Syllabus - Farm Machinery & Equipment -II (AN502)

Agriculture Engineering

Farm Machinery & Equipment -II (AN502)

V-Semester

Unit I

Introduction to harvesting - Principles and types of cutting mechanisms

Study of harvesting operation- harvesting methods, harvesting terminology. Study of mowers – types, constructional details, working and adjustments. Study of shear type harvesting devices – cutter bar, inertial forces, counter balancing, terminology, cutting pattern. Study of reapers, binders and windrowers – principle of operation and constructional details. Importance of hay conditioning, methods of hay conditioning, and calculation of moisture content of hay.

Unit II

Introduction to threshing systems – manual and mechanical systems

Types of threshing drums and their applications. Types of threshers- tangential and axial, their constructional details and cleaning systems. Study of factors affecting thresher performance. Study of grain combines, combine terminology, classification of grain combines, study of material flow in combines. Computation of combine losses, study of combine troubles and troubleshooting. Study of chaff cutters and capacity calculations. Study of straw combines – working principle and constructional details.

Unit III

Study of root crop diggers – principle of operation, blade adjustment and approach angle, and calculation of material handled

Study of Cotton harvesting – Cotton harvesting mechanisms, study of cotton pickers and strippers, functional components. Study of maize harvesting combines. Study of tree climbers - coconut climbers. Study of tools for rubber tapping, tea harvesting. Introduction to vegetables and fruit harvesting equipment and tools. Testing of farm machinery – types of tests, test code and procedure. Ergonomic considerations in designing farm machinery.

Course Objective

To impart knowledge about machines / implements for plant protection, intercultural operation, harvesting and threshing.

Course Outcome

Students have knowledge about machines / implements for plant protection, intercultural operation, harvesting and threshing.

Practicals

  • Study of sprayers, types, functional components

  • Study of nozzle types and spray pattern using patternator

  • Calibration of sprayers

  • Study of dusters, types and functional components

  • Familiarization with manual and powered weeding equipments and identification of its functional components

  • Study of fertilizer application equipments including manure spreaders and fertilizer broadcasters

  • Study of various types of mowers, reaper, reaper binder

  • Study of cutter bar mechanism of reapers and mowers

  • Harvesting with reapers

  • Familiarization with threshing systems and cleaning systems in threshers

  • Practical of paddy threshing

  • Calculations of losses, efficiencies in threshers

  • Familiarization with functional units of Grain combines and their types

  • Calculations for grain losses in a combine

  • Familiarization with coconut climbing devices

  • Familiarization with vegetable and fruit harvesters

Reference Books

  • Jain S. C., and Grace Philip. 2012. Farm Machinery – An Approach. Standard Publishers Distributors., New Delhi

  • Kepner, R. A., Bainer, R., and Barger, E. L. 2005.Principles of Farm Machinery. CBS Publishers and Distributors Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi

  • Ojha, T. P. and Michael, A. M. 2011. Principles of Agricultural Engineering Vol. I. Jain Brothers, New Delhi

  • Sahay, J. 2015. Elements of Agricultural Engineering. Standard Publishers and Distributors, New Delhi

  • Yadav, R., and Solanki, H. B. 2009.Numericals and Short Questions in Farm Machinery, Power and Energy in Agriculture. New India Publishing Agency, New Delhi