Mechanization in agriculture & Conserving of the resources
Vol. 67 (2023), Issue 3

Table of Contents

  • MECHANIZATION IN AGRICULTURE

    • Experimental study of the transportation process bulk materials of agro-industrial production by pneumatic auger conveyor

      pg(s) 76-78

      The article presents the developed experimental installation of a pneumatic screw conveyor and a research methodology for determining the power indicators that arise when moving bulk materials from the effects of air pressure and the volume of various types of bulk materials. Graphic dependences of the moving cargo effort on air pressure and the action of moving different bulk materials on their volume at constant air pressure are built. The dependences of the productivity of the pneumatic screw conveyor on the change in the area of the hopper opening, the rotational speed of the screw feeder and the value of the working air pressure in the technological line are established.

    • Combined unit of small mechanization, experimental calculations and its advantages

      pg(s) 79-81

      The article discusses the designs of small-scale mechanization technical means that are used in Georgia, namely, agricultural machinery installed on moto blocks, the scale and advantages of their use compared to powerful machinery and based on a patent (No. AP 2020 15395), completely new combined aggregate is presented as part of a moto block, which is currently in demand in the context of the development of modern technologies for growing crops on the market. In particular, in small areas and greenhouses. The article proposes a constructive description of the presented combined aggregate and the principles of its operation. Theoretical waste was also carried out using similarity and dimensionality theories. The functional relationship between the optimization parameters and the operating factors is determined and the regression equation is selected, on the basis of which the optimal operating modes are determined.

    • Assessment of stability of a forest tractor with a hydraulic arm

      pg(s) 82-85

      Forests tractors are inseparable part of a forest economy. Forests tractors serve for logging of logs in forests. Current forests tractors are usually equipped by hydraulic arms, which allow to expand the utility of a tractor. A tractor with a hydraulic arm is able to handle with wood logs without a need additional forest machine, which helps to reduce costs. On the other hand, it is necessary to analyse tractors abilities, which has such an additional equipment. This article is focused on assessment of stability of a forest tractor, which is equipped by such a hydraulic arm. It is a newly designed forest tractor which smaller dimensions, which is intended to be used in conditions with requirements for lower contact pressure and better manoeuvrability. As the hydraulic arm changes the centre of gravity of an entire tractor, mainly with the load, safe operation of the tractor needs to know limit conditions of stability under the maximal load and in the given slope inclination.

    • Experimental study of the driving resistance of a harrow with screw working bodies

      pg(s) 86-88

      The article presents the construction and manufacturing of working screw harrow bodies, as well as the developed experimental setup for experimental studies, presents the methodology of research to determine the traction resistance of the working body. The variations of traction resistance force Px from the speed of harrow movement V, at different values of the angle of attack β of working screw bodies and working depth h are plotted.

    • Design and strength analysis of the end carriage beam for the single girder bridge crane of a 500 kg load capacity

      pg(s) 89-94

      Overhead cranes are used in production halls, industrial buildings, transshipment yards, automobile factories, as well as in agricultural warehouses. The end carriage is an essential part of any overhead crane. Special attention is focused on the end carriage beam, which is a fundamental component of the end carriage in terms of load and strength. The introductory part of the paper aims to introduce the crane issues, particularly with respect to bridge cranes. The paper attends to the design of the end carriage beam for a single girder bridge crane with a 500 kg load carrying capacity including a strength analysis of the proposed beam. On the basis of the input load data of the end carriage beam and dimensions of area on which the main girder is placed on the end carriage beam, the minimum section modulus in bending was determined through the Allowable Stress Method as a critical parameter for the selection of the end carriage beam. The calculated value of the minimum section modulus in bending is 1416.18 mm3, based on which the U4O beam profile of S235 JR material was selected. One of the objectives is to create a 3D CAD model of the proposed end carriage beam and subsequently perform FEM analysis of the beam using Ansys engineering simulation software. The purpose of the analysis is to determine the maximum bending stress and maximum deflection of the end carriage beam. The results of the FEA analysis demonstrate that the proposed beam is satisfactory in terms of allowable stress and deflection. Moreover, the beam designed in this manner along with the numerical simulation results provides a precondition of its possible future production.

