Main Article Content
Abstract
Ridging has been discovered as a mechanized alternative to mounding and flat-land forms in root and tuber crop production. While manual ridging is possible, evidence reveals that manual ridging is laborious, time-consuming; hence, the need to mechanise the ridging process. A double-row disc ridger was developed and tested. The approaches of functional analysis (FA) and computer-aided design (CAD) were used. The implement was fabricated from locally available materials and tools, making it an adaptable, resilient and affordable technology for small-scale farmers. The prototype was tested at varied tractor speed ranging from 1.67 – 2.5 m/s (6 – 9 km/h) and disc angle from 40o - 45o to determine the draught force, fuel consumption, wheel-slip, depth and width of cut. Preliminary results indicate that optimum performance was achieved at disc and tilt angle of 42.5o and 25o and tractor speed of 2.23 m/s. The ridger recorded a field capacity of 1.45 ha/h and average fuel consumption of 6.3 l/ha (9.14 l/h). It was observed that increased tractor speed and disc angle resulted in increased draught force from 1.8 – 2.4 kN, increased fuel consumption from 5.2 – 7.04 l/ha (7.81 – 10.45 l/h) and increased depth and width of cut from 30 – 40 cm and 250 – 280 cm, respectively. Further research is necessary to establish the effect of different moisture and soil type on its performance. Wear and durability tests on different agro-ecologies are also recommended.
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Article Details
References
- Abdalla, O. A., Hamid, A. I., El Naim, A. M. and Zaied, M. B. (2017). Tractor Performance as Affected by Tilt Angle of Disc Plough under Clay Soil. In Science and Technology Publishing (SCI and TECH) (Vol. 1). https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Ahmed-El-Naim/
- publication/315667463
- Abdalla, O. A., Mohamed, E. A., El Naim, A. M., El Shiekh, M. A., and Zaied, M. B. (2014). Effect of disc and tilt angles of disc plough on tractor performance under clay soil. Current Research in Agricultural Sciences, 1(3), pp. 83-94.
- Abdullah, A.A. and Rahman, M.S.A. (2019). Comparison between local manufactured panel ridge and conventional disc ridge throughout investigating their effects on power-use-efficiency, draft force and actual field productivity. Tikrit Journal for Agricultural Sciences Mağallaẗ Tikrīt li-l-ʻulūm al-zirāʻat, 19(1), pp.126-141. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.25130/tjas.v19i1.360
- Abunde Neba, F., and Jiokap Nono, Y. (2017). Modelling and simulated design: A novel model and software of a solar-biomass hybrid dryer. Computers and Chemical Engineering, 104, pp. 128–140. https://doi.org/10.1016/ j.compchemeng.2017.04.002
- Ahmed, B. S., Benbouzid, S., and Nibouche, F. (2022). Design and implementation of smart glasses with ISMS and risk management functionalities for a technical operator. Ingénierie des Systèmes d'Information, 27(3). https//doi.org/10.18280/isi.270307
- Alam, M. M. (1989). Soil reaction forces on agricultural disc implements. Doctoral dissertation, Newcastle University, Newcastle.
- Amponsah, Shadrack K., Bobobee, E. Y. H., Agyare, W. A., Okyere, J. B., Aveyire, J., King, S. R., and Sarkodie-Addo, J. (2014). Mechanical cassava harvesting as influenced by seedbed preparation and cassava variety. Applied Engineering in Agriculture, 30(3), pp. 391–403. https//doi 10.13031/aea.30.10495
- Amponsah, S. K., Addo, A., and Gangadharan, B. (2017). Review of various harvesting options for cassava. In Cassava. IntechOpen. https//doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.71350
- ASABE. (2000). American Society of Agricultural Engineers. Askari, M., and Khalifahamzehghasem, S. (2013). Draft force inputs for primary and secondary tillage implements in a clay loam soil. World Applied Sciences Journal, 21(12), pp. 1789–1794. https//doi.org/10.5829/idosi.wasj.2013.21.12.2595
- Capecchi, D., and Ruta, G. (2015). The theory of elasticity in the 19th century. In Strength of Materials and Theory of Elasticity in 19th Century Italy (pp. 1-81). Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-05524-4_1
- Capecchi, D., and Ruta, G. (2016). Strength of materials and theory of elasticity in 19th century Italy. Springer International Pu. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-05524-4
- Diao, X., Silver, J., and Takeshima, H. (2016). Agricultural mechanization and agricultural transformation (Vol. 1527). Intl Food Policy Res Inst. https://ebrary.ifpri.org/digital/collection/p15738coll2/id/130311
- Ennin, S. A., Otoo, E., and Tetteh, F. M. (2009). Ridging, a mechanized alternative to mounding for yam and cassava production. West African Journal of Applied Ecology, 15, 3785. https//doi.org/10.4314/wajae.v15i1.49424
- Godwin, R. J. (2007). A review of the effect of implement geometry on soil failure and implement forces. Soil and Tillage Research, 97(2), pp. 331-340. https//doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2006.06.010
- Godwin, R. J., Seig, D. A., and Allott, M. (1987). Soil failure and force prediction for soil engaging discs. Soil Use and Management, 3(3), pp. 106-114. doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-2743.1987.tb00719.x
- Gohad, S. (2018). Hazard and operability study (Hazop) and Hazard analysis (Hazan). Available: https://doi.org/10.1088/1757-899X/36/1/012003.
