http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/4 Thu, 09 Apr 2026 04:24:24 GMT 2026-04-09T04:24:24Z http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/2067 Title: Investigations on physico-mechanical properties of coconut palm for the design and development of a coconut palm climber Authors: Ayisha Mangat; Sureshkumar, P K (Guide) Abstract: Coconut palm (Cocos nucifera L.) is a versatile tree with global cultivation spanning about 12 million hectares. India leads in production, contributing around 31.45% of the world's total coconut output. In Kerala, coconut is the second most important crop after paddy, producing 5,921 million nuts annually. Despite its widespread cultivation, harvesting remains a significant challenge due to a shortage of skilled labor, youth reluctance to pursue coconut harvesting as a career, health risks, and the lack of proper mechanical climbing devices. A study was conducted to investigate the physico-mechanical properties of the coconut palm such as height of palm, girth at different levels, inclination of palm trunk with respect to ground and hardness, with the aim of developing a climbing device. It was collected from three districts viz. Malappuram, Palakkad and Thrissur. Two instruments namely Inclinometer and Tree hardness tester were developed for measuring inclination and hardness of live palm as there are no instruments readily available for those measurements. A comparative study of some existing models of coconut palm climbers like Chemberi model, TNAU model, CPCRI model, KAU coconut palm climber, KAU Kera Suraksha, and Chachoos Maramkeri was conducted to identify their important features. Additionally, an engine-operated coconut climbing device was also studied. The height ranges from 8 to 18 m for tall varieties and for dwarf varieties it ranges from 3 to 8m. The GBH of coconut palm comes within the range of 60 to 100 cm. The maximum number of palms falls in the range of 80-85 cm GBH. The crown width comes within a range of 7-12 m, with an average value of 9-9.5 cm. The inclination was categorized into four groups and the data reveals that 92.1% of the palms fall under the "Erect" category. Hardness of palm trunk was measured using the developed Tree hardness tester with three different indenter tools of different head geometries like wedge, spherical, and square. It was measured at four different penetration depths such as 1 mm, 2 mm, 3 mm and 4 mm. All tools demonstrate a reduction in hardness as penetration depth increases. Highest hardness recorded is 6.85 N mm-2 for sphere shaped tool. The Wedge tool experiences the sharpest decline in hardness with depth, suggesting that its penetration becomes easier as it moves deeper into the palm. Based on the preliminary study of the physico-mechanical properties of coconut palms and the analysis of the features of existing climbing devices, some functional requirements were identified for designing a new coconut climber. A conceptual design was then finalized and the subsystems were developed to meet these requirements. The components of the designed climbing device were Extendable Mechanism, Hauling mechanism, Safety mechanism, Top fixture ring and Mounting fixture and transport aid. The extendable mechanism comprised a telescopic rung ladder with three sections, each measuring 4.6 meters, designed to reach a height of 12 m. The extension to its full length is facilitated by a hauling system that includes steel wire rope and pulley, a winch mechanism, and a power source. The power required to lift the ladder and climber to a height of 12 m was calculated based on the weight to be lifted and the desired lifting speed. A 1 hp electric motor was selected as the power source to efficiently operate the hauling mechanism and lift the ladder to the required height. Suitable speed reduction mechanism for the winch system with a speed reduction ratio of 60:1 was selected to get the desired climbing velocity of 0.14 ms-1. The telescopic ladder is securely supported on the palm trunk using a top fixture ring that prevents the ladder from sliding sideways. Self-adjusting, spring-loaded rollers were incorporated within the top ring to accommodate the varying girth dimensions of the palm trunk corresponding diameters ranging from 200 mm to 320 mm, representing the minimum and maximum trunk diameters observed in the field.A sturdy, trapezoidal-shaped basket was hinged to the top of the ladder section for operator safety. A safety harness was also recommended for enhanced protection. All the