HORTICULTURAL/CROP FARM

MECHANISATION
lecture 2
(HOT443/CPT436)
BY
 
Muhammad Muhammad Makki, Ph.D
School of Engineering/Technology
BUPOLY, Jigawa State, Nigeria
[email protected]
07037718438
 FEATURES AND USES OF FARM EQUIPMENT

Objectives:
1.Describe tillage implements.
2.Explain operation principles of the
various tillage machineries and
equipment.
3.Understand basic terms used in tillage.
4.Understand seed drills and planters
calculation.
TILLAGE MACHINERY AND IMPLEMENTS
Tillage machinery and implements refers to the tillage implements
that are first used to open or loosen the soil w preparing it to
receive seeds.
TYPES OF TILLAGE MACHINERY
1. Primary tillage machinery: The ploughs are primary tillage
implements unlike simple farm tools that used initially to break and
turn the soil-over in the course preparing it for planting.
The purpose of soil tillage is to provide:
(a) Suitable seed-bed for seed germination and emergence,
(b) Easy water infiltration,
(c) Better soil aeration or air movement,
(d) Control of weeds,
(e) Erosion control
(f) To work organic matter into the soil, and
(g) Adverse environment for soil inhabiting pathogens and pests.
TYPES OF PLOUGHS
1.  moldboard plough
2. chisel plough,
3. disc plough.
The  mouldboard amongst other parts, has the cutter and share
for cutting and mouldboard for inverting the soil.
The disc plough has discs or concave metal blades that cut into
the and turn it over. The discs are mounted on frames called
disc standards.
The disc plough is better and more adapted to Nigerian soils
than the mouldboard plough.
The ploughs are usually attached to be pulled by the tract Work
animals such as bullocks can also be used to pull plough for
land cultivation.
2. SECONDARY TILLAGE MACHINERY AND
IMPLEMENTS:
This refers to tillage implements used to cultivate the
soil after the ploughs have initially been used.
The purposes of secondary types of tillage machinery
include:
1.To break down the large solid clods obtained from
primary tillage.
2.Kill the weeds further.
3. Incorporate fertilizer into the soil,
4. Produce suitable tilt or soil structure for seeds.

