J. Allahnouri; A. Marzban; M. Ghasemi-Nejad Raeini; M. Rahnama; M. Savari
Abstract
Agriculture is the most prominent industry in developing countries and also ranks as one of the most dangerous professions. Tractors and grain combine harvesters are two of the main self-propelled agricultural machines. Agricultural machines, despite their irreplaceable role in increasing productivity, ...
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Agriculture is the most prominent industry in developing countries and also ranks as one of the most dangerous professions. Tractors and grain combine harvesters are two of the main self-propelled agricultural machines. Agricultural machines, despite their irreplaceable role in increasing productivity, contribute significantly to agricultural accidents. This study was conducted to investigate the current rates and severity of accidents and human casualties related to agricultural tractors and grain combine harvesters in Ilam province, Iran. Evaluations were conducted using data from the years 2019-2023.Over these five years, the accident frequency for agricultural combines and tractors was 61 and 43, respectively, indicating a statistically significant difference. Among the tractor drivers in this research, the most frequent accidents occurred due to the power take-off shaft (P.T.O.), helices, and feeding rollers. Among combine drivers, accidents were most common at the shear points of the machine (cutter bars, gears, etc.). This research evaluated the factors affecting field accidents related to tractors and combines and estimated the accident rates. Accident rates, including AFR (Accident Frequency Rate), ASR (Accident Severity Rate), FIR (Fatal Incident Rate), and FSI (Frequent Severity Index), were calculated. The rates of AFR, ASR, FIR, and FSI were 25.84, 45.82, 1.66, and 1.066% for combine harvesters, and 5.60, 12.63, 4.44, and 0.262% for tractor accidents, respectively. The nonfatal rate for combine harvesters was 6445 per 100,000, and for agricultural tractors, it was 4334 per 100,000. Tractor accidents had a higher fatality rate than combine harvesters, with 445 fatalities per 100,000 for tractors compared to 333 per 100,000 for combine harvesters.
Agricultural waste management
M. Safari; M. A. Rostami
Abstract
IntroductionIn conventional combine harvesters, wheat chaff is typically removed from the end of the machine and deposited on the field surface. Depending on the wheat cultivar, cultivation method, and growing conditions, the amount of chaff produced can range from 0.8 to 1.5 times the amount of grain ...
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IntroductionIn conventional combine harvesters, wheat chaff is typically removed from the end of the machine and deposited on the field surface. Depending on the wheat cultivar, cultivation method, and growing conditions, the amount of chaff produced can range from 0.8 to 1.5 times the amount of grain harvested per hectare (Tavakoli, 2012). On average, this translates to an annual production of approximately 14 million tons of chaff, which is valued at around $240000000 based on regional prices in 2018-2019 ($1000 per kilogram). If collected, these chaff residues could be used as animal feed for livestock. Additionally, the long stems protruding from the back of conventional combine harvesters can interfere with subsequent cultivation efforts. Chaff combine harvesters have a similar structure to conventional machines, but feature a modified end that includes a tank and blower for collecting and depositing crushed chaff. Apart from the threshing unit, all other components of the harvester remain unchanged.Materials and MethodsThis study was conducted in 2019 in dryland wheat fields to determine the performance of Chaff combine harvesters in Kurdistan province. The study used 15 combine harvesters, including John Deere models equipped with chaff threshers from Shiraz, Bookan, and Hamedan, as well as the Hamedan Barzegar specific chaff collector combine. These combines were evaluated and compared based on natural losses, head and chaff storage losses, field capacity, purity percentage, and yield in field conditions in Kurdistan province. The total number of combines evaluated was 15, using a completely randomized design. Among these, 33% belonged to Shiraz company (5 samples), 33% to Bookan (5 samples), 20% to Hamedan (3 samples), and 14% to Hamedan Barzegar (2 samples). Sampling included measurement of natural losses, header losses, threshing tank losses (losses of the threshing unit, separating unit, and cleaning unit), and quality losses (broken grains and impurities) in the combine tank.Results and DiscussionThe results showed that the average yield, natural loss, and combine loss were 1,698.14 kg.ha-1, 2.39%, and 4.92%, respectively. In terms of the loss rates in different parts of the combine, 43.49% was related to the chaff storage of the combine, and 56.50% was related to the combine head.The natural loss rate in this province was 2.39%. The total combine loss was 