Performance Evaluation of an Engine-Operated Weeding Machine

Weeds constitute a serious problem to wheat crops and cause great loss the yield. Manual weeding is labor-intensive time-consuming. Chemical weed control has negative impact on both environment humans. Today agricultural sector requires non-chemical that safeguards consumers demand for high quality food products pay special attention safety. The objectives of study was evaluate performance an-engine operated weeder by evaluating efficiency, plant damage, effective field capacity, fuel consumption, index, energy cost economics engine in crop. experimental design randomized complete block (RCBD) evaluation conducted at three forward speeds (1.5, 2, 2.5 km/hr), two depths operation (from 0 20 from 40 mm), levels soil moisture content (9.4, 12.34 15.25%). found be optimum 15.25 percent with mm depth speed 1.5 km/hr. results revealed maximum efficiency 90.1 obtained lower damage 3.31 whereas consumption were 0.052 ha/hr, 85.99%, 0.41 l/hr, 276.78 ha/hp, 481.71 MJ/ha, respectively. analysis speed, operation, had significant effects P<0.05 level significance. per hectare 758 1920 ETB/ha engine-operated weeders traditional methods, Based results, it can concluded machine efficient, effective, economically viable option scope acceptability among small medium scale farmers. Keywords: Cost weeding, Energy Performance, Weeding DOI: 10.7176/JIEA/13-2-01 Publication date: March 31 st 2023