Development and Performance Evaluation of a Small-scale Maize Harvester for Developing Countries
Julus H. Vodounnou *
Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
Emmanuel A. Ajav
Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
Gontrand C. Bagan
School of Rural Engineering, National University of Agriculture, Porto-Novo, Benin Republic.
Victorin K. Chegnimonhan
Thermics and Energy Laboratory of Nantes, National Centre for Scientific Research, UMR 6604, Nantes 44300, France.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
A small-scale maize harvester was designed and fabricated for developing countries and is composed of a harvester header, a chain conveyor, a drive power unit and a five-wheel tricycle. Fabrication of components was made and assembling of the devices on the tricycle was done. The performance evaluation of the small-scale maize harvester was done at 15% kernels moisture content (wet basis). Three rotational speeds of the engine, 1347, 1521 and 1937 rpm were used, while the forward velocity of the harvester was kept at an average of 0.617 km.hr-1. The testing experiment revealed significant effect of physical properties of maize (p<0,05). The highest machine capacity was obtained at 0.05 ha.hr-1, while the highest driving efficiency was 97.30% and the highest picking and conveying efficiencies were 84.11% and 98.21%, respectively. However, it was observed that the machine noise level decreased with increase in engine speed. Also, the engine speed affected both picking and conveying efficiencies. The designed machine is found suitable for most smallholder farms.
Keywords: Maize harvester, chain conveyor, ear-picker, conveying efficiency, tricycle.