The discharge of two manual pumps popularly used in Odisha i.e. Krishak Bandhu (K.B.) pump and Low Lift Hand (LLH) pumps were evaluated at four different suction heads i.e. 2.0, 3.5, 5.0, and 6.5 m. The command area coverage for vegetables with the measured discharge of each pump was estimated at different seasons with various irrigation intervals. To reduce early fatigue and tiredness, as noticed in other available manual pumps, these two pumps were ergonomically evaluated by the female workers in the age group of 21–50 years. When the water table is up to 2.0 m below the ground surface, the area coverage was estimated to be more for growing vegetables by the farmers during the months of rabi season than summer. Ergonomically it is also advisable to operate both the pumps up to 2.0 m head with a command area of 0.704 ha and 1.19 ha for KB pump and LLH pump, respectively during rabi season. At this suction head, the female operators could operate the pump for a period of 20 minutes continuously with lower cardiac cost with little discomfort, better efficiency and output. After that the suction head increases as the summer season approaches. When the water table is nearer to 6.5 m, a farmer can grow 0.168 ha of vegetables at 6 days irrigation interval to a maximum of 0.308 ha at 11 days interval by a KB pump and 0.336 ha of vegetables at 6 days irrigation interval to a maximum of 0.616 ha at 11 days interval by a LLH Pump. Hence from these test results a farmer can decide at what suction head and irrigation interval how much area can be covered. Accordingly he can plan his cultivation scheduling and can grow various vegetables considering the availability of water with lower physiological cost.
Discharge, Ergonomics, Manual Pump, Suction head
