Abstract:
Homesteads lack appropriate machinery that suits their diverse requirements.
Homestead agriculture warranted an affordable and versatile powered multipurpose
tool carrier capable of improving the efficiency of human power. Hence development
of a MPTC powered by the engine of a 1.5 kW backpack brush cutter which is
commonly available in farming households was under taken so as to avoid the
requirement of different implements and power sources for different operations.
Main components of MPTC were support frame along with handle,
transmission systems with gear reduction units which converted 9340 rpm of the
engine to 226 rpm with necessary transmission shafts and transportation wheels.
Tools developed as attachments to MPTC were rotary tiller/weeder for vegetable
crops, paddy weeding attachment, surface pulveriser cum two-row vegetable weeder,
horizontal auger for coconut basin listing and vertical auger for digging pits.
The multipurpose tool carrier with its different attachments was tested in
fields with moisture contents ranging from 10 to 30%. From the field evaluation of
rotary weeding attachment, it was found that the depth of cut was 3-5 cm and the
average weeding efficiency was 90.07%. The fuel consumption, field efficiency,
average weeding efficiency and average plant damage in the case of paddy weeder
were 0.675 l h -1 , 66.4%, 71.09% and 4.87%, respectively. Surface pulveriser cum
two-row vegetable weeder attachment for row crop vegetables gave an average
weeding efficiency of 80.27% with a fuel consumption of 1.64 l h -1 and a field
capacity of 0.024 ha h 1 . Coconut basin lister could make 14-25 shallow basins per
hour based on soil conditions. Earth auger could dig 8 pits with a maximum depth of
45 cm and 15 cm diameter. Total cost of fabrication of different attachments with
MPTC was Rs.35640/-.
