Design and construction of a weeding machine for vegetables.

Abstract

The current trend is marching towards the rapid growth of the agricultural sector. To meet the future food demands, the farmers have to implement the new techniques which will not affect the soil texture but will increase the overall crop production. The aim of this project is design and construction of a weeding machine for vegetables. Chemical applications are mostly used than mechanical means but with many adverse effects such as soil infertility, impact on environment, contamination of air and non-target vegetation, etc. Necessary assumptions were made, standard formulae and basic principles of mechanical engineering were used during the major design components of the machine. Various steps and methods were used to carry out the project including literature survey which includes searching information from the internet, research, data analysis, material selection for the construction of parts, detailed design, fabrication of the components of the machine and assembly. The machine was tested for the time taken to weed, the weeding efficiency and the easiness. Since testing showed that the machine can perform at standard set parameters, it’s therefore suitable for the rural setting.