5.18%, with 40.44% of that related to chaff storage and the rest related to the combine head. The results also showed a significant difference between the treatments in terms of field capacity, chaff storage loss, and purity percentage at a probability level of 5%.The total loss of the Hamedan Barzegar combine was 6.67%, which was higher than the other combines. The chaff storage loss of the Shiraz, Bookan, Hamedan, and Hamedan Barzegar combines were 0.87%, 2.64%, 0.78%, and 4.28%, respectively, showing a significant difference at a 5% level. There was also a significant difference between the treatments in terms of total grain loss.Based on these results, it is recommended to use the Hamedan, Bookan, Shiraz, and Hamedan Barzegar combines, with total losses of 4.33%, 4.33%, 4.52%, and 6.56%, respectively.ConclusionThe average purity of harvested grains was 96.62%, and there was no significant difference between the combine harvesters in this regard.There was a significant difference between the combines in terms of field capacity at a probability level of 5%. The field capacity of the Bookan, Hamedan Barzegar, Hamedan, and Shiraz combine harvesters were 0.83, 0.87, 0.83, and 0.73 hectares per hour, respectively.In Kurdistan province, the average grain combine loss in dryland wheat harvesting with chaff combine harvesters was 4.92%, which is higher than in other provinces.The loss in the chaff tank of the Shiraz, Bookan, Hamedan, and Hamedan Barzegar combine harvesters was 0.87%, 2.64%, 0.78%, and 4.28%, respectively. Regardless of head losses, the loss in the Hamedan combine was less than other combine harvesters.The total losses of the Hamedan Barzegar, Bookan, Shiraz, and Hamedan combine harvesters were 6.56%, 4.32%, 4.52%, and 4.30%, respectively, with the Hamedan Barzegar and Hamedan combine harvesters having the highest and lowest losses, respectively.Based on the results obtained from this study, using the Hamedan combine is recommended in the dryland conditions of Kurdistan due to its low losses, high purity, and field capacity.AcknowledgementThanks to the Agricultural Jihad Organization of Kurdistan Province, specifically the deputy of the Plant Production and Mechanized Technologies Department, for their assistance and cooperation in the implementation of the project.
F. Mahdiyeh Broujeni; A. Maleki
Abstract
Introduction Nowadays, many studies were performed about noise source and its type and effects related to duration of sound emission. Most of these researches just report sound pressure level in frequency or time domain. These researches should be continued in order to find better absorber material in ...
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Introduction Nowadays, many studies were performed about noise source and its type and effects related to duration of sound emission. Most of these researches just report sound pressure level in frequency or time domain. These researches should be continued in order to find better absorber material in noise pollution. Use of fractal geometry is a new method in this filed. Wave fractal dimension value is a strong tool for diagnosis of signal instability and fractal analysis is a good method to finding sound signal characteristics. Therefore the aim of this study is on the fractal geometry of SAMPO 3065 combine harvester signals and determine the fractal dimension value of these signals in different operational conditions by Katz, Sevcik, Higuchi and MRBC methods. Materials and Methods In this research, sound signals of SAMPO 3065 harvester combine that were recorded by Maleki and Lashgari (2014), were analyzed. Engine speed (high and low), gear ratio (neutral, 1st, 2nd, 3rd gear), type of operation (traveling and harvesting) and microphone position (in and out of the cabin) were the main factors of this research. For determining signal fractal dimension value in time domain, wave shape supposed as a geometrical shape and for calculation of fractal dimension value of these signals, total area of wave shape was divided into boxes in 50, 100, 200 milliseconds with an interval 25 millisecond box. Then Fractal dimension value of these boxes was calculated by Katz, Sevcik, Higuchi and MRBC methods using MATLAB (2010a) software. SPSS (Ver.20) software was used for further analysis. Results and Discussion Results showed mean effects of engine speed, microphone position, gear ratio, type of operation, box length, calculation method and all of two way interaction effects were significant. Means of Fractal Dimension in the road and field position were 1.4 and 1.28 respectively. The Maximum growth ratio of fractal dimension value during engine speed levels was related to road position. By increasing of box length and number of data points in each box, the fractal dimension value was increased. Investigation of fractal dimension methods showed changes of box length did not affect fractal dimension value in Higuchi method and range of this factor while box length varied were 0.001, 0.171, 0.005 and 0.024 in Higuchi, Katz, MRBC