Ag Eng 211
Fundamentals of Agricultural Engineering
MIDTERM NOTES
TOPIC OUTLINE
1 Definitions of Agricultural & Biosystems Engineering
2 Roles of Agricultural Engineering in National Development
3 Application of Agricultural Engineering in Agriculture
4 Sources of Farm Power
5 Determining Horse Power Output & Animal as a Source of Power
6 Agricultural Tractors & Equipments
7 Parts of an Engine & Its Processes
8 Processes of Land Preparation to Planting
TOPIC 1:
Definition of Agricultural & Biosystems Engineering
What is Agriculture and Biosystems Engineering?
à The application of engineering science and designs to the
processes and systems involved in the sustainable production,
post-production and processing of safe food, feed, fiber, timber
and other agricultural and biological materials.
à It is the application of engineering principles to any process
associated with producing agricultural based goods and
management of natural resources. It is concerned with the
development of farm machineries, agricultural structures, and
irrigation and drainage systems. It also include processes for
preserving and converting agricultural produce to useful food,
feed, and fiber products.
Agricultural Engineering V.S Agricultural Science
à In agricultural engineering, you have to do applied engineering
science from different branches of core engineering like Civil,
Mechanical, Chemical, Electrical, Computer Science and along
with some core courses like Farm Machinery Design and Farm
Tractor Design.
à In Agricultural Science usually covered wide spectrum of applied
science like Agricultural Chemicals, Biochemistry, Soil Science
and Chemistry, Agronomy, Genetics and Plant Breeding, Plant
Physiology and Pathology, Meteorology, Economics, Statistics,
Agricultural Extension, Seed Science and many more.
FIELDS OF SPECIALIZATION
Farm power and machinery includes equipment for
the production, harvesting, processing, storage,
manufacture, preserving, transporting and
Agricultural & Biosystems distributing of agricultural and biological
Power & Machinery products/materials. It includes but is not limited to,
tractors and their attachments, power tillers,
seeders, transplanters, windmills, irrigation
equipment and accessories.
Irrigation engineering is the analysis and design of
systems that optimally supply the right amount of
Irrigation & Drainage water to the soil at the right time. Drainage
Engineering engineering aims to remove water or salts from the
soil in order to maintain an optimal plant growth
environment.
The application of engineering and biological
principles to the solution of soil and water
management problems. The conservation of natural
Soil & Water resources implies utilization without waste while
Conservation Engineering
maintaining a continuous profitable level of crop
production and while improving environmental
quality.
Buildings and structures for the production,
processing, storage, preservation, preserving,
transporting and distributing of agricultural and
biological products/materials. These include but are
Agricultural & Biosystems
not limited to: silos, farm houses, green/screen
Buildings & Structures
houses, poultry houses, piggery houses,
slaughterhouses, farm bridges, kiln drying and
lumber treatment structures, farm equipment, farm
supplies, and soil and water conservation structures.
Agricultural & Bioprocess
Engineering
Food Engineering
Renewable/Bio-Energy
&
Farm Electrification
Agricultural & Biological
Waste Management
Aquaculture Engineering
Forest Engineering
Agricultural & Biosystems
Automation & Instrumentation
Agricultural &
Bio-information System
Agro-meteorology
Agricultural & Biological
Resource Conservation
& Management
TOPIC 2:
Roles of Agricultural Engineering in National Development
Agricultural engineering establishes its foundation for
agricultural development, and its neglect is a potential threat to
any country's future development. The profession has enormous
potential to solve the majority of agriculture's problems,
particularly in developing countries.
Role Various Aspects
Food Security
Activities to maintain or raise the quality or change
the form or characteristics of agricultural, fishery,
forestry and biological products/materials and
includes, but is not limited to, cleaning, sorting,
grading, treating, drying, dehydrating, grinding,
mixing, milling, canning, dressing, slaughtering,
freezing, pasteurizing, conditioning, packaging,
repacking, transporting of agricultural, fishery,
forestry and other biological products/materials.
A scientific field that interprets and applies principles
of engineering, science, and mathematics to food
manufacturing and operations, including the
processing, production, handling, storage,
conservation, control, packaging and distribution of
food products.
Renewable energy refers to the production of energy
from renewable or sustainable sources, including
wind, solar and hydro or marine power. Bio-Energy is
all energy derived from biofuels, which are fuels
derived from biomass. Biomass is defined as living or
recently dead organisms and their byproducts.
Refers to the development of systems, processes,
and equipment for agricultural waste disposal and
utilization and environment-friendly technologies
such as, but is not limited to, compost plants, biogas
plants, biomass utilization technologies, systems and
processes.
A multidisciplinary field of engineering that aims to
solve technical problems associated with farming
aquatic vertebrates, invertebrates, and algae.
Common aquaculture systems requiring
optimization and engineering include sea cages,
ponds, and recirculating systems.
The application of engineering principles and
techniques to the management of forest lands. This
includes working to ensure the health and
sustainability of wildlands, timberlands and
watersheds while allowing for such economic
activities as timber harvesting and recreational use.
Refers to the use and application of sensors and
machines in the agricultural and fishery production
industry and the biological systems. It includes but is
not limited to, computer models for control and
automation in the agri-industrial and forestry
industries and likewise, robotics for farm operation.
The utilization of information systems, database, and
other information management tools for agricultural
use, biological systems modeling to understand the
mutual response between life and the environment.
It includes three areas of study: agricultural use,
biological systems modeling and the application of
Geographic Information System (GIS) technology for
inventory, analysis, and management of agricultural
and biological resources.
The study of weather and use of weather and climate
information to enhance or expand agricultural crops
and/or to increase crop production. Agro-
meteorology mainly involves the interaction of
meteorological and hydrological factors, on one
hand and agriculture, which encompasses
horticulture, animal husbandry, and forestry.
Conservation and proper management of
agricultural and biological resources such as land for
agriculture, settlement and recreation; parks and
plant nurseries; beneficial ecosystem of life and
environment. Monitoring and conservation of natural
resources; rehabilitation of forest, lakes, rivers and
idle lands; and sustainable development,
management, and exploitation of the agricultural
ecosystem.
Food security can only be achieved if food is
produced in abundant quantity and on a
commercial scale. Even when food is abundantly
produced, if it is not taken care of, most of it will be
lost to deterioration. Agricultural Engineering
principles are practiced to ensure there is adequate
supply of food all year round.

