Syllabus - Farm Machinery & Equipment-I (AN403)

Agriculture Engineering

Farm Machinery & Equipment-I (AN403)

IV-Semester

Unit I

Introduction to farm mechanization

Scope, Merits, Limitations, Status of mechanization in the country and state - History of farm mechanization - Research and developments in farm machinery - Classification of farm machines based on operation, power source, in relation to power unit etc. - Unit operation in crop production and related implements / machines - Power units / sources for farm machinery / implements, hitching systems and controls on farm machinery - Field capacities, field efficiency, different ploughing methods - Calculation of field capacity and field efficiency - Economics of machinery usage, fixed cost, variable cost - Methods for calculating depreciation - Estimation of cost of operation - Break even analysis – small, large and own, hired machine - Economic considerations in selection of farm implements and machinery.

Unit II

Land reclamation and earth moving equipment

Seed bed preparation operations and its classification - Concepts of deep tillage, rotary tillage and minimum tillage - Introduction to machines / implements used for primary and secondary tillage operations - Mould-board plough, disc plough: Functional components, type, constructional details, accessories and attachments - Chisel plough, sub-soiler: Functional components, type, constructional details, accessories and attachments - Horizontal suction, Vertical Suction of MB plough and Disc geometry of disc plough - Forces acting on tillage implements- Draft measurement of tillage implements and calculation of power requirement for the tillage implements - Study of cultivator - Study of harrows - Study of rotary tillers - Study of leveling and puddling implements.

Unit III

Introduction to sowing, planting & transplanting equipment

Introduction to seed drills, no-till drills, and strip-till drills - Introduction to planters, bed-planters and other planting equipment - Rice transplanters - Study of types of furrow openers - Study of metering systems in drills and planters - Calibration of seed-drills/ planters and adjustments.

Unit IV

Introduction to materials used in construction of farm machines

Heat treatment processes and their requirement in farm machines - Properties of materials used for critical and functional components of agricultural machines - Introduction to steels and alloys for agricultural application - Identification of heat treatment processes specially for the agricultural machinery components.

Course Objective

To familiarize the students with the relevance of farm machinery and its economic analysis and to impart knowledge about the various implements for primary, secondary tillage, seeding and planting, its components, construction, working and force analysis.

Course Outcome

The students will understand different farm machines/tools used in primary, secondary tillage operations along with their principle of operation

Practicals

  • Familiarization with different farm implements and tools

  • Familiarization with different farm implements and tools

  • Study on hitching systems

  • Estimating field capacities, field efficiencies and related problems

  • Calculation of cost of operation of farm implements and machinery

  • Problems on selection of farm machinery – economic considerations

  • Study of MB plough

  • Study of Disc plough

  • Calculations of power and draft requirements

  • Study of secondary tillage implements

  • Measurement of draft

  • Study on seed drill

  • Study on planters

  • Study on transplanters

  • Calibration of seed drill

  • Identification of materials of construction in agricultural machinery and study of material properties

  • Study of heat treatment processes subjected to critical components of agricultural machinery

Reference Books

  • Kepner R.A., Bainer R & Berger EL., 1978, Principles of Farm machinery, AVI Publ. Co.

  • Michael A M and Ojha, T.P. Principles of Agricultural Engineering. Jain Brothers 873, East Park Road, Karol Bagh, New Delhi.

  • C P Nakra, Farm Machines and Equipments, DhanpatRai Publishing Company Pvt. Ltd., 4787/23, Ansari Road, Dariyaganj, New Delhi.

  • Jain S C, Philip Grace, Farm Machinery – An approach. Standard Publishers and Distributors, 1705-B, NaiSarak, Post Box No.1066, New Delhi-110006.

  • RadheyLal and A.C.Dutta, Agricultural Engineering (Through Worked out examples), SarojPrakakshan, 646 Katra, Allahabad-2.

  • Sahay J. Elements of Agricultural Engineering. Irshad Ali, Kitab Mahal, Sarojini Naidu Marg, Allahabad.

  • Srivastav AC. 2001. Elements of Farm Machinery. Oxford & IBH 9. Bhattacharya T K. A Work Book of Practical Farm Machinery (Vol.I& II) Saroj Prakashan, Allahabad-211002.