and Sevcik method respectively. These results showed that Katz method has maximum sensitivity and MRBC method like Higuchi method had the minimum sensitivity by changing of box length. In this research fractal dimension value of SAMPO Combine signals in the time domain in different operation conditions were investigated by Katz, Sevcik, Higuchi and MRBC methods. These values varied from 1 to 1.5 in different conditions. Maximum fractal dimension value was 1.63 in case of no cabin by MRBC method. Increasing of box length or further the data point cause of increasing fractal dimension value with increasing of sound pressure level of combine due to increasing of engine speed and working of different parts of harvesting combine. Due to define of sound pressure level, and increasing of this item in each gear ratio ,this can be justify that in high engine speed, wave turbulent is higher than low speed and this turbulent appeared in fractal dimension value. Conclusion One of the important factors in the evaluation of the time series disturbance is fractal dimension. Therefore, the study of sound signals can be an effective role in this regard. Factors such as the cabin existence, gear type, engine speed and operational state of combining parts had a considerable role in distribution of combinimg sound signals and fractal dimention of these signals. For example cabin acts as a barrier in the sound wave and decrease the sound pressure level near driver ear and cause decrease fractal dimention of signals. The study of time series with different lengths have shown that the duration time of the calculation in various methods had a significant effect. Increasing the length of signals due to a higher number of signal data cause to increase calculation time of fractal dimension calculation, while the changes of fractal dimension in increasing of the number of data is minimum and negligible. Therefore, the choice of the appropriate length of the signal is important.
A. Maleki; M. Lashgari
Abstract
Workplace factors such as sound must have the minimum impact on the operators of combine harvester, so that they can guide and control many functions of the combine. In this study, some factors affecting the noise generated by two combine harvesters John Deere 1055 and Sampo 3065 were evaluated. Research ...
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Workplace factors such as sound must have the minimum impact on the operators of combine harvester, so that they can guide and control many functions of the combine. In this study, some factors affecting the noise generated by two combine harvesters John Deere 1055 and Sampo 3065 were evaluated. Research factors were engine speed, gear ratios, type of operation and microphone distance. The results of this study indicated that sound pressure level decreased with increasing center frequencies. The sound pressure level of John Deere and Sampo combine at center frequency of 4000 Hz were 87.96 and 84.73 db, respectively. The results showed also that the maximum sound pressure of John Deere and Sampo combines were116db at frequency of 250 Hz and 111.1db at frequency of 40 Hz, respectively.
M. R. Mostofi Sarkari; M. S. Valiahdi; I. Ranjbar
Abstract
Grain loss monitors are installed on combine harvester and make it possible to measure grain loss on different parts of the combine. The instrument permits the operator to adjust a proper ground speed to keep grain loss within an acceptable range. In this study a loss monitoring system was implemented ...
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Grain loss monitors are installed on combine harvester and make it possible to measure grain loss on different parts of the combine. The instrument permits the operator to adjust a proper ground speed to keep grain loss within an acceptable range. In this study a loss monitoring system was implemented to measure grain losses continuously on straw walker and sieves. Two grain loss monitors (KEE and TeeJet) were installed behind the straw walker and the sieves of JD-955 and JD-1165 combine harvesters. Harvesting performance parameters such as combine total and processing losses were then measured. To evaluate the precision and accuracy of the instruments, the measured and monitored losses were compared and investigated. The results of a two-year research showed that the average processing loss of the combine harvesters with 10-12% grain moisture content and 750 rpm drum speed was 0.82% which is whitin the acceptable range recommended by ASAE Standard No. S343.3. Furthermore, there was no significant difference between the measured and monitored values of processing loss.
A. Rohani; H. Ghaffari; R. Felehgari; Kh. Mohammadi; H. Masoudi
Abstract
Farm machinery managers often need to make complex economic decisions on machinery replacement. Repair and maintenance costs can have significant impacts on this economic decision. The farm manager must be able to predict farm machinery repair and maintenance costs. This study aimed to identify a regression ...
