Performance Evaluation of an Engine-Operated Weeding Machine

Degefa Woyessa

doi:doi:10.11648/j.eas.20230803.12

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Performance Evaluation of an Engine-Operated Weeding Machine

Degefa Woyessa

Published in Engineering and Applied Sciences (Volume 8, Issue 3)

Received: 17 April 2023 Accepted: 26 May 2023 Published: 27 June 2023

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Abstract

Wheat crops are severely hampered by weeds, which also significantly reduce productivity. Manual weeding requires a considerable amount of time and energy. Chemical weed control is harmful to both the environment and mankind. Today's agricultural sector requires non-chemical weed control to meet consumer demand for quality food products and take a proactive approach to food safety. The objectives of the study was to evaluate the performance of an-engine operated weeder by evaluating the weeding efficiency, plant damage, effective field capacity, field efficiency, fuel consumption, performance index, energy consumption, and cost economics of engine operated weeder in wheat crop. The experimental design was a randomized complete block design and evaluation was conducted at three weeder forward speeds (1.5, 2, and 2.5 km/hr), two depths of operation (from 0 to 20 and from 0 to 40 mm), and three levels of soil moisture content (9.4, 12.34 and 15.25%). The performance of the weeder was found to be optimum at 15.25 percent soil moisture content with 0 to 40 mm depth of operation at a forward speed of 1.5 km/hr. The results revealed that maximum weeding efficiency of 90.1 percent was obtained with lower plant damage of 3.31 percent whereas the effective field capacity, field efficiency, fuel consumption, performance index, and energy consumption were found to be 0.052 ha/hr, 85.99%, 0.41 l/hr, 276.78 ha/hp, and 481.71 MJ/ha, respectively. The analysis revealed that forward speed, depth of operation, and soil moisture had significant effects on weeding efficiency, plant damage, effective field capacity, and fuel consumption at P<0.05 level of significance. The cost of weeding per hectare were 758 and 1920 ETBirr/ha for engine-operated weeders and traditional weeding methods, respectively. Based on the performance results, it can be concluded that the weeding machine is efficient, effective, and economically viable option with high scope for acceptability among small and medium scale farmers.

Published in	Engineering and Applied Sciences (Volume 8, Issue 3)
DOI	10.11648/j.eas.20230803.12
Page(s)	47-65
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2023. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Energy Consumption, Field Efficiency, Plant Damage, Performance, Weeding Machine, Weeding Efficiency