- Johnston, R. C. R., and Birtwistle, R. (1963). Wheatland disc plough investigations. II. Discs forces. Journal of Agricultural Engineering Research, 8(4), pp. 312-326.
- Kumi, F. (2011). Development and evaluation of an abrasive wear test equipment. Mphil Thesis, KNUST, Kumasi.
- Mamkagh, A. M. (2019). Effect of soil moisture, tillage speed, depth, ballast weight and, used implement on wheel slippage of the tractor: a review. Asian Journal of Advances in Agricultural Research, pp 1-7. https//doi.org/10.9734/AJAAR/2019/46706
- Mamkagh, A. M. (2009). Effect of ploughing speed, disk angle and tilt angle on farm tractor wheel slip and on ploughing depth using disk plough. Jordan J. Agric. Sci, 5(3), pp. 352-360. https://journals.ju.edu.jo/JJAS/article/view/880
- Michalakoudis, I., Childs, P., Aurisicchio, M., and Harding, J. (2017). Using functional analysis diagrams to improve product reliability and cost. Advances in Mechanical Engineering, 9(1), 168781401668522. https//doi.org/doi.org/10.1177/1687814016685223
- Moeenifar, A., Mousavi-Seyedi, S. R., and Kalantari, D. (2014). Influence of tillage depth, penetration angle and forward speed on the soil/thin-blade interaction force. Agricultural Engineering International: CIGR Journal, 16(1), pp. 69–74. https://cigrjournal.org/index.php/Ejounral/article/view/2613
- Nanbol, K. K., and Namo, O. (2019). The contribution of root and tuber crops to food security: A review. J. Agric. Sci. Technol. B, 9, pp. 221-233. https//doi.org/10.17265/2161-6264/2019.04.001
- Nkakini, S. O. (2015). Draught force requirements of a disc plough at various tractor forward speed in loamy sand soil, during ploughing. Int. J. Adv. Res. Eng. Tech, 6(7), pp. 52-68. https://d1wqtxts1xzle7.cloudfront.net/47787018IJARET_06_07_008-libre.
- Nkakini, S. O., and Akor, A. J. (2012). Modelling tractive force requirements of wheel tractors for disc ploughing in sandy loam soil. International Journal of Engineering and Technology, 2(10), pp. 374-385. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Silas-Nkakini-2/
- publication/342721004_
- Nkakini, S. O. (2014). Performance evaluation of disc ridging tractive force model in loamy sand soil using sensitivity measured parameters. Agricultural Engineering International: CIGR Journal, 16(2), pp. 15-21.