Ag Eng 211
Fundamentals of Agricultural Engineering

The traditional farming method and system in some

parts of the country is characterized by the use of
TOPIC 3:
simple tools and technology. With the introduction of Application of Agricultural Engineering in Agriculture
Reduction of Drudgery machines, tedious operations hitherto handled by
in Agricultural Work man are mechanized. This has a number of The most common agricultural engineering technology
implications including a reduction in rural-urban that is being used in agricultural sector in our country are
migration, and improved dignity of the agricultural
worker. categorize by the following.
The traditional farming method and system in some
parts of the country is characterized by the use of Fields of Application
simple tools and technology. With the introduction of Agricultural tractors, tillage equipment,
Reduction of Drudgery machines, tedious operations hitherto handled by I. Production Technology crop establishment equipment, crop
in Agricultural Work man are mechanized. This has a number of maintenance equipment, irrigation, etc.
implications including a reduction in rural-urban
migration, and improved dignity of the agricultural a) Rotary Tiller (Rotavitor)
worker. Agricultural Tractors
b) Walking-type Tractor (Kuliglig)
c) Tractor w/ loader in front to push materials
Most large-scale agricultural development programs d) Tractor with tillage equipment to prepare land
involve the development of basic rural infrastructure.
These infrastructures include water, roads, a) Disc Plow
Rural Infrastructural electricity, schools, markets, energy supply systems, b) Moldboard Plow
Development maintenance systems, processing systems and Tillage Equipment c) Chisel Plow
waste management, and control systems. Rural d) Spike Tooth Harrow
e) Spring Tooth Harrow
dwellers' standard of living is improved as they have
access to basic necessities of life.
a) Self-propelled Rice Transplanter
Crop Establishment Equipment b) Corn Planter
The natural resources on which the practice of c) Seeding Transplanter
agriculture is based are soil, water and air.
Agricultural Engineering practices such as a) Knapsack Sprayer
Natural Resources b) Grass Cutter
conservation tillage, terracing, erosion control, etc. Crop Maintenance Equipment
Conservation are used for soil and water conservation. One of the c) Mango Sprayer
d) Boom Spray
important roles of agricultural engineering is to
ensure an optimum management of these resources. a) Furrow Irrigation
b) Shallow Tube Well Irrigation System
Irrigation and Drainage
c) Drip Irrigation
Agricultural Engineering provides required
d) Sprinkler Irrigation
environmental conditions for the growth of animals
and crops. After harvest, technologies are provided
Harvesting and threshing equipment,
for managing the environments under storage.
II. Post Harvesting Technology drying equipment, milling equipment,
Environmental Environmental management includes the control of
storage equipment, etc.
Management the use of natural resources, control and
management involves solid and liquid waste a) Sugarcane Harvester
disposal, forestry and horticulture where machines b) Robotic Hand Sensor (Harvester)
Harvesting Equipment
and systems are used for environmental c) Rice Ripper
beautification. d) Potato Tube Harvester