References

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[2]	CSA (Central Statistical Agency). 2015. Report on area and production of major crops, private peasant holdings, and meher season. Statistical Bulletin 278. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
[3]	CSA (Central Statistical Agency). 2016. Report on area and production of major crops, private peasant holdings, meher season, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
[4]	FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization)., 2015. Agricultural Production Statistics. FAOSTAT. Rome.
[5]	Hegazy, R. A., Abdelmotaleb, I. A., Imara, Z. M. and Okasha, M. H., 2014. Development and evaluation of small-scale power weeder. Misr J. Ag. Eng, 31 (3): 703-728.
[6]	Karale, D. S., Khambalkar, V. P., Bhende, S. M. and Wankhede, P. S., 2008. Energy economic of small farming crop production operations. World J. of Agric. Sciences, 4 (4): 476-482.
[7]	Kebede Desta., 2000. Weed control methods used in Ethiopia. Animal power for weed control. Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA), Wageningen, The Netherlands.
[8]	Kepner, R. A., Bainer, R., and Barger, E. L., 1978. Principle of Farm Machinery. 3rd Edition. New Delhi: CBS Publishers & Distributors Pvt. Ltd.
[9]	Minot, N., Warner, J., Lemma, S., Kasa, L., Gashaw, A. and Rashid, S., 2019. The wheat supply chain in Ethiopia:Patterns, Trends, and Policy Options. Gates Open Res, 3 (174): 174.
[10]	MOA (Ministry of Agriculture). 2012. Animal and Plant Health Regulatory Directorate. Crop variety register, Issue No. 15. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
[11]	Mohammad, A., Baghestani, M. A., Soufizadeh, S. and Bagherani, N., 2007. Weed control and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yield under application of 2, 4-D plus carfentrazoneethyl and florasulam plus flumetsulam. Crop Protection, 26 (12): 1759-1764.
[12]	Monalisha, S. and Goel, A. k., 2017. Development of a Multipurpose Power Weeder. The International Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities Invention, 4 (6): 3527–3531.
[13]	Nkakini, S. O., Akor, A. J., Ayotamuno, J., Ikoromari, A. and Efenudu, E. O., 2010. Field performance evaluation of manual operated petrol engine powered weeder for the tropics. Agricultural Mechanization in Asia, Africa & Latin America, 41 (4): 68-73.
[14]	Olukunle, J., and Oguntunde, P. G., 2006. Design of a row crop weeder. Conference on International Agricultural Research for Development. Tropentag 2006 University of Bonn.
[15]	Rangapara Dineshkumar, J., 2014. Development of mini tractor operated picking type pneumatic plante. r Anand agricultural university.
[16]	Shehzad, M. A., Nadeem, M. A. and Iqbal, M., 2012. Weed control and yield attributes against post-emergence herbicides application in wheat crop, Punjab, Pakistan. Global Advanced Research Journal of Agricultural Science, 1 (1): 7-16.
[17]	Tajuddin, A., 2006. Design, development, and testing of engine-operated weeder. Agricultural Engineering Today, 30 (5): 25–29.
[18]	Yadav, R. and Pund. S., 2007. Development and ergonomic evaluation of manual weeder. Agricultural Engineering International: The CIGRE Journal. Manuscript PM 07 022, IX.

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APA Style

Degefa Woyessa. (2023). Performance Evaluation of an Engine-Operated Weeding Machine. Engineering and Applied Sciences, 8(3), 47-65. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.eas.20230803.12

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ACS Style

Degefa Woyessa. Performance Evaluation of an Engine-Operated Weeding Machine. Eng. Appl. Sci. 2023, 8(3), 47-65. doi: 10.11648/j.eas.20230803.12

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AMA Style

Degefa Woyessa. Performance Evaluation of an Engine-Operated Weeding Machine. Eng Appl Sci. 2023;8(3):47-65. doi: 10.11648/j.eas.20230803.12

