Empowering Vegetable Farmers: Energy Analysis and Evaluating the Impact of a Battery-operated Boom Sprayer
Shankar Lal *
Department of Farm Machinery and Power Engineering, College of Technology and Engineering, Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology, Udaipur, Rajasthan- 313001, India.
S. S. Meena
Department of Farm Machinery and Power Engineering, College of Technology and Engineering, Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology, Udaipur, Rajasthan- 313001, India.
Nitin Kumar Koumary
Department of Farm Machinery and Power Engineering, College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, OUAT, Bhubaneswar, Odisha-751003, India.
J. Lahre
Department of Farm Machinery and Power Engineering, College of Agricultural Engineering and Post Harvest and Technology, Ranipool, Gangtok, Sikkim-737135, India.
Surjeet Singh Adile
ICAR-Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Bhopal, Madhayapradesh-462038, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
India heavily relies on agriculture, with a majority of the population engaged in farming. To address labor scarcity and improve efficiency, a battery-operated boom sprayer was developed and evaluated. The main objective of the research to minimize the back pan of the farmer during the operation of the hand operated knapsack sprayer. A pair of wheel was used for the power generation and this power was used for the operating of the knapsack sprayer. In testing on a brinjal crop field, the sprayer achieved a theoretical field capacity of 0.36 ha/hr and an actual field capacity of 0.284 ha/hr, with a field efficiency of 79%, and compared to manual knapsack sprayers, it was observed that the developed wheel operated boom sprayer was more easy in operation and approx 50% more field efficiency as compared to the manual operated knapsack sprayer and it demonstrated favorable ergonomic performance. These findings highlight the sprayer's potential to enhance efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and ergonomics for small Indian farmers, addressing labor scarcity and improving their livelihoods. Further testing and considerations for widespread adoption are necessary. This innovation represents a significant step towards sustainable development in Indian agriculture.
Keywords: Battery operated boom sprayer, theoretical field capacity, ergonomic performance