Performance of Power Tiller Mounted Boom Sprayer

Abstract

A power tiller mounted boom sprayer having six nozzles was tested and evaluated in the laboratory of the Department of Farm Power and Machinery, BAU, Mymensingh. A centrifugal pump driven by the engine flywheel through a V-belt was used to supply the spray liquid to the nozzle. The nozzle pressure was dependent on the speed of the engine. Maximum pressure of 0.8 kg/cm² was obtained at an engine speed of 2000 rpm. A maximum throughput of 174 l/hr was obtained at the pressure of 0.8 kg/cm² and a minimum of 140 l/hr was obtained at a pressure of 0.44 kg/cm². The drift increased with the increase in wind speed. The drift was 1.63% and 7.45% at the wind speed of 2 m/s and 10 m/s, respectively. The spray deposition per unit area was dependent on the forward speed of the power tiller. During the tests, the deposition rates were 400 l/ha and 455 l/ha at the engine speed of 2000 rpm and 1480 rpm, respectively. Deposition rate increased with the decrease in fluid level in the tank. A constant throughput could not be maintained by changing the engine speed because of non-linear relationship between the rate of change of discharge and the forward speed. The cost of construction of the power tiller mounted sprayer was TK. 5000 and the operating cost per hectare was Tk.135.