    • Implementation of digital penetrometer S600 skokagro in the technology of precision and digital agriculture

      pg(s) 95-97

      The paper presents the method of combining the results of soil compaction, which were obtained by the penetrometer of Ukrainian production S 600, into the software of digital agriculture. For example, it is shown how to enter the obtained soil compaction data into the AFS software.

    • Research and justification of automated monitoring of the microclimate of a farmer’s greenhouse

      pg(s) 98-101

      This article is a logical development of a previously implemented scientific project on the topic “Development of energy-saving technology for year-round production and processing of fruit and vegetable products based on multifunctional solar dryers-greenhouses” (State Registration No. 0111RK00488, inv. No. 0212RK01775, for 2012-2015, the amount of funding is 40 million tenge) under the budget program 055 “scientific and/or scientific and technical activities, subprogram 100 “Program-targeted financing, under the program “Targeted development of university science focused on innovative results”.
      Goal. Substantiation and development of a system of automated remote monitoring of the microclimate (lighting) of a farmer’s greenhouse, providing the most comfortable conditions for the growth and development of plants in the production of fruit and vegetable products using information technology to obtain a high yield of products at the lowest cost.
      In winter, cultivated plants experience stress from a lack of natural light, which leads to a significant decrease in yield. In this regard, additional artificial lighting in the greenhouse allows the producer to extend the growing season and grow plants all year round or allows the producer to start sowing in early spring and continue the season until the first frost. Plants need about 10-12 hours of light to improve growth. When growing flowers or fruits, the additional need for light per day increases to 16 hours (5).
      At the same time, the automation of this process will eliminate the concern that the lighting is in order and during its absence displays monitoring data on the display, or with the help of LEDs notifies about critical values of climatic parameters, or transmits data via the Internet to a tablet or phone for subsequent decision-making.
      The article is aimed at meeting the demand of the population, farmers in the purchase of equipment adapted to local conditions, cheaper in cost and installation compared to analogues. The equipment attracts with its ease of manufacture and further operation.

  • CONSERVING OF THE RESOURCES

    • Comparison of tillage technologies in relation to changes in soil properties using soil biostimulation

      pg(s) 102-104

      Climate change is causing problems for farmers almost throughout Europe, particularly in the area of soil drought. The current soil situation in Slovakia and Europe is not favourable. Declining cattle numbers are causing a shortage of organic fertiliser, soil degradation is occurring, as is soil compaction with high weight agricultural machinery causing changes in the bulk density of the soil and its penetrometric resistance. The aim of this paper is to point out the possibilities of prevention against soil degradation. In this paper we compare the effect of conventional technology and soil conservation technology in combination with soil biostimulation on the change of soil condition.

    • Methodical approach to determine the gamma-percentage resource of aggregates and units of forklift trucks

      pg(s) 105-108

      Increasing the efficiency of machine usage for transport services in agricultural holdings can be achieved by creating stocks of aggregates and units in company warehouses based on a predetermined gamma-percentage of available resources.
      This study proposes a methodical approach to determine the 80% of gamma-percentage resource for forklift elements, considering both known and unknown distribution laws for their resources. It includes truncated and repeatedly truncated samples.
      The results obtained from this study can be utilized for planning purposes and establishing stock levels to ensure the operational readiness of Bulgarian forklifts.

    • Characterization of lettuce germplasm (Lactuca sativa L.) stored in the Genetic Bank of Albania

      pg(s) 109-112

      Lettuce is an important leafy vegetable for Albanians. It is mostly used as a fresh salad. There are several forms (species) of lettuce that are cultivated in Albania, but Albanian farmers cultivate and market mostly the farmer’s cultivars (landraces), which are cultivars adapted to the conditions of the country and to the farming practice of the farmer. The introduction of foreign lettuce species increases the risk of genetic erosion of the farmer’s cultivars. Through various projects, cultivars of the salad farmer have been collected and their seeds are stored in the country’s Genetic Bank. This study was undertaken to recognize the morphological characteristics, as well as to evaluate the genetic variation of these genotypes with the aim of increasing the effectiveness of their using in possible genetic improvement programs, as well as other studies. In the study, 10 accessions (farmer cultivars) collected in different areas of Albania and stored in the Genetic Bank were taken.