- Sanginga, N., and Mbabu, A. (2015, October). Root and tuber crops (cassava, yam, potato and sweet potato). In proceedings of an action plan for African Agricultural Transformation Conference, Dakar, Senegal (pp. 21-23). https://www.afdb.org/fileadmin/uploads/afdb/Documents/Events/DakAgri2015
- Serrano, J. M., Peça, J. O., da Silva, J. M., Pinheiro, A., and Carvalho, M. (2007). Tractor energy requirements in disc harrow systems. Biosystems Engineering, 98(3), pp.286-296. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biosystemseng.2007.08.002
- Sims, B., and Kienzle, J. (2016). Making mechanization accessible to smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa. Environments, 3(2), 11. https//doi.org/10.3390/environments3020011
- Tayel, M. Y., Shaaban, S. M., and Mansour, H. A. (2015). Effect of ploughing conditions on the tractor wheel slippage and fuel consumption in sandy soil. International Journal of ChemTech Research, 8(12), pp.151-159. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/SaidShaaban
- Wang, J., Wang, J., Kong, Y., Zhang, C., and Zhao, J. (2013). Development and experiment of suspension ridger and its key components for paddy field. Transactions of the Chinese Society of Agricultural Engineering, 29(6), pp. 28-34. https://www.ingentaconnect.com
- Yogesh, J. (2007). Design and optimization of thermal systems, second edition, Library of Congress Cataloging-inPublication Data Taylor and Francis Group, New York. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781420019483
- Zehtaban, L., and Roller, D. (2012). Systematic functional analysis methods for design retrieval and documentation. International Journal of Computer and Information Engineering, 6(12), pp. 1711-1716. doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1330343
References
Abdalla, O. A., Hamid, A. I., El Naim, A. M. and Zaied, M. B. (2017). Tractor Performance as Affected by Tilt Angle of Disc Plough under Clay Soil. In Science and Technology Publishing (SCI and TECH) (Vol. 1). https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Ahmed-El-Naim/
publication/315667463
Abdalla, O. A., Mohamed, E. A., El Naim, A. M., El Shiekh, M. A., and Zaied, M. B. (2014). Effect of disc and tilt angles of disc plough on tractor performance under clay soil. Current Research in Agricultural Sciences, 1(3), pp. 83-94.
Abdullah, A.A. and Rahman, M.S.A. (2019). Comparison between local manufactured panel ridge and conventional disc ridge throughout investigating their effects on power-use-efficiency, draft force and actual field productivity. Tikrit Journal for Agricultural Sciences Mağallaẗ Tikrīt li-l-ʻulūm al-zirāʻat, 19(1), pp.126-141. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.25130/tjas.v19i1.360
Abunde Neba, F., and Jiokap Nono, Y. (2017). Modelling and simulated design: A novel model and software of a solar-biomass hybrid dryer. Computers and Chemical Engineering, 104, pp. 128–140. https://doi.org/10.1016/ j.compchemeng.2017.04.002
Ahmed, B. S., Benbouzid, S., and Nibouche, F. (2022). Design and implementation of smart glasses with ISMS and risk management functionalities for a technical operator. Ingénierie des Systèmes d'Information, 27(3). https//doi.org/10.18280/isi.270307
Alam, M. M. (1989). Soil reaction forces on agricultural disc implements. Doctoral dissertation, Newcastle University, Newcastle.
Amponsah, Shadrack K., Bobobee, E. Y. H., Agyare, W. A., Okyere, J. B., Aveyire, J., King, S. R., and Sarkodie-Addo, J. (2014). Mechanical cassava harvesting as influenced by seedbed preparation and cassava variety. Applied Engineering in Agriculture, 30(3), pp. 391–403. https//doi 10.13031/aea.30.10495
Amponsah, S. K., Addo, A., and Gangadharan, B. (2017). Review of various harvesting options for cassava. In Cassava. IntechOpen. https//doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.71350
ASABE. (2000). American Society of Agricultural Engineers. Askari, M., and Khalifahamzehghasem, S. (2013). Draft force inputs for primary and secondary tillage implements in a clay loam soil. World Applied Sciences Journal, 21(12), pp. 1789–1794. https//doi.org/10.5829/idosi.wasj.2013.21.12.2595
Capecchi, D., and Ruta, G. (2015). The theory of elasticity in the 19th century. In Strength of Materials and Theory of Elasticity in 19th Century Italy (pp. 1-81). Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-05524-4_1
Capecchi, D., and Ruta, G. (2016). Strength of materials and theory of elasticity in 19th century Italy. Springer International Pu. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-05524-4
Diao, X., Silver, J., and Takeshima, H. (2016). Agricultural mechanization and agricultural transformation (Vol. 1527). Intl Food Policy Res Inst. https://ebrary.ifpri.org/digital/collection/p15738coll2/id/130311
Ennin, S. A., Otoo, E., and Tetteh, F. M. (2009). Ridging, a mechanized alternative to mounding for yam and cassava production. West African Journal of Applied Ecology, 15, 3785. https//doi.org/10.4314/wajae.v15i1.49424
Godwin, R. J. (2007). A review of the effect of implement geometry on soil failure and implement forces. Soil and Tillage Research, 97(2), pp. 331-340. https//doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2006.06.010
Godwin, R. J., Seig, D. A., and Allott, M. (1987). Soil failure and force prediction for soil engaging discs. Soil Use and Management, 3(3), pp. 106-114. doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-2743.1987.tb00719.x
Gohad, S. (2018). Hazard and operability study (Hazop) and Hazard analysis (Hazan). Available: https://doi.org/10.1088/1757-899X/36/1/012003.
