1College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Maharana Pratap University of Agricultural and Technology-313004
2College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Shere-E-Kashmir University of Science and Technology of Kashmir, Srinagar-190025, Jammu and Kashmir, (India)
3College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Bhopal-462037, (Madhya Pradesh)
*e-mail: maddulanagendra200@gmail.com
Online published on 24 May, 2021.
The present study was conducted to develop and evaluate a portable forage harvester for maize crop at College of Engineering and Technology, Udaipur , Rajasthan. The portable harvester was operated by small 1.2 kW knapsacks mounted petrol engine having 47.2 cc displacement and 7000 to 7500 rpm. The developed machine consists of power source, flexible shaft, bevel gear housing, blade, guard, windrower attachment. The performance evaluation of the portable maize forage harvester was studied on hybrid variety of Pratap Sankar-3 to ascertain the effect of number of teeth on blades (60, 80 and 120) and three blade speeds (2000, 4000 and 6000 rpm). The speed of operator increased with increase in blade speed and it was slightly more in 120 teeth blade as compared to 60 and 80 teeth. Field efficiency at 6000 rpm was 86.4 percent in 120 teeth blade as compared to 60 (79%) and 80 teeth 82%), respectively . The maximum fuel consumption (0.896 l/h) during field evaluation was observed at 6000 rpm for 60 teeth blade and minimum was observed at 2000 rpm for 120 teeth blade. The Cost of operation with portable forage harvester was found to be 3938 Rs /ha as compared to traditional method of Rs 8000 /ha.
Conveying efficiency, Field capacity, Fuel consumption maize, Portable forage harvester
