Integrated Analytical Modelling and Experimental Validation of a Low-Cost Modular Agricultural Machine for Smallholder Mechanisation

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Article- En

Authors

K. Kapadani ¹

S. Bhosale ¹

S. Nalavade ¹

R. Gurav ²

P. Tamkhade ³

P. Purohit ²

A. Tumane ¹

Y. More ¹

P. Senthil ⁴

¹ Department of Mechanical Engineering, PES’s Modern College of Engineering, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune, Maharashtra, India

² Department of Mechanical Engineering, Army Institute of Technology, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune, Maharashtra, India

³ Department of Mechanical Engineering, Marathwada Mitra Mandal's College of Engineering, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune, Maharashtra, India

⁴ Centre of Excellence for Additive Manufacturing, Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, India

https://doi.org/10.22067/jam.2026.98710.1491

Abstract

Mechanisation of smallholder farming faces significant challenges, including high machinery costs, inefficient energy utilisation, and the lack of predictive design methodologies for multifunctional agricultural equipment. This study presents a low-cost modular multifunctional agricultural machine for smallholder applications, integrating soil-tool interaction modelling, nonlinear traction-slip analysis, coupled draft-power-torque relationships, structural stress evaluation, and lifecycle economic assessment within a unified analytical framework. Experimental validation conducted under three representative soil cohesion conditions (n = 36) demonstrated good agreement between analytical predictions and measured performance, with deviations of 8.7%, 9.2%, and 7.5% for draft force, torque, and structural stress, respectively. The proposed system exhibited energy consumption of 4.8–7.9 kWh ha^-1, achieved a 22–26% reduction in operating costs compared with commercially available petrol-operated smallholder tillage units of comparable working width and field capacity, and yielded an estimated payback period of 1.8–2.3 years. The incorporation of traction analysis accounting for wheel slip improved the prediction of energy requirements while maintaining seed spacing uniformity above 87%. Soil cohesion, penetration depth, and slip ratio were identified as the dominant parameters influencing power demand and structural loading. The proposed framework demonstrated improved energy efficiency, operational stability, and economic feasibility under the investigated operating conditions and shows potential for broader smallholder mechanisation applications.

Keywords

Agricultural Machinery

Smallholder Mechanisation

Smart Farming

Soil-Tool Interaction

Traction-Slip Modelling

Subjects

• Agricultural and off-Road Machinery

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Authors retain the copyright. This is an open access article distributed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0)

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