Design Conceptual Design of a Multi-Crop Inter-Row Cultivator including Development and Performance Evaluation of Prototype

Design, Development, testing, and performance Evaluation of the cultivator

Abstract

The emergence of herbicide-resistant weeds, environmental impact and increasing demand for chemical-free foods made chemical method of weed control less attractive and hence gave rise to the importance of mechanical weeding method. The main objective of this study was to design, develop and test a two wheel tractor (2WT) drawn multi-crops inter-row cultivator. While designing and in material selection, premium was given to crop parameters such as row to row spacing, plant height and branching pattern; soil parameters such as soil penetration resistance, soil bulk density and soil moisture content, and machine-soil parameters. Consideration was given to strength, durability, portability, simplicity and techno-economic status of the smallholder farmers and artisans who are the intended users and mass producers respectively. The design computations and graphic of the functional units and components of the machine were achieved using the CATIA software package and Solid Work 2013. The machine was constructed and tested at Melkassa Agricultural Research Center (MARC) fabrication workshop and tested at the center’s experimental farm using a 15 hp 2WT. Results revealed that the average weeding indexes were 84.27 %, 92.12% and 88.31% for maize, soybean and sorghum respectively while the average mechanical damage were 4.27%, 3.65% and 4.25% for maize, soybean and sorghum respectively. The results of the test showed that the machine performed satisfactorily. With a production cost of ETB 11,196.80 (USD 279.92), the machine can be easily afforded by the smallholder and low income farmers who are the intended users.