Mechanization in agriculture & Conserving of the resources
Vol. 69 (2025), Issue 1

Table of Contents

  • MECHANIZATION IN AGRICULTURE

    • Sweetcorn grain production technology

      pg(s) 3-5

      The presented research results concern the amount of work and energy incurred in the grain production technology and the aspect of the quality of separating grain from the cob cores. The dynamic increase in the area of sweet corn cultivation for processing purposes (canning, freezing) affects the fact that manual harvesting is increasingly being replaced by combine harvesting. It ensures higher and energy-efficient work efficiency, as well as harvesting at the optimal stage of ripeness, which is particularly important in the case of sweet corn. Sweet corn cobs of the Candle variety were harvested with a Bourgoin combine harvester at the stage of late-milk maturity, and then subjected to processing consisting in de-shirting and cutting off the grain The quality requirements of the separated grain are, m.in: smooth surface and equal length of the cut grains, no mechanical damage and low losses of weight and nutrients. The quality of the separated (cut) grain was analyzed by measuring the length and surface condition of the cut grain. Grain with weight losses was classified as grain of inferior quality. The grains were cut off on a cutter for variables ranging from 167.5 to 301.2 rad/s angular velocity of the knife head and constant linear speed of the cob feeder 0.31 m/s. For comparison purposes, grain is divided into three classes. The workload incurred for the combine cob harvesting was the highest for post-harvest processing of cobs – 31% and soil cultivation – 27%, and energy expenditures for soil cultivation – 341 kWh/ha and for combine harvesting – 285 kWh/ha. The length of the cut grain increased by 26% in class I, and decreased by 14% in class II and by 11% in class III. On the other hand, the share of grain of inferior quality decreased in class I by 5%, in class II by 7% and in class II by 3%.

    • Restoration of working bodies and parts of agricultural machinery by submerged arc welding using a modified installation using local raw materials

      pg(s) 6-8

      The article studies the process of restoration of worn parts of agricultural machinery by submerged arc welding, defines similarity criteria characterizing this restoration process and revealing their physical essence. A technique has been developed and a general criteria equation has been obtained for determining and optimizing the hardness of the resulting metal coatings, which is the scientific basis for conducting targeted experiments. For surfacing of plowshares and other parts under flux, the existing standard installation was modified in order to automate the process and increase productivity, and several devices were manufactured taking into account the shape of the working elements being restored. Experimental studies were conducted as a result of which an analytical form of the criterial equation was obtained and rational modes for restoring parts during electric arc surfacing under flux were established. The composition and structure of the obtained metal coatings were studied and different compositions were proposed as new fluxes. obtained in Georgia using the remains of manganese processing in the city of Chiatura.

    • Harmonization of maintenance systems for agrorobots and aggregated equipment

      pg(s) 9-12

      The paper presents an analysis of the maintenance system of the powertrain component of the Omni Power agrorobot and the Seed Master seeder, which is aggregated. It is shown that the specified equipment has different maintenance systems, the regulations of which are inconsistent with each other. The results of the calculations of forces in the moving connections of the seeder in the case of the use of carbon- plastic parts are presented. It is indicated that carbon-plastic details have a safety margin coefficient of 4.2 to 6.5 under different operating conditions. The results of field tests of the seeder, equipped with experimental parts developed at the Dnipro State Agrarian and Economic University, are presented. It is shown that the use of such parts does not require maintenance, and their replacement is advisable when the seeder works for 3500 hours. Thus, if the developed parts are used in the equipment that will be aggregated with the Omni Power agrorobot, the harmonization of the maintenance systems of the energy part of the agrorobot structure and equipment will be achieved.

    • Innovative biomass distribution module for increased productivity and reduced losses in crop harvesting

      pg(s) 13-16

      This article is based on the project “Establishing the Production of an Efficient and Innovative Biomass Distribution Module to Enhance Productivity and Reduce Losses of the Productive Part of Agricultural Crops”. The grain industry in Kazakhstan is dominated by three major producers: Zernovoy Konsortsium Kazakhstana LLP, Atameken Agro JSC, and Olja Agro LLP, collectively managing over one million hectares of agricultural land. To enhance support for the agricultural sector, the Grain Corporation of Kazakhstan must revise its quality standards for grain production. This study introduces an innovative approach aimed at minimizing crop losses and improving grain quality during the harvesting process. The proposed solution is an advanced biomass distribution module (BDM), designed to meet both structural and operational requirements for efficient and high-quality crop harvesting. The module integrates modern sensor technologies for real-time biomass identification and adaptive distribution mechanisms and is compatible with existing harvesting equipment. The BDM is engineered to optimize harvest efficiency while reducing losses of productive crop biomass, aligning with the goal of improving the economic and environmental sustainability of agricultural operations. The technology is poised to support the production of high-value agricultural products with significant export potential. The company “Activator Obmolota” plans to implement these innovative Kazakhstan-based technologies, which have been patented in nine countries. This article details the design, functionality, and projected impact of the biomass distribution module on improving agricultural productivity, reducing crop losses, and promoting sustainability within the sector.

