NOVEL TECHNOLOGIES FOR PRECISION AGRICULTURE IN FARM

MACHINERY DEVELOPED AT IIT KHARAGPUR

Presented at

Conference on Innovation in Agricultural Mechanization

Vigyan bhavan, New Delhi
On 7th- 8th July 2016

by
Dr. V.K Tewari
Professor & Head of the Department

Agricultural and Food Engineering Department

Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur
Kharagpur (W.B)-721302, India
 Automatic variable rate fertilizer applicator
 Fertilizers account 50% of the total agricultural expenditure.

 Conventional methods of application, result in

excessive loss ex. Broadcasting etc.
 Real time estimation of soil nutrient has been
a big hurdle for actual amount of their
application.
 A Variable rate technology (VRT) with map
based approach, sensors and Global
positioning systems (GPS) was developed.
 Equipment maps the fertilizer requirement at
any location and required amount of fertilizer
is applied by means of mechatronic actuations
GPS and controller.

 The technology thus variably and automatically applies fertilizer as per requirement and
highly cuts down the fertilizer wastage upto 35% as in conventional approaches
 Comparison between expected and actual observed values of fertilizer
application rate

The minimal difference in the predicted and actual value of fertilizer applied indicates the accurate
functioning of the system

Farm Implement and Machinery, AgFE Department, IIT Kharagpur

Ultrasonic sensors based automatic spraying systems for orchards
 Conventional approach of infection eradication in orchard crops have been hazardous due to
excess chemical application
 An automatic sprayer based on ultrasonic sensing
was developed for target specific application

 Robust ultrasonic sensors detect the presence of tree

canopy and controller actuates the application
system

 The automatic sprayer sprays only on tree canopy

and remains deactivated in its absentia very unlike
constant sprayers

 Extensive involvement of mechatronic system makes

it robust and efficient applicator

 This automatic sprayer saves over 30% of chemical

spray as compared with conventional sprayers
Farm Implement and Machinery, AgFE Department, IIT Kharagpur
Testing of the sprayer unit at Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri

Test data

Farm Implement and Machinery, AgFE Department, IIT Kharagpur

 Self-propelled jute seed drill
 Jute is an important fiber crop for packaging and
household purposes.
 Hilly region also face problems of not able to have
heavy agricultural machinery for farming operations.
 Recent times have seen decline in popularity of jute
cultivation due to limited farming sources.
 A self propelled, light, hydraulically operated jute seed
drill was developed for jute seeding.
 This jute seed drill is a multipurpose equipment with
hydraulic system which can operate with a 5 tine
cultivator and other small equipment for soil
manipulation.

 This jute seed drill can easily be taken for easy operation in hilly areas and can be used for haulage
activities .
Farm Implement and Machinery, AgFE Department, IIT Kharagpur
 Microcontroller based sugarcane bud cutting machine
 Conventionally entire sugarcane is planted

 A 3mm bud of sugar cane bud is sufficient

for standard production.

 Conventional practices lose 80-90% of cane

sugar

 A precise automatic bud cutting machine

was developed to remove 3mm bud

 Factually entire sugarcane and its bud differ

in diameter which is sensed by developed
 As the sensing is achieved, Cutter arm is actuated for sensor
3mm bud removal by means of mechatronic system
 The sugarcane is automatically conveyed
 This automatic bud cutting machine contributes towards forward by means of motor driven rollers
minimum labor costs and capacitates for 90 canes/h thereby minimizing human intervention

Farm Implement and Machinery, AgFE Department, IIT Kharagpur

Power operated whole stalk sugarcane de-trasher
Sugarcane, one of the most important industrial crop gets its
stalk removed manually

Stalk cleaning consumes a huge amount of time in sugarcane

production

A simple, light weight and small stalk sugarcane de-trasher was

developed with rubber-protruded rollers driven by small motor.

This machine cleans stalk, 6.25 times higher than manual

average de-trashing amounting to 1300Kg/h

Minimum human intervention in this machine is a boon

towards the cheapest power consumption and minimum fatigue
and labor.
Farm Implement and Machinery, AgFE Department, IIT Kharagpur
 Test Results of the cane stalk De-trasher

The maximum detrashing of 90.78% was observed at 1500 rpm

 Maximum efficiency was found at the feeding is to de-trashing roller speed ratio of 1:3

 Higher output 1.62 t/h of the de-trasher was observed at 1600 rpm of the de-trashing
roller speed and 1067 rpm of feeding roller speed.

 Less (9.22%) of trash remained on sugarcane stalk after de-trashing operation at 1500
rpm of de-trashing roller and 500 rpm of feeding roller speed.

 Minimal efficiency of 79.53% were found at below 950 rpm of the de-trasher. i.e., of

Farm Implement and Machinery, AgFE Department, IIT Kharagpur

Microcontroller based uniform seed rate application system for efficient resource
utilization

Special features
Mechatronics transmission
system
 NO skid
 Uniform seed rate
application
 Optimum use of seeds

Electronic seed rate controller

 Easy adjustment of seed rate

Seed monitoring system

Farm Implement and Machinery, AgFE Department, IIT Kharagpur

 Block diagram of uniform seed rate application system
 Radar sensor measures the
operational speed

IR sensor
 A desired seed spacing along with
No. of seed cells in a metering plate
Radar Sensor
is fed as an input by the operator as
per the plantation

 Based on the operational speed and

operator input, the microcontroller
PWM based with motor controller regulates DC
Motor controller motor in order to achieve uniform
Micro controller
seed spacing.

 IR sensor detects the number of

seed missing

 Based on seed missing, the

microcontroller again regulates the
Seed metering device PMDC motor DC motor for uniformity.
Farm Implement and Machinery, AgFE Department, IIT Kharagpur
 Comparison with conventional planter
Parameter Conventional planter Newly developed planter
Transmission Ground wheel driven mechanical Electric motor driven mechatronic
system Transmission system. Transmission system.
High seed missing index which Uniform seed spacing which leads the
reduces the yield. better yield.
Saving of seeds
Variation of seed Difficult , by changing the gear ratios The seed rate can be adjusted easily by
rate of drives by interchanging the an electronic control system, which
sprockets. varies the motor speed.

Seed monitoring No yes

system
Cost [approximate] 35,000 45,000 (Modification cost = 15000/-)

Weight 70 kg same for both

Farm Implement and Machinery, AgFE Department, IIT Kharagpur

 Combination tillage implements
 Tillage consumes a maximum mechanical power
and fuel in an entire farming cycle.

 Conserving power and 100% source power

utilization is a big hurdle during soil manipulation

 Combination tillage implement technology was

developed for seedbed preparation in a single
tractor pass.

 Conventionally, primary and secondary tillage

consume double time and fuel with a less power
utilization.

 Tractor power utilization with the developed combination tillage implements was 85 to 90%
excluding 20% as power reserve contributing towards most economical tillage operations
Farm Implement and Machinery, AgFE Department, IIT Kharagpur
 Tractor operated powered disc harrow
 Aiming towards efficient soil manipulation along
with minimum fuel consumption and maximum
power utilization tractor operated power disc
harrow was developed

 The developed power disc harrow is the

combination type of two different kinds of tillage
implements such as rotavator and disc harrow.

 This implement highly compensates the combined

 The draft requirement was found to be 34% less operation of two different tillage implements,
than an unpowered mode of the same disc thereby minimizing fuel stress and maximizing
harrow, thereby reducing excess engine stress and power utilization efficacy for efficient field
resulting into an economical field preparation. preparation.

Farm Implement and Machinery, AgFE Department, IIT Kharagpur