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EFFECT OF OPERATIONAL PARAMETERS ON CONVENTIONAL METHOD OF

PUDDLING BY POWER TILLER Scientist The official Journal of Scientist R
Academy

Article · July 2022

DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.6811364

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 NAAS: 6.85 Volume 1, Issue 2, May-August 2022

(QZ CNR 2022273,

0890-3670)
Scientist
The official Journal of Scientist R Academy
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6811364
Research Article
EFFECT OF OPERATIONAL PARAMETERS ON CONVENTIONAL
METHOD OF PUDDLING BY POWER TILLER
H Manjunath*1, M. Veerangouda1, Sushilendra1, Vijayakumar Palled2,
G. V. Srinivasa Reddy3 and Channabasavanna A. S4.
Department of Farm Machinery and Power Engineering, CAE, Raichur, Department of Renewable Energy Engineering,
CAE, Raichur, Department of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, CAE, Raichur, College of Agriculture, B-Gudi, UAS,
Raichur-584104 Karnataka, India
manjumanvi865@gmail.com

ARTICLE HISTORY
Received: 06.06.2022 Revised: 16.06.2022 Accepted: 08.07.2022

ABSTRACT
A field experiment was conducted to study the effect of operating parameters of power tiller
on the puddling characteristics at Main Agricultural Research Station and farmers’ fields of
University of Agricultural Sciences, Raichur during 2020-2021. The experiment consisted of
the three treatments like different forward speeds, rotary speeds and types of blades affects
the different soil parameters after the puddling operation were studied. The results found that
cone index of soil, bulk density of soil, infiltration of soil, puddling index of soil and fuel
consumption of power tiller was 180.53 kPa, 1.30g cm-3, 13.50mm day-1, of 70.23 per cent
and 1.40 l h-1, respectively.
KEYWORDS: Bulk density, Cone index, Fuel consumption, Infiltration rate, Puddling
index

Citation
H Manjunath*, M. Veerangouda, Sushilendra, Vijaya kumar Palled, G. V. Srinivasa Reddy and Channabasavanna A. S. Effect
of operational parameters on conventional method of puddling by power tiller. Scientist. 2022; 1(2): 223-234.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6811364
©Scientist R Academy, Bangalore, India and Article is available on https://www.thescientist.online/

223
 Effect of operational parameters on conventional method of puddling by power tiller by H Manjunath

INTRODUCTION
The crop productivity in India is very low despite being endowed with adequate natural resources like
water, fertile soil and climate. Adoption of precision agriculture and mechanization can easily increase
the overall productivity to 2-3 times and improve the quality of produce [17]. This will also enable the
farmers to get at least three crops in a year. A crucial factor for achieving higher productivity and yield
is achieving timeliness in operation and the availability of adequate farm power [14]. In India, 86 per
cent of total operational land belong to small and marginal landholders (< 2.0 ha) which accounts for
about 47 per cent of the total area [1]. The agricultural sector of India has experienced rapid change in
its share of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which decreased from 52 per cent in 1950-51 to 19.9 per
cent in 2020-21 [15]. This decrement in GDP share has not been supported by a tallying reduction in
job opportunities as the agricultural sector provides jobs to more than 50 per cent of the country's
workforce resource. The total farm power availability in the country was 2.24 k W ha-1 in the year 2016-
17, out of which the contribution of animate power is only 0.2 kW ha-1 (9.9 per cent) [6]. Furthermore,
the share of animate power is estimated to reduce to 4.1 per cent in 2032–33 [18], which indicates
agricultural practices in the country are transforming towards more use of farm machinery with parallel
developments in the tractor, power tiller and diesel engines. Ownership of machinery is dependent on
several parameters such as land holding, availability of irrigation water source and banking credit
facility. The use of machinery in agriculture saves seeds and fertilizers (15-20 per cent), labour and
operational time (20-30 per cent) and increases crop productivity (10-15 per cent) and cropping intensity
(5-20 per cent) thereby increasing profitability [16]. It has been observed that coastal, hilly and
mountainous parts of the country have the lowest mechanized agricultural practices. The majority of
farmers come under the small and marginal categories. They cannot afford large size equipment like
tractors and tractor-drawn implements with their meagre income. On the other hand, power tillers are
comparatively less costly and are versatile machines by which a large number of farm operations can
be carried out.
Power tiller is a prime mover in which direction of travel and its control for field operation is performed
by the operator walking behind it. Power tiller is walking tractor mostly used for rotary cultivation in
puddle soil and can replace the animal power more effectively and help in increasing demand for human
labour. The small and marginal farmers form major user for custom hiring of power tiller and it used
for all farm operations like puddling and primary tillage operations. The machine provides opportunities
for self-employment in rural areas.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Evaluated the performance of power tiller was conducted at the Main Agricultural Research Station,
College of Agricultural Engineering, University of Agricultural Sciences, Raichur during year 2020-
2021. The treatments combinations like forward speed, rotary speed and type of blade affects the soil
parameters viz., cone index of soil, bulk density of soil, infiltration rate of soil, puddling index of soil
and fuel consumption of the power tiller was studied.
SOIL PARAMETER
The soil parameters which affect the seedbed preparation for paddy cultivation like, soil type, cone
index, bulk density and infiltration were recorded /determined and presented.
 Effect of operational parameters on conventional method of puddling by power tiller by H Manjunath

