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Abstract: Agriculture is a major sector worldwide that plays a vital role in the economic development of nations. In today's era,
there is a rapid growth across all sectors, including agriculture. Agricultural technology, known as agro technology, involves the
implementation of recent technologies to enhance crop production. When developing new products or processes, it is important to
consider the economic feasibility of the technology as well as its impact on society.
One crucial concern in the agricultural sector is the availability of labor. As labor costs increase and labor availability becomes a
significant issue for farmers, it is essential to address these challenges. Seed sowing is a fundamental and crucial operation in farming.
However, the current equipment used for seed sowing is difficult and inconvenient to handle. Therefore, there is a pressing need to
design and develop a machine that can reduce the efforts required by farmers. This machine aims to assist farmers in achieving the
best crop yield with minimal effort.
An ideal sowing machine should be suitable for all types of farms and crops, possess robust construction, and be reliable. These
are the basic requirements for a sowing machine. The primary objective of the sowing operation is to accurately place seeds and
fertilizer in rows at the desired depth and cover the seeds with soil, and provide proper compaction over the seeds. Our designed
sowing machine is manually operated and significantly reduces the efforts required by farmers, thereby increasing sowing efficiency
and mitigating the issues encountered during manual sowing. This machine allows for sowing various types of seeds and provides
flexibility in adjusting the spacing between two seeds during planting.
Keywords- Manual Seed Sowing, sowing disc, FEA, Chain and Sprockets, Agro-technology.
I. INTRODUCTION
India is known for its villages, where agriculture is the primary occupation for the majority of the population. Agriculture has
long been the backbone of the Indian economy and will continue to be so for the foreseeable future. It supports nearly 17% of the
world's population with only 2.3% of the world's geographical area and 4.2% of the world's water resources. Our entire economy is
based on agriculture, which involves the efficient production of food, feed, fiber, and other goods for humans and animals. It has
been observed that farmers in India primarily use hoes, axes, and shovels as their main farm tools for agricultural operations [4][5].
These tools are conventional and have been used for a long time without any improvements in agricultural practices. Therefore, it is
necessary to develop a system that reduces laborious tasks and is user-friendly for the agricultural community in India.
II. OBJECTIVES
1. To design and fabricate manually operated seed sowing machine.
2. To analytically validate the working model.
3. Make this machine economical and user friendly for Indian farmers to operate.
4. To implement the functionality of sowing different types of seeds.
5. To improve the efficiency of sowing operation and reduce the farmer’s fatigue.
III. METHODOLOGY
Literature review and market survey.
Identification of market requirements and farmer’s needs from the literature study.
Analytical calculations as per methods studied from research papers.
3D modelling of the machine as per the calculations.
Finite Element Analysis of the model on various iterations.
Selecting the best possible mechanism and best possible layout.
Fabrication of the machine according to the 3D design.
Farm testing for validation of objectives and evaluation of the design.
By using the Flexural formula, we can find different parameters of it, like bendingmoment, bending stress and deflection of
member. Bending formula is given by
V. DESIGN OF MODEL
3D Model
Results of FEA
Based on the analysis and considering the operating conditions and material properties, it can be concluded that the design of the
seed sowing machine is suitable and meets the required safety criteria. The deformation and stress levels experienced during average
loading conditions are within acceptable limits.
The material used for the seed sowing machine is mild steel, which has a Young's modulus of 2 * 10^5 N/mm². Mild steel is known
for its strength and durability, although it may have a lower tensile strength compared to carbon steel.
In summary, the design of the seed sowing machine is considered safe due to the following factors:
1. Deformation: The deformation experienced under average loading conditions is less, indicating that the structural integrity of the
machine remains intact.
2. Stress Levels: The stress levels experienced during average loading conditions are within acceptable limits, even when using
mild steel.
3. Material Choice: Although carbon steel has a higher tensile strength than mild steel, the mild steel's tensile strength is still
adequate to handle the stress levels encountered during operation.
Therefore, based on the provided data, the design of the seed sowing machine is suitable and meets the required safety criteria, and
the use of mild steel ensures sufficient strength and durability for its intended purpose.
COMPONENT SPECIFICATIONS
VI. RESULTS:
1. Consistent sowing rate: The machine consistently sows seeds at a steady rate, ensuring uniform distribution.
2. Varied seed spacing: The distance between consecutive seeds is approximately 10 cm, but it may vary depending on
the seed type. This indicates that the machine can be adjusted to accommodate different planting requirements.
3. Simultaneous sowing and fertilizing: The machine enable the simultaneous execution of sowing and fertilizing
operations, streamlining the planting process.
4. Seed quantity and time interval: Within a 30-minute time interval, the machine successfully sowed approximately 1.5
kg of seeds, highlighting its efficiency in terms of seed distribution capacity.
5. Comparatively lesser sowing time: It was observed that the machine's sowing time was lesser compared to manual
sowing done individually. This suggests that manual sowing may be slower for small-scale or precise planting scenarios.
6. Reduced human fatigue: The use of the machine significantly reduces human fatigue caused by lower back pain and
shoulder problems associated with manual sowing. This indicates that the machine offers ergonomic benefits and
reduces strain on the operator.
7. Cost-effective and low maintenance: The machine's cost is relatively lower compared to market competitors, and its
maintenance is minimal due to fewer components. Occasional oiling is the primary requirement for upkeep, making it
an affordable and easy-to-maintain option.
VII. CONCLUSION
This seed sowing machine has great potential for increasing the productivity of sowing operations. Until now, tractors
have been the primary source of power for farming. However, with the adoption of this seed planting machine, its purpose can be
fulfilled. Therefore, there is a need to promote this technology and make it available to small-scale farmers at affordable prices. The
design of this machine can be simplified, reducing the overall project cost and enabling easy manufacturing in existing workshops.
This manually operated seed sowing machine can fulfill the needs of poor and small-scale farmers. They can easily and effectively
sow their seeds in the field using these machines, which offer several advantages. It increases productivity, enhances sowing
efficiency, reduces human efforts, and minimizes the time and labor required for sowing.