FIELD PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS OF A TRACTOR-DRAWN TURMERIC RHIZOME PLANTER

Abstract

A field performance analysis of a developed prototype tractor-drawn turmeric planter is presented. The experiment was randomized in a factorial design of three planter levels of rhizome lengths (30, 45 and 60 mm) and operational speeds of 8, 10, and 12 kmh-1. An average mass of 3 kg of wholesome turmeric rhizomes were introduced into the hopper of the planter and planted in 90 m2 of experimental plot. During field evaluation of the machine, the effective field capacity, field efficiency, missing index, multiple index and planting depth were considered; whereas laboratory tests were conducted to evaluate the planter’s seed rate, percentage rhizome bruise wheel slippage and fuel consumption. Results obtained show that the maximum seed rate was 0.283 th-1. The maximum percent bruised turmeric rhizome was found to be 30.08%. The mean effective field capacity varied between 0.63 - 0.96 hah-1, at operational speeds of 8 and 12 kmh-1, respectively and 45 mm rhizome length. The mean field efficiency was obtained to be 65.8%. The maximum wheel slippage of 4.37% and fuel consumption of 3.8 lha-1 were obtained at the machine speeds of 8 kmh-1 and 12 kmh-1, respectively; whereas the minimum wheel slippage of 3.14% and fuel consumption of 2.2 lha-1 were obtained at the machine speeds of 12 kmh-1 and 8 kmh-1, respectively for the range of the studied turmeric rhizome length. The highest and lowest percentage turmeric rhizome miss index of 35% were recorded for turmeric rhizome length of 30 mm at a speed of 10 kmh-1 and 8 kmh-1, respectively. An average planting depth of 68 mm was obtained. The numerical optimization approach was adopted to obtain an optimal operational parameters of 12 kmh-1 speed and 45 mm turmeric rhizome grading size with an overall desirability index of 0.73. An economic evaluation was calculated using the principle of payback period which was obtained to be very small (1.64 years) compared to the life of the planter of 17 years. Prospects for future works were suggested.