Effects of Soil Depths and Moisture Content on the Performance of Carrot Combine Harvester Mechanism Nath Shyam1, Kumar Adarsh1, Singh Jai Kumar1, Mani Indra1, Ahmad Touqueer2 1Division of Agricultural Engineering, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi-110012, India 2ICAR-Indian Agricultural Statistics Research Institute, New Delhi-110012, India *Corresponding author email id: shyam.nath@icar.gov.in
Online published on 17 February, 2020. Abstract Performance evaluation of a developed carrot combine harvester mechanism was carried in the field of Division of Agricultural Engineering at ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute. Initially, carrot seed was planted by using raised bed carrot planter. The performance of developed carrot combine harvester mechanism was evaluated. The average bulk density was 1.40, 1.48 and 1.59 g/cm3 for 5, 10 and 15 cm depth, respectively. In case of soil moisture, the average moisture content was 9.30, 11.93 and 12.03% at 5, 10 and 15 cm depth. Angle of internal friction (degree), angle of soil metal friction (degree) and cohesion (kg/cm2) was 30.74, 26.02 and 0.07, respectively. The maximum draft (212 kgf) had been observed at 15 cm depth of operation and 30-degree rake angle, whereas, minimum draft (65.5 kgf) was observed at 5 m depth of operation and 20-degree rake angle. At 30-degree rake angle, maximum draft (207 kgf) had been observed at soil bulk density of 1.59 g/cm3 and at 20degree rake angle minimum draft (87 kgf) was observed at soil bulk density of 1.40 g/cm3. It was observed that as rake angle and moisture content increased, it increased the draft of the carrot combine harvester. Maximum draft (147 kgf) was observed at 30-degree rake angle and moisture content of 15% whereas minimum draft (82 kgf) was observed at 20degree rake angle and moisture content of 12%. At three levels of rake angles, minimum draft was observed at 12% moisture content of the soil due to maximum friability of the soil at this moisture level. As moisture content went up or went down draft increased. Result shows that the lifting efficiency has significant effect on moisture content, forward speed and puller mechanism speed. Top Keywords Carrot combines harvester, Rake angle, Conveyor angle, Lifting efficiency. Top |