Combine Harvester for

With the practice of agricultural engineering the a) Wheat
Combine Harvester
quality of life of farmers is improved. Engineering in b) Rice
c) Corn
agriculture comes with it, mechanization of
production. For mechanization to succeed, it has to a) Rice Thresher
Threshing Equipment
be practiced on relatively large-scale farms. This b) Corn Thresher
Quality of Life of
results in farmers shifting from subsistent to
Farmers commercial farming. With the scale of production
a) Flat Bed Dryer
Crop Maintenance b) Multi-Commodity Dryer
increased, farmers can make more profits. More Equipment c) Mechanical Grain Dryer
profits mean that they can have more disposable d) Tunnel-type Solar Dryer
income, which they can invest in other areas of
economic venture. a) Portable Rice Mill
Milling Equipment b) Large Scale Milling Facilities
c) Mobile Rice Milling Equipment
A sustainable agricultural system is one that
a) Grain Bin Storage (Silo)
operates in such a way that the ability of future
Storage Equipment b) Cold Storage Facilities
generations to operate is not compromised. This is c) Rice Warehouse
Sustainable achieved through optimization techniques, which
Agriculture Agricultural engineering offers. Agricultural Solar energy, wind energy, hydro-power
Engineering provides technologies for conserving III. Energy Saving Technology
dams, biogas, etc.
resources (Soil, Water, Energy and Funds) while
producing enough food for the present generation. a) Solar-powered Irrigation
Solar Power
b) Solar power for farm electrification
When engineering is applied in agriculture, more
a) Large Scale Wind Energy Farm
food is produced and the variety and type of food
Wind Energy / Power b) Wind Turbine for pumping ground water
increase. This fuels the development of industries for
c) Vertical axis wind turbine
Industrial processing the excess food into industrial raw
Development materials either for local consumption or foe export. Hydro-Electric Dams
a) Hydro-Electric Dam
With industries springing up, more employment b) Magat Dam
opportunities are created and government revenue
a) Small scale biogas digester
improves.
Biofuel / Biogas b) Biogas stove set-up
c) Multi-fuel gasifier stove
Agricultural engineering provides job opportunities
to thousands of employee in country which has IV. Environmental Protection Soil and water conservation technology,
Job Creation composting facility, biofuel, etc.
impacted positively on the economic development of Technology
the economy. SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION TECHNOLOGY
à Application of engineering and design to improve water quality and minimize
pollution from nonpoint sources.
à Soil and water conservation are those activities at the local level which
maintain or enhance the productive capacity of the land including soil, water
and vegetation in areas prone to degradation through:
o prevention or reduction of soil erosion, compaction, salinity;
o conservation or drainage of water and
o maintenance or improvement of soil fertility
à The following are the Soil and Water Conservation Technologies currently
used worldwide:
o Conservation Tillage
o Deep Tillage
o Conservation Farming
o Improved Water Use Efficiency
o Land leveling and Terracing
o Water Disposal

