DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF A MULTIPURPOSE TOOL CARRIER FOR HOMESTEAD AGRICULTURE

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/-.