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@article{10.11648/j.eas.20230803.12,
  author = {Degefa Woyessa},
  title = {Performance Evaluation of an Engine-Operated Weeding Machine},
  journal = {Engineering and Applied Sciences},
  volume = {8},
  number = {3},
  pages = {47-65},
  doi = {10.11648/j.eas.20230803.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.eas.20230803.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.eas.20230803.12},
  abstract = {Wheat crops are severely hampered by weeds, which also significantly reduce productivity. Manual weeding requires a considerable amount of time and energy. Chemical weed control is harmful to both the environment and mankind. Today's agricultural sector requires non-chemical weed control to meet consumer demand for quality food products and take a proactive approach to food safety. The objectives of the study was to evaluate the performance of an-engine operated weeder by evaluating the weeding efficiency, plant damage, effective field capacity, field efficiency, fuel consumption, performance index, energy consumption, and cost economics of engine operated weeder in wheat crop. The experimental design was a randomized complete block design and evaluation was conducted at three weeder forward speeds (1.5, 2, and 2.5 km/hr), two depths of operation (from 0 to 20 and from 0 to 40 mm), and three levels of soil moisture content (9.4, 12.34 and 15.25%). The performance of the weeder was found to be optimum at 15.25 percent soil moisture content with 0 to 40 mm depth of operation at a forward speed of 1.5 km/hr. The results revealed that maximum weeding efficiency of 90.1 percent was obtained with lower plant damage of 3.31 percent whereas the effective field capacity, field efficiency, fuel consumption, performance index, and energy consumption were found to be 0.052 ha/hr, 85.99%, 0.41 l/hr, 276.78 ha/hp, and 481.71 MJ/ha, respectively. The analysis revealed that forward speed, depth of operation, and soil moisture had significant effects on weeding efficiency, plant damage, effective field capacity, and fuel consumption at P<0.05 level of significance. The cost of weeding per hectare were 758 and 1920 ETBirr/ha for engine-operated weeders and traditional weeding methods, respectively. Based on the performance results, it can be concluded that the weeding machine is efficient, effective, and economically viable option with high scope for acceptability among small and medium scale farmers.},
 year = {2023}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Performance Evaluation of an Engine-Operated Weeding Machine
AU  - Degefa Woyessa
Y1  - 2023/06/27
PY  - 2023
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.eas.20230803.12
DO  - 10.11648/j.eas.20230803.12
T2  - Engineering and Applied Sciences
JF  - Engineering and Applied Sciences
JO  - Engineering and Applied Sciences
SP  - 47
EP  - 65
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2575-1468
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.eas.20230803.12
AB  - Wheat crops are severely hampered by weeds, which also significantly reduce productivity. Manual weeding requires a considerable amount of time and energy. Chemical weed control is harmful to both the environment and mankind. Today's agricultural sector requires non-chemical weed control to meet consumer demand for quality food products and take a proactive approach to food safety. The objectives of the study was to evaluate the performance of an-engine operated weeder by evaluating the weeding efficiency, plant damage, effective field capacity, field efficiency, fuel consumption, performance index, energy consumption, and cost economics of engine operated weeder in wheat crop. The experimental design was a randomized complete block design and evaluation was conducted at three weeder forward speeds (1.5, 2, and 2.5 km/hr), two depths of operation (from 0 to 20 and from 0 to 40 mm), and three levels of soil moisture content (9.4, 12.34 and 15.25%). The performance of the weeder was found to be optimum at 15.25 percent soil moisture content with 0 to 40 mm depth of operation at a forward speed of 1.5 km/hr. The results revealed that maximum weeding efficiency of 90.1 percent was obtained with lower plant damage of 3.31 percent whereas the effective field capacity, field efficiency, fuel consumption, performance index, and energy consumption were found to be 0.052 ha/hr, 85.99%, 0.41 l/hr, 276.78 ha/hp, and 481.71 MJ/ha, respectively. The analysis revealed that forward speed, depth of operation, and soil moisture had significant effects on weeding efficiency, plant damage, effective field capacity, and fuel consumption at P<0.05 level of significance. The cost of weeding per hectare were 758 and 1920 ETBirr/ha for engine-operated weeders and traditional weeding methods, respectively. Based on the performance results, it can be concluded that the weeding machine is efficient, effective, and economically viable option with high scope for acceptability among small and medium scale farmers.
VL  - 8
IS  - 3
ER  -

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Author Information

Degefa Woyessa

Oromia Agricultural Research Institute (IQQO), Asella Agricultural Engineering Research Centre, Asella, Oromia, Ethiopia

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APA Style

Degefa Woyessa. (2023). Performance Evaluation of an Engine-Operated Weeding Machine. Engineering and Applied Sciences, 8(3), 47-65. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.eas.20230803.12

Copy | Download

ACS Style

Degefa Woyessa. Performance Evaluation of an Engine-Operated Weeding Machine. Eng. Appl. Sci. 2023, 8(3), 47-65. doi: 10.11648/j.eas.20230803.12

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AMA Style

Degefa Woyessa. Performance Evaluation of an Engine-Operated Weeding Machine. Eng Appl Sci. 2023;8(3):47-65. doi: 10.11648/j.eas.20230803.12