Ag Eng 211
Fundamentals of Agricultural Engineering

Vertical farming, hydroponics, ELECTRICAL POWER

V. Precision Agriculture
aquaculture, GIS & Remote Sensing
à Electricity has become a very important source of power on farms in various
A method of growing plants without soil, by using states of the country. It is steadily becoming more and more available with
Hydroponics System mineral nutrient rich water solutions. the increase of various river valley projects and thermal stations. The largest
use of electric power in the rural areas is for irrigation and domestic water
A system that replace soil with water that comes supply. Besides this, the use of electric power in dairy industry, cold storage,
from a fish tank. Here, the water containing fish fruit processing and cattle feed grinding has tremendously increased.
waste which is naturally rich in plant nutrients, is
Aquaponics System circulated through a hydroponic plantation. The
now fish-nutrient rich plant waste water is ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
reintroduced to the fish tank, completing the cycle. o Very cheap form of power;
The practice of growing crops in vertically stacked
o High efficiency; o Initial capital investment is high;
layers. It often incorporates controlled- o Can work at a stretch; o Require good amount of
Vertical Farming environment agriculture, which aims to optimize o Maintenance and operating technical knowledge and it
plant growth, and soilless farming techniques such cost is very low and not causes great danger, if handled
as hydroponics, aquaponics, and aeroponics. without care.’
affected by weather
Also known as aquafarming, is the farming of fish, conditions.
crustaceans, mollusks, aquatic plants, algae, and
other organisms. Aquaculture involves cultivating
Aquaculture freshwater and saltwater populations under
RENEWABLE ENERGY
controlled conditions, and can be contrasted with
commercial fishing, which is the harvesting of wild Types of Renewable Energy
fish.
A non-fossilized, biodegradable organic
BIOMASS
A computer-based tool for mapping and analyzing material
feature events on earth. GIS technology integrates
common database operations, such as query and Derived from thermal energy, usually
Geographic Information statistical analysis, with maps. GIS manages GEOTHERMAL occurring in deep reservoirs of hot fluids
System (GIS) location-based information and provides tools for within the Earth’s crust
display and analysis of various statistics, including
population characteristics, economic development
Derived from solar radiation – converted into
opportunities, and vegetation types. SOLAR ENERGY
useful electrical or thermal energy
The art and science of making measurements of
the earth using sensors on airplanes or satellites. Mostly derived from potential energy of
These sensors collect data in the form of images dammed water which is harnessed to turn a
Remote Sensing and provide specialized capabilities for
HYDRO-POWER
water turbine that further drives a generator
manipulating, analyzing, and visualizing those that produces electricity
images. Remote sensed imagery is integrated
within a GIS.
Derived from ocean or tidal current/wave
OCEAN POWER energy that is converted into useful electrical
or mechanical energy
TOPIC 4: Derived from wind that is converted into
Sources of Farm Power WIND ENERGY
useful electrical or mechanical enegry

Farming system involves multiple farm operations which

are to be performed by using various farm power sources
available at farm. The sources of farm power can be classified

into different categories depending upon its availability and
usage.

SOURCES
HUMAN POWER
à Human beings are the m x employed for doing stationary work like threshing,
winnowing, chaff cutting and lifting irrigation water.
à Develop maximum power of about 75 watts or 0.1 hp for doing work under
normal condition of the farmer
à In some instances, manual labor is still more efficient than machine due to the
losses omitted.

ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
o Costliest power compared to all
other farms of power
Easily available and used for all o Very low efficiency
types of work. o Requires full maintenance when
not in use and affected by
weather condition and seasons.

ANIMAL POWER
à Land preparation, weed management, crop threshing and transport are
undertaken using animal power. Oxen, buffalo, horses, mule, donkey and
camel are used as animal power in agriculture for various purposes. They can
generate about 750 watts or 1hp for doing farm work.

ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
o Animals have limited daily
working hours
o Animals need feeding and
o Cheap to maintain •
protection against pests and
Multipurpose use for meat
disease
and milk,
o Slow
o Self-replacement and
o High man/power ratio
o Manure production
o Limited range of working
conditions
o Animals require training

MECHANICAL POWER

à The third important source of farm power is mechanical power that is

available through tractors and oil engines. The oil engine is a highly efficient
device for converting fuel into useful work.