components were mounted on a trolley platform with provisions for rotational control and tilt control. Finite element analysis of the ladder and mounting fixture was done. The values for ladder show that the deformation and stress reach a maximum of 76.612 mm and 70.814 MPa, respectively for an applied load of 1500 N. For mounting fixture, the deformation was 2.7766 mm and stress was 205.76 MPa. The time taken for climbing a 12 m height coconut palm including setting time was 130 seconds and that for climbing down including dismantling was 120 seconds. The climber requires an initial investment of ₹95,000, has a lifespan of 15 years, and a resale value of ₹9,500. The total operating cost of the device was ₹240 per hour, while the cost of climbing per tree was ₹40, assuming six trees were climbed per hour. Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/2067 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/2065 Title: An Air assisted sprayer with electrostatic nozzle for coconut palms Authors: Athira Prasad; Dhalin, D (Guide) Abstract: An air-assisted electrostatic sprayer prototype suitable for coconut palms was designed and developed. Studies on the important plant parameters, including height of palm, canopy diameter, and angle of leaf orientation, were carried out as the primary step in developing the prototype. The major components of the developed unit are a High Voltage DC (HVDC) System, nozzle unit, liquid delivery unit, and an air-assistance unit. The high-voltage DC system capable of generating voltages in the range of 1 to 10 kV was developed using a Line Output Transformer (LOPT 1010A) coupled with a Metal-OxideSemiconductor FieldEffect Transistor (MOSFETIRFZ44E). Among major electrostatic spray droplet charging methods, induction with a ring electrode (4.3 mm diameter copper wire) was chosen due to its several advantages over the other methods. The diameter of ring electrode (40, 60, and 90 mm) and the horizontal position (5, 10, and 15 mm) of the electrode in front of the nozzle were optimized under laboratory conditions in terms of chargeto-mass ratio (CMR) of the developed electrostatic system using a specially designed Faraday Cage apparatus. A high-pressure hydraulic nozzle was selected for the liquid atomization and a double-stage diaphragm pump with a cut-off pressure of 10.5 kg‧cm2 was selected for the liquid supply unit. An Electric Ducted Fan (EDF) was chosen for the airassistance unit. The spray-gun comprising both the nozzle and the EDF was mounted on an 8 m long telescopic carbon fiber pole, and all other major components and control units were arranged as a backpack unit for easy handling. Water Sensitive Papers (WSPs) were used to study the effect of electrostatic charging on spray characteristics. The performance evaluation of the developed prototype in terms of deposition, droplet density, spray drift and biological efficacy was carried out under actual field conditions and compared with a conventional sprayer (Rocker sprayer). The field trials were conducted under optimized operating conditions viz. electrode diameter (90 mm), electrode position (10 mm), operating pressure (5 kg‧cm2 ), VMD (156 μm), and EDF air flow velocity of 17 m‧s-1 . The results concluded that the spray deposition of the developed sprayer has 20.69, 27.23, and 63.95 per cent higher in the adaxial surface at the lower, middle, and upper middle canopy respectively compared to the air-assisted spraying. And 39.05, 22.7, and 84.33 per cent higher with respect to the conventional rocker sprayer. Moreover, electrostatic spraying has 1.81 times more droplet density compared to rocker sprayer, and 1.2 times more than the air-assisted sprayer. The deposition efficiency was calculated as 69.77, 43.09, and 33.86 per cent for the spraying with electrostatic sprayer, air assisted sprayer and rocker sprayer respectively. Spraying with the developed sprayer was able to reduce the Rugose Spiralling Whitefly (RSW) incidence, severity and RSW live colony per leaflets by 32.76, 64.17, and 74.91 per cent respectively. The total cost of the developed prototype was Rs. 22,120/- The operational cost of the developed electrostatic sprayer was calculated to be ₹151 per hour, significantly lower than that of the conventional rocker sprayer, which stood at ₹231 per hour. Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/2065 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/1984 Title: A Sensor based tractor drawn ginger planter Authors: Mahesh Babu, T; Preman, P S Abstract: India is the largest producer of spices in the world and ginger contributes 43.00 per cent of world production of ginger. Ginger, turmeric, garlic, clove, etc. are some of the common spice crops. The production of ginger in Kerala was 51.18 million tonnes in an area of 2.58 thousand hectares with the productivity level of 19820 kilogram per hectare in 2022-2023. The major constrain in raising of ginger crop is the non-availability of labour in time, especially, during peak periods of sowing and harvesting. Traditional methods of growing ginger involve manual planting of excess rhizomes and thinning of the plants is needed to obtain the desired plant population at uniform plant spacing. For obtaining a high yield, it is very essential to drop the desired number of seeds in rows maintaining accurate seed rate and seed spacing during metering. Among the different planting techniques, precision planting is the preferred method, since it provides accurate spacing of single seeds in the row with proper planting depth and creating a uniform germination environment for each seed. In conventional planters, the metering mechanism is usually driven by a ground wheel while operating with tractor. The speed ratio between the ground wheel and seed metering mechanism could not be maintained due to the power transmission loss, resulting in a reduction in uniformity of seed distribution. To solve the above problem, an alternative method of driving the metering mechanism with a 24 V DC motor was identified in this study. The metering unit was synchronized with the forward speed with the help of an encoder, Arduino Nano and Cytron drive. The performance of the seed-metering device of a sensor based ginger planter was investigated under laboratory and field conditions to optimize the operating parameters for ginger planting. The effect of operational speed of the metering chain, forward speed and cell size were evaluated by examining the minimum values of mean hill to hill distance 16.0 cm, 0.95 per cent, miss index 1.71 per cent, multiple index 0.95 per cent, and highest quality of feed index 97.54 per cent as well as cell fill efficiency 93.33 per cent. For picking single seed, the planter cell sizes of 40 mm, 50 mm and 60 mm diameter were tested under laboratory. From the laboratory test, optimised cell size of 50 mm was tested in the field condition. For the field evaluation, forward speeds of 1, 1.5 and 2 km h-1 were selected for ginger planting. When the speed of chain was increasing from 86 rpm to 106 rpm, increase in mean hill to hill distance 16.0 cm, missing index 1.7 per cent, multiple index 0.95 per cent and decrease in quality of feed index 97.54 per cent as well as cell fill efficiency 93.33 per cent was observed. However, lower miss index was observed at optimum cell size and lowest speed. Low multiple index was observed at optimum cell size and highest speed. The maximum field capacity and efficiency of the developed sensor-based tractor drawn ginger planter were found to be 0.11 ha h-1 and 84 per cent respectively. Cost of planting with the developed ginger planter is Rs. 5583.07 ha-1. By manual method, it is Rs. 12500 ha-1. The cost and time saving over manual planting was about 89.1 per cent and 98.84 per cent respectively. The cost of rhizome planter was Rs.80238.18. Based on the field performance evaluation, it is concluded that the developed tractor drawn sensor-based planter is economical and efficient for planting ginger. Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/1984 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/1983 Title: Tractor operated pneumatic No-Till Pulse Planter with electronic control system Authors: Kumar, Amit; Jayayan P R, (Guide) Abstract: Addressing the global population surge expected to reach 10.4 billion by the mid-2080s, especially in densely populated regions like India, poses significant agricultural challenges. Integrating pulses into sustainable agriculture is crucial for food security due to their benefits in enhancing soil fertility and resilient ecosystems. This study focuses on developing a tractor operated pneumatic no-till pulse planter with electronic control system for black gram and horse gram, essential pulses in Kerala. Traditional planting methods are labor-intensive, inefficient and costly. The proposed planter ensures accurate seed placement, uniform emergence, and minimal soil disturbance. An electronic control system enhances precision in seed spacing placement and improves overall efficiency. The objectives of the study include