Design, fabrication, and performance evaluation of a multi-rows power operated weeder for line transplanted rice field in Bangladesh
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Abstract
This research was conducted to develop and assess the efficacy of a multi-row power operated weeder (PoW) to control weeds in line transplanted wetland rice fields. Power from a 6500 rpm engine was transferred to the rotors through a coupling device, spline-shaft, worm-gearing, and rotary-shaft connected with a power-involved detach facility ensuing 185 rpm rotation of the rotors. The spline-shaft was connected with the worm-wheel via worm-screw. Finally, engine power was transmitted to the weeder rotors from the worm-wheel to the shaft of the rotors. The weeder was tested in seven locations under different soil conditions. The treatments were- one mechanical-weeding by PoW succeeded by (sb) one hand-weeding (HaW), one mechanical weeding by BRRI (Bangladesh Rice Research Institute) manual weeder (BMW) sb one HaW, un-weeded, no-weed, and mulching sb two HaW (local practice). Average of seven locations, actual and theoretical capacity of area coverage by the multi-row power weeder were found 0.23 and 0.29 ha/h whereas the average field efficiency was found 78.74%. In all locations, significantly lower efficiency of weeding was recorded with manual weeder (69.28%) whereas the efficiency of weeding with the PoW was 78.93%. However, the weed control efficiency of the PoW was 73.18%. The unweeded treatment resulted in a significantly lower yield while there was no significant variation among the other treatments. Based on these preliminary findings, the newly-developed PoW was assessed to have good weed-control capacity and, therefore, might have the potential to herbicide applications.
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