Johnston, R. C. R., and Birtwistle, R. (1963). Wheatland disc plough investigations. II. Discs forces. Journal of Agricultural Engineering Research, 8(4), pp. 312-326.
Kumi, F. (2011). Development and evaluation of an abrasive wear test equipment. Mphil Thesis, KNUST, Kumasi.
Mamkagh, A. M. (2019). Effect of soil moisture, tillage speed, depth, ballast weight and, used implement on wheel slippage of the tractor: a review. Asian Journal of Advances in Agricultural Research, pp 1-7. https//doi.org/10.9734/AJAAR/2019/46706
Mamkagh, A. M. (2009). Effect of ploughing speed, disk angle and tilt angle on farm tractor wheel slip and on ploughing depth using disk plough. Jordan J. Agric. Sci, 5(3), pp. 352-360. https://journals.ju.edu.jo/JJAS/article/view/880
Michalakoudis, I., Childs, P., Aurisicchio, M., and Harding, J. (2017). Using functional analysis diagrams to improve product reliability and cost. Advances in Mechanical Engineering, 9(1), 168781401668522. https//doi.org/doi.org/10.1177/1687814016685223
Moeenifar, A., Mousavi-Seyedi, S. R., and Kalantari, D. (2014). Influence of tillage depth, penetration angle and forward speed on the soil/thin-blade interaction force. Agricultural Engineering International: CIGR Journal, 16(1), pp. 69–74. https://cigrjournal.org/index.php/Ejounral/article/view/2613
Nanbol, K. K., and Namo, O. (2019). The contribution of root and tuber crops to food security: A review. J. Agric. Sci. Technol. B, 9, pp. 221-233. https//doi.org/10.17265/2161-6264/2019.04.001
Nkakini, S. O. (2015). Draught force requirements of a disc plough at various tractor forward speed in loamy sand soil, during ploughing. Int. J. Adv. Res. Eng. Tech, 6(7), pp. 52-68. https://d1wqtxts1xzle7.cloudfront.net/47787018IJARET_06_07_008-libre.
Nkakini, S. O., and Akor, A. J. (2012). Modelling tractive force requirements of wheel tractors for disc ploughing in sandy loam soil. International Journal of Engineering and Technology, 2(10), pp. 374-385. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Silas-Nkakini-2/
publication/342721004_
Nkakini, S. O. (2014). Performance evaluation of disc ridging tractive force model in loamy sand soil using sensitivity measured parameters. Agricultural Engineering International: CIGR Journal, 16(2), pp. 15-21.
Sanginga, N., and Mbabu, A. (2015, October). Root and tuber crops (cassava, yam, potato and sweet potato). In proceedings of an action plan for African Agricultural Transformation Conference, Dakar, Senegal (pp. 21-23). https://www.afdb.org/fileadmin/uploads/afdb/Documents/Events/DakAgri2015
Serrano, J. M., Peça, J. O., da Silva, J. M., Pinheiro, A., and Carvalho, M. (2007). Tractor energy requirements in disc harrow systems. Biosystems Engineering, 98(3), pp.286-296. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biosystemseng.2007.08.002
Sims, B., and Kienzle, J. (2016). Making mechanization accessible to smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa. Environments, 3(2), 11. https//doi.org/10.3390/environments3020011
Tayel, M. Y., Shaaban, S. M., and Mansour, H. A. (2015). Effect of ploughing conditions on the tractor wheel slippage and fuel consumption in sandy soil. International Journal of ChemTech Research, 8(12), pp.151-159. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/SaidShaaban
Wang, J., Wang, J., Kong, Y., Zhang, C., and Zhao, J. (2013). Development and experiment of suspension ridger and its key components for paddy field. Transactions of the Chinese Society of Agricultural Engineering, 29(6), pp. 28-34. https://www.ingentaconnect.com
Yogesh, J. (2007). Design and optimization of thermal systems, second edition, Library of Congress Cataloging-inPublication Data Taylor and Francis Group, New York. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781420019483
Zehtaban, L., and Roller, D. (2012). Systematic functional analysis methods for design retrieval and documentation. International Journal of Computer and Information Engineering, 6(12), pp. 1711-1716. doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1330343