Development of a Fertilizer Applicator and Automatic Distance Measure to Dig a Hole Attached to a Tractor for Planting Banana

Abstract

A prototype of fertilizer applicator and automatic distance measure to dig a hole attached to a tractor for planting banana was developed. The machine was attached to 34 hp tractor by means of PTO (power take off) shaft and three points linkage. Power was transferred to the reduction gear box to drive the borehole drill set. While the fertilizer spreader was driven through the chain of the ground wheel to spread manure on both left and right sides of the fertilizer bin via a screw conveyor. The distance between holes was automatically determined by using a rotary encoder attached to the ground wheel and sending an electrical signal to the Arduino Uno microcontroller to process the rotation distance of the ground wheel. The desired planting distance can be set which would send a digital signal to the horn’s relay. When the horn sound the driver would stop tractor and start to dig a hole for planting bananas. The test results showed that at the 1.55 g/cm³ soil bulk density and 15.97% (dry basis) soil moisture content, the machine had average working capacity of 0.28 rai/hr. with fuel consumption of 9.16 l./rai, with 88.48% accuracy. Using a fertilizer applicator and automatic distance measure to dig a hole attached to a tractor for planting banana will have a break-even point of 98.67 rai./year, that is the farmer or contractor will have to operate with a machine at least 99 rai./year for a period of 8 years.