determining seed properties, developing planter with electronic control system, and evaluating the planter performance. A vacuum disc-type metering mechanism was chosen for its precision in seed singulation, minimal damage, and adaptability to various seed sizes and shapes. The investigation included laboratory experiments for seed metering mechanisms, calibration, testing, and field performance evaluation of the pneumatic planter for the black gram (VBN-6) and horse gram (KS-2) seeds. Optimal settings for vacuum pressure, plate hole size, forward speed, and the location of sensors were identified through extensive trials and statistical analysis. The study observed that black gram seeds have a length of 2.32-3.88 mm, width of 1.99-3.65 mm, and thickness of 1.56-2.07 mm, whereas horse gram seeds are larger, with a length of 6.02-6.27 mm, width of 4.10-4.35 mm, and thickness of 2.16- 2.45 mm. The mean diameter of black gram seeds is 2.62 mm, and for horse gram, it is 4.22 mm. The optimum terminal velocity is 8.21 m s-1 for black gram and 8.68 m s-1 for horse gram. The pneumatic planter uses a vacuum disc-type precision seed metering mechanism with a vertically oriented rotating disc and an aspirator blower to ensure precise seed placement. The planter was modified using electronically controlled system using a stepper motor, which was regulated by a microcontroller for precise seed plate rotation. The electronic system includes a stepper motor, rotary encoder, proximity sensor, Arduino Nano microcontroller, vacuum pressure sensor, micro-step drive, battery, and protective enclosure. The proximity sensor detects wheel spokes, the rotary encoder provides speed and position feedback, and the vacuum sensor activates the system under optimal conditions. Laboratory experimental results on the pneumatic seed metering mechanism for black gram and horse gram showed optimal seed spacing and reduced miss and multiple indices with specific settings. The use of encoder sensor ensured the required spacing of 15.0 cm with a lower miss index of 1-3 percent compared to the proximity sensor. Smaller hole sizes and higher vacuum pressures improved seed placement accuracy. The optimal spacing for horse gram was achieved with a 2.1 mm hole size, 4.0 kPa vacuum pressure, and 1.0 km h-1 speed, resulted the required spacing of 9.2-12.9 cm and with the lower miss index of 0.5 percent with encoder sensor. Encoder sensor, forward speed of 2 km h-1 and vacuum pressure of 4 kPa were selected for field evaluation. Field evaluation of a pneumatic planter with electronic controls for black gram and horse gram assessed impact with different type of furrow opener and locations of the encoder. When the location of encoder on steel wheel with shoe type furrow opener was used a spacing of 14.8 cm was obtained a consistent miss index of 1.2 percent for black gram. The encoder on the steel wheel lowered the multiple index to 2.5-2.7 percent and improved quality of feed index from 96-96.2 percent for black gram. Similar type of result showed with horse gram. The location of the encoder on the steel wheel showed better results compared to its location on the pneumatic wheel due to reduced slippage. Inverted t-type furrow opener work well in no-till field. Germination rates were optimal at 95-96 percent in both black and horse gram. The study recommended the location of encoder on steel wheel with shoe-type furrow opener showed best performance. The field capacity and field efficiency of planter was 0.25 ha h-1 and 90 percent respectively. The total cost of the developed planter with electronic control system was ₹1,80,000. The pneumatic planter with electronic controls incurred an operating cost as ₹860.55 per hour and ₹3072 per hectare. As per the prevailing wage rates, the cost for manual sowing is ₹4054 per hectare, the planter saved ₹982 per hectare. Hence, the 24 percent saving in cost of operation is found out ensured by using this developed planter. Break-even point of 79.22 hours per year and a payback period of 1.13 years are expected. It is concluded that the pneumatic planter with electronic control significantly improves planting performance for black gram and horse gram by ensuring precise seed placement, reducing misses and multiples, and enhancing quality and precision indices. Economic analysis confirms its cost-effectiveness and potential to increase crop productivity and profitability for farmers. Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/1983 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z