    • Methodology for determining the apple variety based on computer processing of digital images

      pg(s) 17-19

      This paper presents the development and experimental validation of a method for automatic identification of apple varieties based on the analysis of visual features extracted from digital images. The proposed approach uses classical computer vision techniques without applying neural networks or deep learning, which makes the system interpretable, lightweight, and reproducible for laboratory and industrial use.
      The algorithm includes the stages of image acquisition, preprocessing, object segmentation, feature extraction, and classification using statistical models such as Support Vector Machines (SVM), k-Nearest Neighbors (k-NN), and logistic regression. The extracted features include geometric parameters (area, perimeter, circularity, eccentricity, axis ratio) and color characteristics (mean HSV values, red color percentage, hue distribution).
      Experimental validation was performed on a dataset containing five apple varieties: Sinap Almaty, Fuji, Brebourne, Gold Delicious, and Hybrid. The system achieved an average classification accuracy of 90%, with the highest results for varieties with distinctive morphological or color characteristics. Comparative analysis with manual sorting demonstrated significant advantages in terms of processing speed, objectivity, and scalability.
      The proposed method can be implemented on compact single-board computers, making it suitable for mobile quality control stations and automated sorting lines. Future work includes the integration of weight and texture parameters and the expansion of the variety database for broader applicability.

    • Improved technology for harvesting root crop tops with a combined machine-tractor unit

      pg(s) 20-22

      The key problem in the technological process of harvesting any root crops is the removal and harvesting of tops from their heads on the root. Root crop tops are a valuable product, such as a source of animal feed, green fertiliser, and a suitable raw material for biogas production, and therefore a prerequisite for harvesting them is to completely cut off all the green mass from the heads, collect it in a vehicle and transport it to the place of use. The main thing is to ensure that root crops do not have green plant residues on their heads, that the heads themselves are not damaged and that they are not knocked out of the soil. The purpose of this study is to develop and test in production conditions a new combined unit for harvesting root crop tops using an integrated arable wheeled tractor. This study used the methods of machine use in crop production, methods of experimental research and field testing of agricultural machines and evaluation of their performance indicators. As a result of the study, a new design and technological scheme for harvesting root crop tops using an integrated arable wheeled tractor of traction class 3 was developed and substantiated. The developed and tested unit performs the technological process steadily and has sufficiently high quality indicators of the tops harvesting. Thus, when using a three-row version of the tops harvesting unit, the amount of cut tops is about 95…98%. The degree of damage to the heads of root crops does not exceed the norms established by agricultural requirements (no more than 5%). However, during the operation of this tops harvester, there is too high a percentage (60…65%) of grinding of tops leaves during its continuous cutting and loading without spear.

    • Historical research of the beginning of developments in the field of agrochemical services for agro-industrial production at the UNDIMESGU in the middle of the twentieth century

      pg(s) 23-25

      Agrochemical services for agricultural production have one of the main components related to the application of mineral fertilizers to the soil. Therefore, it is an important factor in significantly increasing the yield of crops. At the same time, not only the types of mineral fertilizers used and the dose of their application have a significant impact on the yield, but also the machines and devices that apply them. The Ukrainian Research Institute of Mechanization and Electrification of Agriculture (UNDIMESG) began to study this scientific and technical problem in depth in the middle of the last century. One of the founders of this area of scientific and design activity is rightfully considered to be Candidate of Technical Sciences, Honored Agricultural Engineer of Ukraine, a student of Academician Petro Vasylenko – Sokolov V. M. But from the very beginning of his work at UNDIMESGU, this scientist worked fruitfully in the field of soil cultivation, carefully studying the coulter systems of seeders, active milling cultivators, and developing designs for tractor trailers, including spreaders and distributors of agricultural materials. Later, these developments were used to create mineral fertilizer spreaders, when the institute had already established a scientific laboratory for the application of mineral fertilizers and chemical ameliorants. Since then, the scientific school created by V. Sokolov has successfully researched these processes of agrochemical maintenance, which made it possible to create new theories that are recognized worldwide, to obtain a large number of patents for inventions in Ukraine, and to develop and implement numerous designs of machines for applying mineral fertilizers into mass production. This scientific research and the first design developments that began almost 70 years ago at UNDIMESGU still bear the marks of that thorough approach, when everything that is researched must be implemented in modern high-tech agriculture.

  • CONSERVING OF THE RESOURCES

    • Mobile installation of a low-pressure drip irrigation system with photovoltaic panels

      pg(s) 26-29

      Currently Uzbekistan has widely adopted drip irrigation systems on large-scale agricultural lands (1-100 hectares or more), and smaller plots cultivated by households and individuals for essential food production often lack this technology. To address this disparity, a novel mobile drip irrigation system incorporating photovoltaic panels has been engineered. This integrated solution is self-sufficient, requiring no external power source, and offers versatility suitable for both rural and urban settings. Its mobility allows for easy deployment on small plots (up to 1 hectare) commonly used for household gardens, suburban areas, and greenhouses. The integration of photovoltaic panel complexes with low-pressure mobile drip irrigation systems holds significant potential for ensuring a dependable water supply to agricultural crops. This innovative technology is particularly well-suited for regions facing water scarcity, such as Uzbekistan, Central Asia, and other arid zones globally, enabling sustainable agriculture practices even in the context of climate change.

    • Soil treatment – factors determining quality

      pg(s) 30-32

      The main groups of factors / soil-climatic, agrotechnical, technological and organizational / influencing the quality of the main and pre-sowing tillage of the soil and the relationships between them are examined.
      The results obtained show that compliance with the main groups of factors and good organization of work improve the quality of the main and pre-sowing tillage, reduce the costs of their implementation and increase yields.