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.eas.20230803.12,
  author = {Degefa Woyessa},
  title = {Performance Evaluation of an Engine-Operated Weeding Machine},
  journal = {Engineering and Applied Sciences},
  volume = {8},
  number = {3},
  pages = {47-65},
  doi = {10.11648/j.eas.20230803.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.eas.20230803.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.eas.20230803.12},
  abstract = {Wheat crops are severely hampered by weeds, which also significantly reduce productivity. Manual weeding requires a considerable amount of time and energy. Chemical weed control is harmful to both the environment and mankind. Today's agricultural sector requires non-chemical weed control to meet consumer demand for quality food products and take a proactive approach to food safety. The objectives of the study was to evaluate the performance of an-engine operated weeder by evaluating the weeding efficiency, plant damage, effective field capacity, field efficiency, fuel consumption, performance index, energy consumption, and cost economics of engine operated weeder in wheat crop. The experimental design was a randomized complete block design and evaluation was conducted at three weeder forward speeds (1.5, 2, and 2.5 km/hr), two depths of operation (from 0 to 20 and from 0 to 40 mm), and three levels of soil moisture content (9.4, 12.34 and 15.25%). The performance of the weeder was found to be optimum at 15.25 percent soil moisture content with 0 to 40 mm depth of operation at a forward speed of 1.5 km/hr. The results revealed that maximum weeding efficiency of 90.1 percent was obtained with lower plant damage of 3.31 percent whereas the effective field capacity, field efficiency, fuel consumption, performance index, and energy consumption were found to be 0.052 ha/hr, 85.99%, 0.41 l/hr, 276.78 ha/hp, and 481.71 MJ/ha, respectively. The analysis revealed that forward speed, depth of operation, and soil moisture had significant effects on weeding efficiency, plant damage, effective field capacity, and fuel consumption at P<0.05 level of significance. The cost of weeding per hectare were 758 and 1920 ETBirr/ha for engine-operated weeders and traditional weeding methods, respectively. Based on the performance results, it can be concluded that the weeding machine is efficient, effective, and economically viable option with high scope for acceptability among small and medium scale farmers.},
 year = {2023}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Performance Evaluation of an Engine-Operated Weeding Machine
AU  - Degefa Woyessa
Y1  - 2023/06/27
PY  - 2023
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.eas.20230803.12
DO  - 10.11648/j.eas.20230803.12
T2  - Engineering and Applied Sciences
JF  - Engineering and Applied Sciences
JO  - Engineering and Applied Sciences
SP  - 47
EP  - 65
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2575-1468
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.eas.20230803.12
AB  - Wheat crops are severely hampered by weeds, which also significantly reduce productivity. Manual weeding requires a considerable amount of time and energy. Chemical weed control is harmful to both the environment and mankind. Today's agricultural sector requires non-chemical weed control to meet consumer demand for quality food products and take a proactive approach to food safety. The objectives of the study was to evaluate the performance of an-engine operated weeder by evaluating the weeding efficiency, plant damage, effective field capacity, field efficiency, fuel consumption, performance index, energy consumption, and cost economics of engine operated weeder in wheat crop. The experimental design was a randomized complete block design and evaluation was conducted at three weeder forward speeds (1.5, 2, and 2.5 km/hr), two depths of operation (from 0 to 20 and from 0 to 40 mm), and three levels of soil moisture content (9.4, 12.34 and 15.25%). The performance of the weeder was found to be optimum at 15.25 percent soil moisture content with 0 to 40 mm depth of operation at a forward speed of 1.5 km/hr. The results revealed that maximum weeding efficiency of 90.1 percent was obtained with lower plant damage of 3.31 percent whereas the effective field capacity, field efficiency, fuel consumption, performance index, and energy consumption were found to be 0.052 ha/hr, 85.99%, 0.41 l/hr, 276.78 ha/hp, and 481.71 MJ/ha, respectively. The analysis revealed that forward speed, depth of operation, and soil moisture had significant effects on weeding efficiency, plant damage, effective field capacity, and fuel consumption at P<0.05 level of significance. The cost of weeding per hectare were 758 and 1920 ETBirr/ha for engine-operated weeders and traditional weeding methods, respectively. Based on the performance results, it can be concluded that the weeding machine is efficient, effective, and economically viable option with high scope for acceptability among small and medium scale farmers.
VL  - 8
IS  - 3
ER  -

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