Development and Performance Evaluation of Low HP Tractor Operated Wiper Sprayer

Abstract

Crop yields are reducing every year by pests and disease. Crop protection is essential to reduce loses of yield. At present, the plant protection methods are chemical, mechanical, biological, agronomical and biophysical types. Among these, most preferable one is chemical method of plant protection. India has a large and diverse agricultural sector which requires quite effective methods for spraying pesticides at a desired rate, in minimal time for reducing yield losses. Chemical protection plays a major role in agricultural production because of effective control of pest, disease and weed with minimal time and expenditure. It also reduces the number of labours requirement in the field and reduces human drudgery. Chemical protection is carried out by applying pesticides on crop by sprayers. The main function of sprayer is to atomize the spray fluid and distribute them uniformly over the crop to be protected. Another function is to regulate the amount of pesticides to avoid excessive application that might prove harmful or wasteful. Spraying techniques are World crop yields are reducing every year between 20 to 40% due to the damage wrought by plant pests and diseases. Crop protection is essential to reduce loses of yield. Among all the crop protection methods, chemical protection usage growing effectively as of its immediate action, low cost and reduces human drudgery. Chemical protection of crop carried out by dust or spray form. To spray pesticides on crop, low hp tractor operated wiper sprayer was developed instead of using conventional equipment to reduce operating cost, time and drudgery. In laboratory condition, uniformity coefficient of developed wiper sprayer was found to be 89.9 %. The average effective field capacity, field efficiency, fuel consumption and application rate of developed wiper sprayer in the field of groundnut was found to be 0.9072, 1.4899, 2.0618 ha h -1 , 80, 78.83, 77.92%, 1.513, 1.018, 0.815 l ha -1