SCHOOL OF AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL

RESOURCES

ANR 412-FARM STRUCTURES AND

MECHANIZATION
1. Introduction to Agricultural
Mechanization

By

J.T. Mwale, MSc.BEng.

1. INTRODUCTION TO AGRICULTURAL
MECHANIZATION

1.1The Scope for Mechanized Agriculture

1.2Objectives of Mechanization

1.3Power Sources for Mechanized Agriculture

1.4Conceptual Framework for Functional Analysis of

Agricultural Machines

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 1. 1 The Scope for Mechanized Agriculture
 Why are agricultural machinery and equipment important?

 Agricultural machinery and equipment help farmers produce the

goods that consumers want and need.

 Without the proper machinery and equipment, farmers would

not be efficient enough to provide the food, clothing, and shelter
that we need.

 Machinery and equipment reduce the amount of hard labor

needed for farmers to do their work.

 Jobs are easier and take less time when machinery and
equipment are used.
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 1. 2 Objectives of Agricultural Mechanization

Agricultural mechanization refers to the economic

application of engineering technology to agricultural operations
so as to enhance the effectiveness and productivity of human
labour.

 Agricultural mechanization aims to achieve three principal

objectives:
(i) Reduced drudgery of farm work;
(ii) Increased agricultural productivity; and
(iii) Reduced peak labour demand.

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1. 3 Power Sources for Mechanized Agriculture
Agricultural operations are energy-intensive
requiring some form of power in order to be
effectively accomplished.

Power is the rate of doing work, and is measured in

horsepower (hp) or watts (W) for which 1hp = 746W.

 Sources of power for mechanized agriculture include:

human power, draught animal power, mechanical power,
electrical power and fluid power.

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1. 3 Power Sources for Mechanized Agriculture
1.3.1 Human Power
 Human power is the most widely available mobile
power for most agricultural work.

 As a source of power, the human being converts the

chemical energy in food into other forms of energy,
some of which are useful for doing work.

 However, many primary agricultural production

operations demand higher rates of energy consumption
than the maximum sustainable power output of humans.

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Energy Consumption for Agricultural Operations Vs Human
Power Output

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 The limitations of the human power output in meeting the
energy requirements of agricultural operations necessitate
rest periods to sustain manual operations.

 Rest periods can be estimated using the equation:

Where, Tr is required rest period in min/h of work, and P is

actual rate of energy consumption in watts.

 The power needed to operate any human-powered tool or

machine should not be more than the human being can
8 potentially supply.
 1.3.2 Draught Animal Power
 Draught animal power is the predominant source of mobile
power in developing countries.

 The power available from draught animals is related to body

weight and is estimated at 10-14% of body weight.

 Categorization: small (200-300 kg), medium (300-400kg),

large (400-500 kg) and heavy (above 500 kg)

 As much as 0.75-0.78 kW power can be obtained from a good

pair of animals.

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 1.3.3 Mechanical Power
 Mechanical power is the principal source of power for farm
mechanization and is generated in the internal combustion
engine.
 In mechanics, the power output of an engine is equal to the
force it exerts multiplied by its velocity. The average power is
given by:

 This formula is important in characterizing engines.

 Exercise 1-1
Show mathematically that the instantaneous power output of an
internal combustion engine is a function of force and velocity.
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 1.3.4 Electrical Power
Electrical power is increasingly used for various farm
operations through application of electric motors.

An electric motor is a device that converts electrical power into

mechanical power. The average electrical power is given by:

Where, P(t) is the instantaneous power; V(t) is the potential

difference in volts; and I(t) is the current through it measured in
amperes.

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 1.3.5 Fluid Power
 Fluid power is used in systems with fluid flow, it is related to
pressure and the volumetric flow rate of the fluid. It is given
by:

Where, P is the power in watts; p is the pressure in N/m2; and

Q is volumetric flow rate in m3/s.

 Exercise 1-2:
A tractor’s hydraulic system provides a flow of 4.5 x 10-4 m3/s
at a pressure of 138 bar. Calculate the fluid power delivered
in kW.

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 1. 4 Conceptual Framework for Functional Analysis of
Agricultural Machines
1.4.1 Definitions of Concepts
Machine: a self-propelled set of inter-related parts and
devices designed to perform a specific function.
Equipment: a stationary and externally powered set of
inter-related parts and devices designed to perform a specific
function.
Implement: a set of tools arranged to carry out an
operation.

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 1.4.2 Functional Analysis of Agricultural Machines
 Aids in understanding the constructional features and
operating principles of machines. An agricultural machine
can be divided into either process sub-systems or support
sub-systems.

 Process systems are those components of the machine that

actually perform the functions for which it was designed.

 Support systems are parts that support or aid the process

systems in performing their function.

 Figure1-1 illustrates the functional analysis of agricultural

machines
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 Agricultural Machine

Support System Process System

Non- Non-
Reversi
Frame Power Control reversibl direction
ble e al

Functional Analysis of Agricultural Machines

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 1.4.2.1 Process Systems
 There are 15 basic processes in agricultural machines:
Reversible Mix, compact, pick up, scatter, separate,
pack, deposit and position.

Non-Reversible Dissociate, cut, crush and grind.

Non-directional Convey, meter and store.

 Process diagrams can be used to illustrate the functional

operations of agricultural machinery e.g. A mouldboard
plough can be illustrated as given below.

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 1.4.2.2 Support Systems

 Framing, power or control systems constitute the support

system.

 The framing system consists of all structural parts of the

machine that hold other parts together;

 The control system provides manual or automatic control

over the process system; and

 The power system supplies the power to the process

systems

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 Exercise 1-3
Construct a process diagram to illustrate the
constructional features and functional processes
of a tractor’s power transmission system.

END OF LECTURE

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