The development of a para rubber fertilizer distributor (2) (Thai)

Abstract

       This research study aims to design, build and evaluate a Para Rubber Fertilizer Distributor. It also includes the study of the properties of the para rubber and chemical fertilizer consumption for design to build the prototype machine in the test and determination part. Variation of the speed of the machine and of the angles of the opening-canal disc plow and filling back disc plow were made in this study, in which the important indexes are the depth of the opening-canal in millimeters, the percentage of scattering and filling fertilizer efficiency and the ability of the prototype machine in rai per hour. In this study it was found that :

       1. The planting area of rubber plants should not be less than 7 rai with a double time of fertilization at the beginning and the end of the rainy season, because during this time the soil will have proper moisture content for fertilization.

       2. The fertilizer is a pelleted chemical substance which contains three main compositions, i.e., Nitrogen, Phosphorous and Potassium, and it is 2.5 - 3 millimeters in diameter.

       3. The prototype machine consists of frame, fertilizer hopper, scatter set and opening and filling set and opening-canal depth adjustable set.

       4. The evaluation of the prototype Para Rubber Fertilizer Distributor was made at an engine speed of 900 rpm in first gear. The opening disc and filling disc angles were at 30 and 20 degrees with the direction of motion of the developed machine, respectively. It was found that the average depth of the opening-canal was 52.17 millimeters, the percentages of scattering and filling fertilizer were 95.70 and 98.88 respectively, the total percentage of Para Rubber Fertilizer Distributor efficiency was 94.63, the fuel consumption was 10.55 rai per litre and the ability of the prototype machine was 14.33 rai per hour.

      The efficiency and the ability of the machine when compared with the amount of fertilizer and planting area indicate that the prototype has high efficiency of fertilizer consumption. Furthermore, it saves time, hence this research study recommends to expand it to a commercial scale.