Comparison of Diesel Tractor Emissions in Korea

Due to the shortage of agricultural labor forces and rapid aging of farmers, the utilization of tractors is becoming popular and essential in Korea. Tractors can be classified into two types, a walking tractor called as a power tiller and a riding tractor. In this study, agricultural tractors including walking and riding types were categorized into 4 levels by rated output power. And diesel emission inventory of tractors was established and analyzed using 2011 and 2019 survey data in Korea. Emission inventory including CO, NOx, SOx, TSP(PM10), PM2.5, VOCs and NH3 were established using Tier 3 methodology. The total amount of emission using agricultural tractors was decreased about 13% from 2011 to 2019. The number of walking tractors were decreased by about 19% in 8 years, on the other hand that of riding tractors were increased by about 12%. However, the emission reduction is about 48% for walking tractors and the emission increment is about 5% for riding tractors. Thus, the total emission from agricultural tractors was decreased by about 16% in those periods. It is due to the decrease of 21% and 15% in the hours of use of walking and riding tractors, respectively, in 2019. Walking tractors mainly emit air pollutants from spraying and transporting. Riding tractors mainly 61% of total air pollutants emits from soil preparation and transporting operations. Geographic information system (GIS) was used to spatially assign air pollutants variables into 17 provinces and metropolitan cities in Korea. High emission generating regions and changes of emissions during 8 years were clearly seen in GIS analysis. High air pollutant emitting regions are mainly located in the western and southern regions of Korea, which have plenty of arable areas compared to other regions in Korea.

Use of high-speed rotary tiller and power tiller operated seeder for onion (Allium cepa L.) cultivation

A field study was carried out to assess the performance of power tiller operated seeder (PTOS) and to compare the yield, quality, maturity and economic traits of onion under different planting methods at Spices Research Sub-Centre (SRSC), Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), Faridpur, Bangladesh with four planting methods as four treatments: T1) ploughing the main field with high speed rotary tiller (HSRT) + direct seeding with power tiller operated seeder (PTOS), T2) ploughing the main field with HSRT + transplanting of seedlings, T3) ploughing the main field with HSRT + direct seeding in line and T4) ploughing the main field with HSRT + direct seeding as broadcasting. Under the study the treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The outcome of the study revealed that the treatments had a significant influence on the characteristics studied accept yield of onion. Different economic traits of onion were varied among the planting methods. The bulbs under direct seeding with the PTOS matured earlier (133.66days) as compared to the transplant (155.54days). All direct seeding methods showed insignificantly higher yields than that of transplants. The maximum yield (15.05t/ha) was recorded from broadcasting method. The yield performance under direct seeding with the PTOS and transplants were 15.08 and 14.92t/ha, respectively. The broadcasting method had very heterogeneous and under-sized bulbs due to uneven spacing and maximum plant population per unit area. In case of economic performance, transplanting method incurred the highest total cost of production. Maximum net return and benefit-cost ratio (2.95) were calculated from direct seeding with PTOS. So, it is concluded that in Bangladesh, direct seeding method with the PTOS may be a good option for getting early crop and maximum economic benefit.

Portable Electric Tiller Machine

The portable battery charged electric power tiller machine. the conventional agriculture methods of farming, as it reduces the human effort, at a very low cost using motorized tilling mechanism. The electric power tiller helps to reduce the time and cost involved in tilling using a new portable design thereby increasing the productivity and efficiency in agriculture. The machine is use of a wheel with welded angles to provide maximum gripping on soil. The wheel design is developed, to provide a firm grip on soil strong enough to drag the cultivator forks while tilling process. The machine is driven by an electric motor which uses a sprocket chain arrangement to drive the pulling wheel.

Modification of Portable Power Tiller for Small Scale Weeding Operation

Weeds are unwanted and undesirable plant that interfere with the utilization of land and water resources and adversely affect crop production. After preliminary study, it was found out that power tiller could be adopted for weeding. Therefore, the study aimed at improving its performance through modification of some major component such as: weeding blades and depth gauge. Three sets of pairs of blade gang of four, six and eight were made from 3 mm mild steel sheet metal. The fabrication was carried out at the Department of Agricultural and Bio-Resources Engineering, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. The modified machine was evaluated based on weeding efficiency, field capacity, Plant Damage and Fuel consumption in the maize field during 2017/2018 irrigation season at Institute for Agricultural Research, IAR, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria research farm. Four levels of blade types ‘B’ and three levels of weeding depth ‘D’ were considered. The field was laid in a 4×3 Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) at two (2) Weeks After Sowing (2WAS). DMRT was used for mean separation ran in SAS package. The results showed effects of blade types and weeding depth were significant on the weeding performance of the machine.

Benefit Cost Analysis of Small Farm Machineries Used for Rice Cultivation in Nepal

A study was conducted in Jhapa, Sunsari and Bardiya district of Nepal to assess the benefit cost (BCA) analysis of small farm machineries (transplanter, reaper and power tiller) used for rice cultivation. Out of total respondents of 274 under mechanized farm category selected using Raosoft Software of sample size determination, 74% reaper owner (20), 67% power tiller owner (20) and 100% transplanter owner (09) were selected for analyzing benefit cost analysis using simple random sampling. BCA analysis showed that the NPV, B/C ratio, IRR and Payback Period of investing in transplanter were NRs 452743.62, 1.61, 24% and 2.75 years at 12% discount rate respectively. Similarly, NPV, B/C ratio, IRR and Payback period for reaper and power tiller were NRs 422541.93, 2.89, 123% and 1.14 years and NRs 619,719.34, 2.32, 65% and 1.46 years at 12% of discount rate respectively. The investment on reaper and power tiller would be profitable for their higher Benefit Cost ratio and IRR, and lower payback period. The results of sensitivity analysis showed that investments in reaper and power tiller would be profitable even if decrease in benefit or increase in cost or decrease in benefit and increase in cost by 20% is considered. However, in case of transplanter, the IRR would be less than the discount rate when benefit decreases by 20% and cost increases by 20%. Due to high investment at the initial stage, the payback period was longer and IRR was also less than 30% per annum in transplanter which indicated that investment would not be made for transplanter unless price of transplanter is lowered through regulation of price and provision of subsidy. It is suggested to motivate farmers for adoption of small farm machineries in rice cultivation through provision of differentiated rates of subsidy and technical capacity build up.