Performance Evaluation and Cost Economics of a Power-Operated Maize Dehusker cum Sheller for Small and Marginal Farmers
Akshay Kinge
Department of Farm Machinery and Power Engineering, Dr. Annasaheb Shinde College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri-413 722, Maharashtra, India and Division of Agricultural Engineering, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi-110 012, India.
T. B. Bastewad
Department of Farm Machinery and Power Engineering, Dr. Annasaheb Shinde College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri-413 722, Maharashtra, India.
S. C. Bhangare
Department of Farm Machinery and Power Engineering, Dr. Annasaheb Shinde College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri-413 722, Maharashtra, India.
S. M. Nalawade
Department of Farm Machinery and Power Engineering, Dr. Annasaheb Shinde College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri-413 722, Maharashtra, India.
Rohit Gaddamwar *
Division of Agricultural Engineering, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi-110 012, India.
Pavan Panzade
ICAR–National Institute of Abiotic Stress Management (NIASM), Baramati, Maharashtra–413 115, India.
Anjani Kumar Yadav
Division of Agricultural Engineering, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi-110 012, India.
Diwakar Tiwari
ICAR–National Institute of Abiotic Stress Management (NIASM), Baramati, Maharashtra–413 115, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aims: To evaluate the performance of a small, single-phase electric maize dehusker cum sheller at three feed rates and to estimate its cost of operation with that of manual dehusking and shelling.
Study Design: A two-factor factorial experiment (three feed rates × three independent trials) with three one-hour replications, giving 27 test runs.
Place and Duration of Study: AICRP on Farm Implements and Machinery and Dairy Farm, Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri, Maharashtra, India, 2022–2023.
Methodology: The machine (1.5 kW motor; two-bar cylinder of 154 mm diameter at 1366 rpm; spring-loaded rod concave; straight-blade blower) was tested with maize cv. Rajarshi at a grain moisture content of 15.5 % (w.b.) and feed rates of 300, 350 and 400 kg cobs h−1 following IS 6284. Capacity, efficiencies and loss components were analysed using analysis of variance, and the cost of operation was estimated in accordance with IS 9164.
Results: Dehusking efficiency was 100 % in every run. Raising the feed rate from 300 to 400 kg h−1 increased grain output from 212.1 to 277.3 kg h−1 (R2 = 0.98; P < .001). Shelling efficiency fell marginally from 99.34 to 99.20 % and cleaning efficiency from 98.64 to 98.27 % (P < .001). Unthreshed grain rose from 0.66 to 0.79 %, whereas the proportion of broken grain (0.38 to 0.28 %) and blower loss (2.06 to 1.51 %) declined, so that total loss fell from 3.10 to 2.58 % (P < .001). Blower loss accounted for 58–67 % of the total loss. The machine cost Rs 37,360 to build and dehusked and shelled maize at Rs 0.43 kg−1 against Rs 7.62 kg−1 by hand, cutting labour from 20.3 to 0.72 man-h per 100 kg of grain. The payback period was 0.76 years, the benefit–cost ratio 2.33, and the break-even use 41 h yr−1.
Conclusion: A feed rate of 400 kg h−1 gave the highest output and the lowest total loss with a small reduction in cleaning efficiency. The machine is technically reliable and economically attractive for small and marginal farmers and for custom hiring.
Keywords: Maize, dehusker cum sheller, feed rate, shelling efficiency, grain loss, cost of operation, break-even analysis, small farm mechanization