mechanization of ground spraying in rubber …
TRANSCRIPT
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MECHANIZATION OF GROUND SPRAYING IN RUBBER PLANTATIONS AGAINST DISEASES
Jacob Mathew*, Sadanand K. Mushrif*, Edwin Prem*, KuruvillaJacob C., Vijayan K*. and Jatin S. Patel**
*Rubber Research Institute of India,**Aspee Group of Companies, Mumbai
Rubber Research Institute of India, Rubber Board, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Govt. of India
CONVENTIONAL METHOD
DELIVERY HEIGHT
Management of ALF
Prophylactic ground spraying‐copper oxychloride (COC) in agriculture spray oil
Conventional method
Mist blowers fitted with four stroke petrol/kerosene engine
Delivery height 20 to 23 meter.
Man power requirement
4
The area coverage 6 ha/day(max.)
Background
Constraints
Labour intensive., Less area coverage
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Target Reduce
man power
Increase area
coverage
Increase delivery height
Mini tractor was mounted with large capacity blower with single gearwheeled gear box assembly
Technology improvements attempted
Mini tractor mounted conventional mist blower was fitted withmodified atomizer
Conventional mist blower mounted on a mini tractor
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Technology improvements attempted
Conventional mist blower mounted on a mini tractor
Mini tractor mounted conventional mist blower was fitted with modified atomizer
Mini tractor was mounted with large capacity blower with single gear wheeled gear box assembly
blower case
impeller mounted verticallyinside the case.
blower lance with rotaryatomiser having fins with fixedangle
The fungicide pump for the delivery of fungicide to the atomizer. When the impeller rotates the atomiser run at a high speed by the air current. The fungicide atomised into fine particles, carried to the target by the air blast.
blower case
atomiser
engine
impeller
Fungicide tankEngine
Four stroke petrol/kerosene engine (4.5 HP)
Conventional mist blower
The blower assembly
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Mini tractor
Engine :3 cylinder 4 stroke
Width :1.025 M
Height :1.475 M
Length :2.565 M
Gear :6 speed forward
2 speed reverse
Speed : 1.2 kmph
Power take off : 3 speed
Power transfer to sprayer ‐Through the power take off shaft (PTO) of the tractor
suitable to operate through the space in between rows of rubber trees.
Conventional mist blower mounted on a mini tractor
No. of locations : 2Clone : RRIM 600COC/spray oil ratio : 1: 5operating speed : 2kmphSpray Delivery : 1L /min.(40.L/hectare)
Leaf retention‐ No significant difference
Type of spraying
Leaf retention (%)
Location 1Location 2
Mini tractor withconventional mistblower
Conventional mistblower
28.0
30.5
42.5
38.0
Limiting factor Delivery height ?
Field testing
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Modification of atomizer ‐ to obtain more delivery height
Modified atomizer
Fins modified as adjustable in various angles
Constraint‐ Fins of atomizer fitted in a
permanent angle
Rotation (rpm) is constant
Conventional atomizer
Field testing
No. of locations : 3Clone : PB 260COC/spray oil ratio : 1: 5operating speed : 2kmphSpray Delivery : 1L/min. (40.L/hectare)
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Sprayer typeHeight (Meter)
Location 1 Location 2 Location 3
Mini tractorwith MA*
17.1 21 23.5
Mini tractorwith CA**
16.8 19.5 21.3
Conventionalmist blower
15.2 18.3 19.8
Delivery height (≥ 100 spray particles/cm2)
MA*‐ Modified Atomizer; CA**‐ Conventional Atomizer
Increased delivery height
Time taken to cover one hectare
20 minutes – Tractor mounted mist blower40 minutes‐ conventional mist blower
Outcome
Type of sprayingLeaf fall (%)
Location 1 Location 2 Location 3Mini tractormounted withconventional mistblower
< 5% leaf fall
Conventionalmist blower < 5% leaf fall
The leaf fall more or less same in all the locations
Mini tractor mounted mist blower with modified atomizer is a better
technology
Leaf fall observation
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Defect Reason
Frequent slip of propeller shaft Lengthy PTO shaft
Ground Hitting of the spraying unit Too much gap between PTO and attachment unit
Expected discharge height was not obtained
Incompatibility in the capacities of blower (4.5 hp) and tractor ( 18 hp)
Spraying attachment with lengthy shaft
Defects encountered with the tractor mounted mist blower
Improved tractor mounted sprayer with larger capacity blower
The spraying attachment wasconnected to the PTO shaft with asingle gear wheeled gear boxassembly.
Designed a large capacity blowerhaving 12 hp.
In order to get the efficientdischarge of spray fluid, a pistonpump (Horizontal Tripple Piston)was also used.
Modifications
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Sprayer type Height(Meter)
Mini tractor mounted with mist blower with modified impeller
26.8
Delivery height (≥ 100 spray particles/cm2)
Sprayer type Leaf retention (%)(clone RRIM 600)
Mini tractor mounted with mist blower with modified impeller
50
Conventional micron sprayer
30
Leaf retention
Field testing
Conclusion
• Conventional mist blower is becoming less attractive as it is labourintensive
• Mounting of the mist blower on mini tractor could reduce the labour andalso increase the coverage
• The reduction made in the gap between the blower unit and the tractormade the unit compact and enhanced its maneuverability
• Modifications made in the atomiser and capacity enhancement of theblower increased delivery height.
Mechanization in plant protection in NR cultivation would be a viable solution to address the labour shortage