CONE INDEX OF SOIL

The cone index of soil was measured to study the strength of puddled soil and its subsequent effect on
power tiller performance. The cone index represents the average penetration force per unit area of
projected cone base exerted by soil upon the conical head when forced down to a specific depth. The
cone fixed to the end of the rod was pushed into the soil and penetration resistance in terms of force
was measured as function of the depth of penetration using the cone penetrometer [9].
BULK DENSITY OF SOIL
The three cylindrical core samples were selected randomly from three locations in the field. The
diameter and length of core cutter were measured. The soil sample collected was kept in oven at 105 oC
for 24 hours, after that sample was taken out, cooled and weighed. The weight of soil sample was
recorded before and after drying. The soil bulk density was calculated in g cm-3 using following equation
and mean values were reported. It was determined by using the IS 11531-1985 [4].
4W
Soil bulk density (ρ) =
πD2 L
Where,
ρ = Soil bulk density, g cm-3
W = Mass of the oven dried soil sample, g
V = Volume of cylindrical core cutter, cm3
D = Diameter of cylindrical core cutter, cm
L = Length of the cylindrical core cutter, cm

INFILTRATION RATE OF SOIL

The infiltration rate is the lateral movement of water from cylinders was minimized by ponding water
in a guard cylinder of buffer area around the cylinder. The infiltration rate of soil was measured before
and after the puddling operation. It is determined by using the IS: 11531-1985 [4].
PUDDLING INDEX OF SOIL
For determining the puddling index of soil, sample of soil water suspension is taken by immersing the
glass tube to the depth about 100 mm. The samples was taken from the number of locations and
collected in measuring cylinders. It was stored and undisturbed for 48 hr to allow the soil to settle. The
volume of settled soil was noted for computing the puddling index [5]. Puddling index was determined
by following formula IS: 11531-1985 [4].
V
Puddling index of soil = Vs ×100
Where,
Vs = Volume of settled soil, and
V = Volume of settled soil, and

FUEL CONSUMPTIONOF POWER TILLER

Before starting the field operation, the fuel tank of machine was filled with fuel. Then the field operation
was started and the total operating time was recorded. After the completion of field operation the fuel
 Effect of operational parameters on conventional method of puddling by power tiller by H Manjunath

