtis (2011) [7] who also found that the lowest numbers of insects were trapped in blue colored light among the various coloured lights tested. White LED light attracted the highest number of 50.26 % insects. Yellow LED light was rated second in attracting the insects (34.58%). www.extensionjournal.com Use of light trap for collecting harmful insect is one of the tool in IPM. Among all three light traps, the performance of white LED light insect trap was found better in terms of insect collected. Most of the harmful insects were attracted towards white LED light and hence it was observed that the use of white LED light in solar insect trap is beneficial in integrated pest management practices.

Economic feasibility of solar powered insect trap

The economic feasibility of the solar powered insect trap was evaluated using discount cash flow (DCF) method. The economic parameters are present worth of cost, present worth of benefit, net present value and payback period were determined. Table 10 shows the information used to analyze the economic feasibility of the solar power insect trap. The net saving in cost per annum was worked out and found to be Rs.3713/-. The cost of the two solar powered insect traps were found to be Rs.7100. The annual operation cost kept to be Rs.710/-. The economic performance has been worked out by considering the cost and benefit. Table 12 showed the discount cash flow analysis over the period. The present worth cost after the 12 years were found to be Rs. 11937.72.The present worth of benefit after 12 years were worked out to be Rs. 25299.24. The net present value of the project is positive and hence the developed solar powered insect trap has offered the financial benefits to the end user. The net present value for the 12 years of cash flow analysis was found to be Rs. 13361.06. The benefit cost ratio of the financial system has been worked out for the cost and benefit involved over the period. The benefit cost ratio of the solar powered insect trap was observed to be 2.11 and payback period of the investment was found 3 years (36 months).

Conclusions

 A cable less solar power insect trap is more effective with white LED light for physical control of harmful nocturnal insects.  The estimated cost of the system was Rs, 3550 /-with payback period of 3 years and benefit cost ratio was found as 2.11. It could be inferred that the solar powered insect trap was technically as well as economically feasible.

References

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2. Dubey VK. Light trap studies on green leaf hoppers of rice Nephotettix species (Hemiptera: Deltocephalidae) [MSc thesis]. Raipur: Indira Gandhi Agricultural University; 1984. p. 19-61.
3. Nag A, Nath P. Effect of moonlight and lunar periodicity on the light trap catches of cutworm Agrotis ipsilon (H.) moth. Journal of Applied Entomology. 1991;111(5):358-360.
4. Pate J, Curtis A. Insects' response to different wavelengths of light in New River State Park, Ash County, North Carolina. Field Biology and Ecology. 2001;4(2):4-8.
5. Ashfaq M, Khan RA, Khan MA, Rasheed F, Hafeez S. Insect orientation to various colour light in the agricultural biomass of Faisalabad. Pakistan Entomologist. 2005;27(1):49-52.
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