Machinery in Crop Husbandry

What is a machine?

A machine may be defined as:

-an instrument or device used to carry out a task

-any equipment or apparatus, specially designed for a

particular purpose and used for transmission of force, power or motion to produce
a desirable effect.

In agriculture, several types of machines are used for tasks such as ploughing,
planting, harvesting, plucking, ear-notching and castrating. New machines are
continually being designed and existing machines are redesigned and improved.

The importance of machines in crop husbandry

Enable
Enable more
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to be done more
done, more
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saving time and
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money

Have changed Help to reduce

and improved thecost of
agricultrual production and
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worldwide AGRICULTURA profits
L MACHINES

Uses of Farm Machinery and equipment

Seeders

Seeders, otherwise known as planters, may be of various types. Some consists of

drills, which sow seeds directly on to the soil. Sometimes drills combine seeds and
fertilizer, so that the seeds are planted with an appropriate fertilizer for the
crop.

Trans-planters are machines which plant seedlings such as tomato, sweet peppers
or rice, or they may plant bulbs, tubers or corms. The advantage of a seeder is
that the seeds are planted evenly and at a required density. This is a more
efficient method than broadcasting the seed. The machines that can transplant
seedlings speed up the operation, saving time and the cost of manual labor.
 Seeder Rice trans-planter

Harvesters

There are various types of harvester, each designed to harvest a specific crop.
These machines speed up the process of gathering in a crop, saving time and manual
labor.

The simplest types are those which can be attached to a tractor, such as the
sweet potato harvester. This machine digs the tubers, lifting them from the soil on
the conveyer belt.

Combine harvesters are used for grain crops, such as rice and other cereals. This
type of harvester is self-propelled and cuts, threshes and winnows the grain, which
is then gathered in trailers and transported away for storage.

Sugar-cane harvester corn Harvester

Tractors

The tractor is one of the most useful pieces of farm machinery. It is mainly used
for pulling ploughs, harrows, cultivators and trailers.

Types of tractors

Two-wheeled tractor four-wheeled tractor crawler tractor

Tractor Attachments
 Name of attachment Main uses

Mouldboard plough -Primary tillage

-Buries vegetation and organic matter

Disc plough -Ploughing heavy clay soils, stony soils and soils
containing stubble

Chisel plough -Chisel shaped tines break up hardpans

-broken-up hardpan not brought to the surface

Rotovator -Secondary tillage after land has been ploughed with

mouldboard or disc plough

Harrow -Secondary tillage

-Cuts up and incorporates crop residues in soil by means

of discs mounted on a frame (disc harrow)

Brush-cutter -Cuts down grass, weeds on lawns, pastures and field

plots

-Also known as the mower

Trailer -Transport agricultural inputs (planting materials,

manure, fertilizers) and produce

Manure spreader -Spreads manure in solid or liquid form (slurry) on to

fields or pasture

Fertilizer spreader -Broadcasts fertilizer evenly on to pasture or

cultivated field plot

Crop sprayer -Applies pesticides to the soil

Disc Plough Chisel Plough Mouldboard Plough

Fertilizer spreader Rotovator

Care and Maintenance of Tools

Tools and equipment should be well-maintained so that they will:

● Be in good condition when needed for use

● Remain serviceable
● Last for many years
Practice Procedure

Cleaning Some tools and equipment need to be washed after use e.g. fork,
cutlass, etc.

Other tools and equipment not soiled with mud may be wiped with a
moistened rag e.g. hammer, saw, etc.

Drying After washing, tools should be dried with a rag or left in the
sunshine

Sharpening Tools such as cutlass, hoe, knife, etc. have blades with sharp
cutting edges and need to be sharpened using a grindstone or file

Repairing May involve:

-soldering, e.g. handles or the rose of the water can

-Welding, e.g. broken forks, spades, shovels, rakes

-replacing handles, e.g. hoes, cutlass, hammer, spade

Painting Oil paint applied to the handles of tools helps to protect them,
prolonging their serviceable life

Oiling and greasing -oil is applied to blades or prongs of tools to prevent rusting ;
usually done with a rag moistened with oil or aerosol lubricant spray

-joints, springs and other hinged parts of tools and equipment are
lubricated using grease or a spray

Storing Tools should be stored in a special area using a tool rack, cupboards
and shelves; to prevent rusting, avoid storing tools close to
fertilizers

A knapsack sprayer and its parts

Safety precautions when operating tools,
machinery and equipment

In agriculture, safety practices are very

important in the handling of tools, equipment,
machinery, fuels, pesticides and other chemical
substances.

Tools and equipment

Each tool or piece of equipment is specially

designed for carrying out a particular operation.
It is therefore important to choose the tool or
equipment best suited for the task: using the wrong tool can be hazardous. The
following safety practices should be followed:

● Ensure the tool or piece of equipment is in good condition, with any handles
firmly attached, blades or prongs clean and sharp, moving parts oiled or
greased
● Wear the correct safety gear: tall rubber boots, goggles, gloves, coveralls,
hard hat where appropriate: avoid dangling straps or belts
● Control the equipment when chopping, digging, cutting, brushcutting or
weeding
● Focus on task while operating the equipment; stop if distracted
● Place equipment down safely when not in use; sharp tools should be stuck
upright in the soil so that they are clearly visible, or placed flat on the soil
with their prongs or sharp edges facing downwards
● Avoid laying tools or equipment in pathways or on heaps of weeds, where
they could cause injury or be forgotten.

Safety Gear

Special safety equipment protects both the operator and the machinery. It may
consist of special gear for use with equipment or
safety devices on the machinery. Safety gear
includes:

● Clothing: coveralls which are tough, durable

and fireproof
● Head gear: hard hat and helmet, often with
face shield
● Boots: steel tipped, with non-skid soles
● Gloves: leather, fabric, disposable
● Safety glasses, goggles
● Respirators and face masks: offer protection
from fumes, smoke and dust
● Ear-muffs: protection from loud noises

Safety and tractor operations

The tractor and its attachments should be in good condition. Any attachment must
be safely hitch with protective shields and safety guards in place. The driver needs
to be trained and wearing appropriate clothing (hard hat, steel-tipped, no dangling
clothing, straps and belts). He should adjust the seat so that it is comfortable and
all controls can be reached easily, and make sure that the rear view mirror is also
adjusted. It is important to be aware of slippery areas, slopes, proximity to
services (gas, electricity and water mains), farm animals, children and pets. When
the operation has been carried out, the engine should be switched off and the hand
brake applied before adjusting or removing any attachments.

Handling fuels and chemicals

Most fuels used on the farm are combustible and care has to be taken when they
are handled, used and stored. Gasoline, dieseline and kerosene are used to power
tractors, water pumps and generators. These fuels should be stored in special
containers approved by the Bureau of Standards. There should be ‘no smoking’ and
‘no naked flame’ signs in storage areas and in areas where the fuels are handled.
Storage areas should be fitted with locks.

Chemicals, such as artificial fertilizers and pesticides, should be handled with care
and stored in a locked room. Protective clothing should be worn when these
chemicals are being used and all containers need to be thoroughly washed after
use.

Questions:

1. Why have machines improved agricultural production?

2. What are the advantages of using a mechanical seeder rather than sowing
seeds by hand?
3. What attachment should be used to plough a heavy
clay soil?
4. List the functions of the harrow
5. How can you prevent tools from becoming rusty?
6. How should fuels and chemicals be stored on the
farm?
7. Describe how tools and equipment should be stored safely.