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Farm machinery managers often need to make complex economic decisions on machinery replacement. Repair and maintenance costs can have significant impacts on this economic decision. The farm manager must be able to predict farm machinery repair and maintenance costs. This study aimed to identify a regression model that can adequately represent the repair and maintenance costs in terms of machine age in cumulative hours of use. The regression model has the ability to predict the repair and maintenance costs for longer time periods. Therefore, it can be used for the estimation of the economic life. The study was conducted using field data collected from 11 John-Deer 955 combine harvesters used in several western provinces of Iran. It was found that power model has a better performance for the prediction of combine repair and maintenance costs. The results showed that the optimum replacement age of John-Deer 955 combine was 54300 cumulative hours.
M. H. Rahmati; Gh. A. Sohrabvandi; M. Khodadadi; A. M. Razdari
Abstract
Rice is a main food for Iranian people and has an important role in providing food security. Regarding the population growth, increase of rice production and reduction of losses have special importance in prevention of rice import. Rice losses in the harvest stage are the highest through the whole production ...
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Rice is a main food for Iranian people and has an important role in providing food security. Regarding the population growth, increase of rice production and reduction of losses have special importance in prevention of rice import. Rice losses in the harvest stage are the highest through the whole production period of this crop and hence the reduction of these losses is necessary. Provision of this purpose depends on on-time harvesting and separation of grains from chaff with the least grain losses, and choosing a suitable harvesting method. The choice of harvesting method depends on various factors in each region; thus, different harvest methods in each region must be compared while conducted in the same conditions. In order to recommend the beast harvest method in Shivan-Chardavol region, three harvesting methods (manually, rice-specific combine harvester and conventional cereals combine harvester) were considered as three experimental treatments and four different parts of this region considered as experimental blocks. The experimental design was randomized complete block design. This study was carried out on Anbarboo variety and the measured factors were: effective farm capacity, percent of total losses, percent of harvesting losses, number of workers and harvesting cost. The results of this study indicated that the total difference of factors was significant at the 1% error level among all treatments. The effective farm capacity in harvesting by cereals combine harvester was more than other treatments. The lowest percent of loss was observed for harvesting by rice-specific combine harvester (2.32%) and the highest percent of loss was obtained for cereals combine harvester (3.816%). The manual harvesting method had the highest harvesting cost and the lowest cost was found to be associated with the rice specific combine harvester. Therefore, from the results of this study, the use of this combine harvester is recommended for rice harvesting in this region.
J. Taghinazhad; M. R. Mostofi Sarkari
Abstract
Rapeseed cultivation in Iran is growing rapidly while this product has been facing specific problems. Every year a significant portion of edible oil is imported to the country from other countries. Despite this deficit, a great amount of canola is being lost every year. Therefore, in compliance with ...
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Rapeseed cultivation in Iran is growing rapidly while this product has been facing specific problems. Every year a significant portion of edible oil is imported to the country from other countries. Despite this deficit, a great amount of canola is being lost every year. Therefore, in compliance with technical points, adding a suitable platform to the exisiting machineries may reduce the losses. A field study was conducted in Moghan Agricultural Research Centre to study the technical and economical characteristics of harvesting machineries and evaluate Canola harvesting losses in different maturity stages, using three different combine harvester heads. The experiments were conducted in a completely randomized split split plot design with four replications. The main plot included seed maturity stage at three levels: A) 60%, B) 70% and C) 80%, and the subplot was the harvester’s ground speed at three levels: A) 1.5, B) 2.5 and C) 3.5 km h-1. The sub-subplot was combine head type with three forms: A) Mechanical, B) Hydraulically Joybar and C) Hydraulically Biso's Head. The results of ANOVA showed that maximum cutter bar losses occurred with Mechanical Head (5.36%) while the loss of Hydraulically Joybar's and Biso's head were 4.28 and 4.13 %, respectively. The results also showed that the maximum cutter bar losses occurred when 80% of seeds were matured and adequate time for canola harvesting was 70% of seeds maturity. The results of analysing the effects of harvesting ground speeds showed that the maximum cutter bar losses occurred with the speed of 3.5 km h-1. Finally, the results showed that the minimum cutter bar loss was obtained with Hydraulically Joybar's head considering the benefit per cost ratio. The cost for Mechanical head and Hydraulically Biso's head were 13500 and 262500 Rial ha-1, respectively.