tank of machine was refilled and the amount of refill was recorded [7].Then the fuel consumption is
calculated by using the following equation.
Ft
F=
T
Where,
F= Fuel consumption rate, l h-1
Ft= Fuel used during operation, l
T= Total time needed for operation, h
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
This chapter deals with the results of puddling operation in paddy cultivation by the power tiller. The
results pertaining to conventional method of puddling operation by power tiller for field conditions were
presented and discussed.
SOIL TYPE
The most prominent types of soil available in Raichur district are clay soil and clay loam soil collected
and proportion of sand, silt and clay particles were determined. The type of soil was silty clay soil with
composition of sand, silt and clay 24.00, 21.5 and 54.60 per cent, respectively. It was observed that the
average cone index of soil, bulk density of soil and infiltration rate of soil was observed were 130 k Pa,
1.35 g cm-3 and 60-80 mm day-1, respectively.
EFFECT OF OPERATIONAL PARAMETERS ON CONVENTIONAL METHOD OF
PUDDLING
The operational parameters viz., forward speed, rotary speed and type of blade which affects the
performance of puddling operation by conventional method was studied and the observations like, cone
index of soil, bulk density of soil, infiltration rate of soil, puddling index of soil and fuel consumption
of power tiller determined/ recorded. The results are presented and discussed below.
CONE INDEX OF SOIL
The results pertaining to the effect of operational parameters viz., forward speed, rotary speed and type
of blade on cone index of soil are presented in Fig.1 and 2.The cone index of soil was maximum (106.10
k Pa) at 2.4 km h-1 for 220 rpm with J type of blade and a minimum cone index of 81.20 k Pa was
recorded at 1.8 km h-1 for 300 rpm with C type of blade. The cone index increased as the forward speed
increased from 1.8 to 2.4 km h-1. This might be due to the fact that there was more puddling at lower
forward speed than at higher forward speeds. There was more churning of soil due to greater time
available for soil puddling at low speed. As the rotary speed increased the cone index reduced because
of more churning of soil takes place in upper layer, it creates soil mixing with water increased at higher
rotary speed [3].C type blade gives less cone index value compare to J type blade because of the mixing
of soil with water was more homogeneous in C type blade during the puddling. The results were in line
with the findings [10].
BULK DENSITY OF SOIL
The effects of operational parameters viz., forward speed, rotary speed and type of blade on infiltration
rate of soil are presented in Fig.3 and 4.The maximum bulk density of soil of 1.20 g cm-3 was recorded
at 2.4 km h-1 for 220 rpm with C type of blade and a minimum (0.88 g cm-3) at of 1.8 km h-1 for 300
rpm with J type of blade. It was observed that, the bulk density increased as the forward speed increased
 Effect of operational parameters on conventional method of puddling by power tiller by H Manjunath

for both the blades. This was due to the fact that soil mixing with water increased at higher rotary speed
and thus resulted in lower bulk density and there was more puddling at lower forward speed than at
higher forward speed. As the rotary speed increased the bulk density decreased because of higher rotor
speed resulted finer soil breakup because of shorter bite length. Shape of the blade influenced the quality
of soil breakup by the rotary tiller tines [11][8].When the rotary unit attached with C blades, the mixing
of soil with water was more homogeneous than with the puddling obtained with J type blade
attachments. Therefore, for better puddling the C type blades are more advantages than J type blade.
Similar findings were represented [13].
INFILTRATION RATE OF SOIL
The effects of operational parameters viz., forward speed, rotary speed and type of blade on infiltration
rate of soil are presented in Fig.5 and 6.The infiltration rate of soil increased as the forward speed
increased, but decreased with increased rotary speed. The infiltration rate of soil was maximum (23.10
mm day-1) at 2.4 km h-1 for 220 rpm with C type of blade and a minimum of 13.50 mm day-1 was
recorded at 1.8 km h-1 for 300 rpm with J type of blade. This might be due to the fact that there was
more puddling at lower forward speed than at higher forward speed. As the rotary speed increased the
infiltration rate was decreased because at higher rotor speed more number of clay particles was brought
in suspension due to more churning and more clay particles settle at the top layer. It could be explained
by the fact that puddling with J shape blades as compared to C and it gave better puddling index. Better
puddling index, means better churning that gives better results by more fine texture soil on top of the
surface to decreased infiltration rate [13].
PUDDLING INDEX OF SOIL
The effects of operational parameters viz., forward speed, rotary speed and type of blade on puddling
index of soil are presented in Fig.7 and 8.The maximum puddling index of soil of 70.23 per cent was
recorded at 1.8 km h-1 for 300 rpm with J type of blade and it was minimum (57.61 per cent) at 2.4 km
h-1 for 220 rpm with C type of blade. The puddling index of soil decreased as the forward speed
increased, but increased with increased rotary speed. This might be due to the fact that there was more
puddling at lower forward speed than at higher forward speeds. As the rotary speed increased the
puddling index also increased for all types of blades because due to the fact that as the rotary speed was
increased byte length of cut soil by rotary unit blades decreased this resulting in better puddling of soil.
Higher speeds also gave more acceleration to soil-water mass for improved churning [13].J shape blades
as compared to C gave better puddling index. Better puddling index, means better churning that gives
better results by more fine texture soil on top of the surface to decrease infiltration rate [12].
FUEL CONSUMPTION OF POWER TILLER
Effects of operational parameters viz., forward speed, rotary speed and type of blade on fuel
consumption are presented in Fig.9 and 10.The fuel consumption of power tiller was maximum (2.40 l
h-1) at 2.4 km h-1 for 300 rpm with C type of blade and a minimum fuel consumption of 1.20 l h-1 was
recorded at 1.8 km h-1 for 220 rpm with J type of blade. The fuel consumption of power tiller increased
as the forward speed increased also increased with increased rotary speed. As forward speed increased
byte length also increased, as a result more volume of soil was handled per unit time and that results in
increased power requirement. To meet increased in power requirement more fuel was consumed.
 Effect of operational parameters on conventional method of puddling by power tiller by H Manjunath

