Design and development of easy operated and cost-effective advanced fertilizer spraying mechanism

Abstract

Agriculture is very labour-intensive and requires efficiency and productivity to minimise cost and maximise yield. Manual application of fertilizer was one of the greatest challenges that a farmer faces, and it is a very time-consuming, physically demanding, and labor-intensive task. The traditional backpack sprayers have high burden on the on-farm labor and with their non-uniform application, there are inefficiencies and potential crop injury. In response, it is proposed to develop a system to automate and improve fertilizer spraying, which is called as Advanced Fertiliser Spraying Mechanism (ASM) and it is a self-propelled system. The mechanism is comprised of a frame, engine, HTP (High-Pressure Triplex) pump, steering system, wheels with grip structure, fertilizer tank, spray nozzles and a driver seat. Engine's power the spray pump and the wheels for efficient operation. It has an optimized wheel spacing to reduce damage to the crops, and an ergonomic design to reduce physical effort for farmers. The proposed mechanism aims at tackling some of the challenges like labour cost, spraying efficiency, uniform fertilizer application and crop health. The ease of operation, from the farmer side, is also taken into account in the design process. The engine powered system is an economical alternative to traditional tractor spraying and represents a possible opportunity for the local making and agro-enterprise. This is designed to: lower application time for the fertilizer increase convenience in operation to achieve uniformity of application across the spray. Such simplicity in its construction and operation can make it relatively easy to maintain and fabricate. In general, the designed system intends to offer a farmer friendly, effective and financially viable solution for small and medium scale farming applications for improved productivity and gradual implementation of the mechanised farming techniques.