Farm Power and Machinery for Horticulture
Course Overview
Official detailed syllabus from the ICAR Sixth Deans’ Committee curriculum.
Course Objectives
To acquaint students of the tools available at his disposal for doing the work in horticulture (mechanical power source: engines/ tractors; machines and tools for harvesting the horticultural produce: tillage equipment, planting equipment, plant care equipment)
Theory Syllabus
Basic concepts of various forms of energy; Tractors, power tillers and their types and uses Introduction about IC Engines: Basic principles of operation of compression, ignition and spark ignition engines; two stroke and four stroke engines; Crank system, valve system, fuel supply system, cooling and lubrication systems; power transmission systems; broad understanding of performance and efficiency. Tillage: objectives, method of ploughing. Primary tillage implements: construction and function of improved indigenous ploughs, mould board ploughs, disc and rotary ploughs, offset rotavators. Secondary tillage implements construction and function of cultivators, harrows, levellers, ridgers and bund formers. Adjustments affecting performance in tillage equipment. Calculation of bite length of rotavator. Post-hole digger. Introduction about planting and transplanting equipment: potato planters, small seed planter, nursery sowing machinery, vegetable transplanters, plastic mulch and drip laying machinery. Introduction about intercultural machinery. Sprayers: Types, working principle, manual and tractor operated, gun-type and boom type. Special purpose sprayers: aero- blast sprayers, electrostatic sprayers, sprayer calibration and nozzle spacing. Safety features and safe use, shrub cutters, pick positioner; grafting, pruning and training tools and equipment; sweep, rotary weeders, tractor operated pruners. Crop harvesting equipment: potato diggers, fruit-pluckers, seed extraction machine.
Practical Syllabus
Calculation on force, power and energy. IC engines – showing the components of dismantled engines. Familiarization with engine systems Primary and secondary tillage implements: hitching, adjustments and operations. Operation of post hole digger. Operation of planting and transplanting machinery. Operation of vegetable transplanter, plastic mulch and drip laying machinery. Operation of Inter-culture equipment including offset rotavator in orchard; calibration of plant protection equipment, calculation of dilution ratio and operation; operation of power weeder, shrub cutter. Operation of crop harvesting equipment and seed extraction machine. Operation of shrub cutters, fruit-pluckers, pick positioner.
Suggested Readings
1. Sahay Jagdishwar. 2006. Elements of Agricultural Engineering. Standard Publishers Distributors.
2. Kepner R A, Bainer R and Barger E L. 1978. Principles of Farm Machinery. Avi Publishing Company.
3. Michael A M and OjhaT P. 1978. Principles of Agricultural Engineering. Jain Bros.
4. Culpin C. 1938. Farm Machinery. C. Lockwood & Son Limited.
5. Rodichev V and Rodicheva G. 1989.Tractors and Automobiles. Mir Publishers, Moscow.