Similar findings have been reported [11]. As rotary speed increased, inertia forces required for rotation
of rotary shaft (idle power requirement) also increased resulting in more fuel consumption. Hence, fuel
consumption increased with increased in rotary speed. Similar findings were reported [2].C-type of
blade works more volume of soil (due to more soil-metal contact area) and to overcome the additional
soil-metal frictional forces, more torque is required as a result fuel consumption increased for C-type
blade compared to J blade [12].

120

100
Cone index (kPa)

80

60 220 rpm
260 rpm
40
300 rpm
20

0
1.8 2.1 2.4
Forward speed (km h-1)

Figure 1: Effect of forward speed and rotary speed on cone index of soil for C type blade

120

100
Cone index (kPa)

80

60 220 rpm
260 rpm
40
300 rpm
20

0
1.8 2.1 2.4
Forward speed (km h-1)

Figure 2: Effect of forward speed and rotary speed on cone index of soil for J type blade
 Effect of operational parameters on conventional method of puddling by power tiller by H Manjunath

1.5
Bulk density (g cm-3)

1.45

1.4
220 rpm
1.35 260 rpm
300 rpm
1.3

1.25
1.8 2.1 2.4
-1
Forward speed (km h )

Figure 3: Effect of forward speed and rotary speed on bulk density of soil for C type blade

1.5

1.45
Bulk density (g cm-3)

1.4

1.35 220 rpm

260 rpm
1.3
300 rpm
1.25

1.2
1.8 2.1 2.4
-1
Forward speed (km h )

Figure 4: Effect of forward speed and rotary speed on bulk density of soil for J type blade
 Effect of operational parameters on conventional method of puddling by power tiller by H Manjunath

25
Infiltration rtae (mm day-1)

20

15
220 rpm
10 260 rpm
300 rpm
5

0
1.8 2.1 2.4
-1
Forward speed (km h )

Figure 5: Effect of forward speed and rotary speed on infiltration rate of soil for C type
blade

25
Infiltration rtae (mm day-1)

20

15
220 rpm
10 260 rpm
300 rpm
5

0
1.8 2.1 2.4
-1
Forward speed (km h )

Figure 6: Effect of forward speed and rotary speed on infiltration rate of soil for J type
blade
 Effect of operational parameters on conventional method of puddling by power tiller by H Manjunath

Puddling index (per cent) 70

68
66
64
62
220 rpm
60
260 rpm
58
56 300 rpm
54
52
1.8 2.1 2.4
-1
Forward speed (km h )

Figure 7: Effect of forward speed and rotary speed on puddling index of soil for C type
blade

72
Puddling index (per cent)

70
68
66
64 220 rpm
62 260 rpm
60 300 rpm
58
56
1.8 2.1 2.4
-1
Forward speed (km h )

Figure 8: Effect of forward speed and rotary speed on puddling index of soil for J type
blade
 Effect of operational parameters on conventional method of puddling by power tiller by H Manjunath

Fuel consumption (l h-1)

2.5

1.5 220 rpm

260 rpm
1
300 rpm
0.5

0
1.8 2.1 2.4
-1
Forward speed (km h )

Figure 9: Effect of forward speed and rotary speed on fuel consumption of power tiller for C
type blade

2.5
Fuel consumption (l h-1)

1.5
220 rpm
1 260 rpm
300 rpm
0.5

0
1.8 2.1 2.4
-1
Forward speed (km h )

Figure 10: Effect of forward speed and rotary speed on fuel consumption of power tiller for J
type blade
CONCLUSION
The performance on conventional method of puddling inferred that, the cone index of soil increased as
the forward speed increased, but decreased with increased rotary speed. The infiltration rate of soil
increased as the forward speed increased, but decreased with increased rotary speed. The puddling index
of soil decreased as the forward speed increased, but increased with increased rotary speed. The fuel
 Effect of operational parameters on conventional method of puddling by power tiller by H Manjunath

consumption of power tiller increased as the forward speed increased also increased with increased
rotary speed.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The Authors are thankful to the Department of Farm Machinery and Power Engineering, University of
Agricultural Sciences, Raichur
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