The secondary tillage machinery includes the harrows,

ridgers, cultivators, rotavators and rollers.
TYPES OF HARROWS TILLAGE
IMPLEMENTS ARE IN EXISTENCE
They include:
1. The disc harrow
2. Spike toothed harrow
3. Spring tine harrow and
4. Tandem disc harrow
Ridgers tillage machinery and implement:
The ridger is an implement that is used to turn the soil in one direction after
ploughing to form ridges. Crops such as yam, cassava and potato can be sown
thereafter.
Types of ridges
These are the disc ridger and mouldboard ridger.
The two ridgers work in the same way. However, the disc ridger is better for use
in Nigerian soils, this is because the soil contains obstacles such as stumps, roots
and stones.
At times, the soils are sticky and disc ridger can effectively work in such
conditions without frequent breakdown.
The disc ridger consists of opposed concave discs which actually make the ridges.
The discs are fitted to mental frame called standard.
This was bolted to a bigger frame called beam. The ridger was attached to the
tractor during field operation. The mouldboard ridger has features common to
the disc ridger. It however has concave or convex blades used to turn the soil in
order to form ridges.
Cultivator tillage machinery and implements :
The cultivator is a secondary tillage implement. It
is attached to the tractor during field operation. It
consists of several tines used to stir the soil and
breakdown soil clods.
The cultivator is also used for weed combing, and
dragging out stones and tree roots from the soil.
The implement can be used for weeding and
incorporating fertilizer into the soil after
broadcast.
Rotavator tillage machinery:
This is also a secondary tillage implement that has set of rotating
blades. It breaks up soil clods and farm thrashes are chopped up in
the process for easy decomposition.
Seed drills:
These machines can be operated by
tractor or by hand. They drop or plant
seeds and in some cases, discharge
fertilizer at the same time. Most seed drills
plant crops in row. They are set up to plant
seeds at appropriate rate and distance.
Crops such as maize, rice wheat, barley,
rye, oat and beans all can be planted using
the drills.
Planters:
These are machines designed to plant seeds. Some of them are built to plant one
type of seed. Others can plant more than one type of crop. This is achieved by
changing the plates.
The planter built to plant seeds in rows with enough distance between the stands is
referred to as row planter. Some plant are able to plant seeds and distribute
fertilizer at the same time
The planters can be mounted on a tractor or trailed
Lathes:
The lathe is a machine that is used for holding
and turning wood or metal into different
shapes. Today, there many different lathes used
for all types of shaping of mi materials.
The kinds of lathes developed from the centre
lathe capstan lathes, turrel lathes, cropping
lathes, automatic lathe and special purpose-
lathes. In the school workshop, the operations
are turning, facing, drilling, boring, parting,
knurl! and sometimes screw cutting.
Motor-saw or powered chain-saw:
This is a machine consists of a small petrol engine, steel blade and chain round the blade.
The chain rotates during operation and is the cut edge of the machine. The motor-saw
has two handles for handling and positioning during use. The machine is becoming
popular among small scale farmers because:
(i) It is used in cutting down (felling) trees during farming preparation.
(ii) It is used in felling and cutting timber trees into logs.
(iii) Also used to split logs into planks.
(iv) It is used in trimming the big branches of trees.
Harvesters:
These are machines designed for the harvesting of ripe and mature crops from the field.
Common harvest machines as types tillage implements :
(i) Combine harvester,
(ii) Forage harvesters.
(iii)Corn pickers
(iv) Balers,
(v) cotton scrippers and
(vi) Field mowers.
The combine harvester is commonly used in commercial farms for the harvesting of
cereals such as rice, maize, wheat, barley As the name suggests, the combine cuts the
standing crops, separates the seeds from the chaff, and collects the grains tank while tank
while the crop residues are thrown Held. These activities are completed in one operation.
The forage harvesters are machines used in cutting forage crops (grasses and legumes) for
making silage to be kept for feeding animals during the dry season.
The field mowers (weeders) are machines used to cut grasses for hay making. They are
also used for clearing farms lawns and parks. Most field mowers are designed in rows.
Examples are the blade mower and the drum mower.
Sprayer
This is a machine consisting of tank where chemical is stored pump, spray booms and nozzles.
The sprayer is used for:
1. Applying herbicides, insecticides and fungicides.
2. Watering crops
3. Applying liquid fertilizers.
4. Applying hormones to increase fruit yield or prevent dropping of fruits.
TYPES OF SPRAYERS
There are three types of sprayer:
1. The simple knapsack sprayer:
This can take between nine and twenty-three litres of solution. It is usually mounted and
tipped to the back of the operator during field operation.
2.The tractor mounted sprayer:
This is attached to the tractor during field operation. The sprayer is operated by the power
take-off or P.T.O.
3. The knapsack engine operated:
This type is made of plastic tank for the liquid chemical and uses petrol as Its source power. As
in the simple knapsack, the operator i the spray boom to the crops or objects to be sprayed.
Spraying with chemicals should not be done during bad weather. The chemicals left after
spraying exercise must not be poured in places where they can contaminate vegetables, and
drinking water
Protective covers should be used by the operator during field operation. Sprayers should be
washed, cleaned after use, and a safe place until when needed.
DUSTERS:
Duster is a kind of sprayer machine that is used for spraying chemicals at larger areas of farmland. These are generally
appropriate for spraying pesticides in the form of dust and chemicals to protect the plants and crops. 
Types of dusters:
1. Knapsack Type Duster:
Knapsack Type Dusters are widely suitable for small areas. It is carried at the back of the shoulder. Knapsack Duster is
designed with container carrying powder that is easy to handle and operated. This is also very easy and accurate and
can be moved from one place to another. 
2. Power Operated Duster:
Powder operated Duster is also widely suitable for spraying chemicals at the powder form in larger areas. Powder
Operated Duster is available with several features like a hopper, delivery spout, and a fan. Due to the function of the
fan, the air of the dust regulates and flows in a vertically or horizontally form.  
3. Rotary Duster:
Rotary Dusters are also available in different forms for the use of the agrarian sector.  Rotary Hand Dusters are used to
spray chemicals in powder form. Rotary hand-operated duster comes with different features like handle, gearbox, a
fan, hopper, delivery hose, and a deflector plate. To apply powdery chemicals on sorghum, vegetables and different
types of crops vegetation rotary duster is widely useful. 
4. Plunger Type Duster:
Plunger Type Duster is available with a small piston form. In such kinds of Dusters, small hand pump dusters are easily
available and are widely used in areas of small vegetable gardens.  
5. Crop Duster or Ariel Duster:
As the name identifies, ariel duster is widely used for spraying chemicals or dusting through aircraft at larger areas. It is
used in those areas when the application of pesticides is effective in larger areas to avoid the need for wheeled
vehicles that can damage crops.
Popular  Implement Dusters Brand
i. Mitra Storm Duster:
ii. Cima Duster:
Sprayers mainly spray the water as showers whereas the duster only pushes the water in single go. This is the main
light difference between sprayer and the duster.
The calculation of (a) Seed drills and planters; (b) Fertilizer spreaders; (c) Crop
sprayers and dusters e.g. boom sprayer and knap sack sprayers; (d) Harvesters

• 𝑆𝑒𝑒𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑅𝑎𝑡𝑒 (𝑙𝑏𝑠 𝑎𝑐) = 𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑡 𝑝𝑜𝑝𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 (𝑠/𝑚2 ) × 𝑇𝐾𝑊 (𝑔) 𝑔𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 (%) ⁄ ×
0.89

Barley with a thousand kernel weight (TKW) of 46 grams and a germination of 90% is
being planted at a target population of 400 seeds/m2 . Using the formula, we
calculate the seeding rate at 182 lbs/acre. 𝑆𝑒𝑒𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑅𝑎𝑡𝑒 = 400 × 46 90 × 0.89

Recommended Plant Populations Crop Target Plant Population Plants/m2 Plants/ac (x

1,000)
Barley 350 – 400 1,400 – 1,600
Wheat 375 – 450 1,500 – 1,800
Oats 325 - 375 1,300 – 1,500
Soybeans 32 - 42 130 - 170
Peas 75 – 125 303 – 506.

• Sprayers and dusters are calculated based on volume (liters) per unit time
(discharge) per hectare or meter square or acre.