Ferdows, M.N.; Rahman, M.A.; Ali, M.R.; Hanif, M.A.; Tabriz, S.S.; Hossen, M.S.; Rokonuzzaman, M. Development and Performance Evaluation of Low-Cost 2WT-Operated Earthing-Up Machine for Sugarcane Cultivation in Bangladesh. AgriEngineering2023, 5, 1327-1346.
Ferdows, M.N.; Rahman, M.A.; Ali, M.R.; Hanif, M.A.; Tabriz, S.S.; Hossen, M.S.; Rokonuzzaman, M. Development and Performance Evaluation of Low-Cost 2WT-Operated Earthing-Up Machine for Sugarcane Cultivation in Bangladesh. AgriEngineering 2023, 5, 1327-1346.
Ferdows, M.N.; Rahman, M.A.; Ali, M.R.; Hanif, M.A.; Tabriz, S.S.; Hossen, M.S.; Rokonuzzaman, M. Development and Performance Evaluation of Low-Cost 2WT-Operated Earthing-Up Machine for Sugarcane Cultivation in Bangladesh. AgriEngineering2023, 5, 1327-1346.
Ferdows, M.N.; Rahman, M.A.; Ali, M.R.; Hanif, M.A.; Tabriz, S.S.; Hossen, M.S.; Rokonuzzaman, M. Development and Performance Evaluation of Low-Cost 2WT-Operated Earthing-Up Machine for Sugarcane Cultivation in Bangladesh. AgriEngineering 2023, 5, 1327-1346.
Abstract
Like the most of crops, especially sugarcane needs to be kept upright until it is harvested. Because, lodging of sugarcane has a significant negative effect on cane yield and sugar content of sugarcane. To keep sugarcane upright earthing up is an utmost intercultural operation. In Bangladesh, most of the operations for sugarcane cultivation including earthing up are generally done in traditional method using human labor which increases production costs as well as reduces the income of sugarcane growers. So, a cost effective two-wheeled tractor (2WT) mounted earthing up machine was developed in Bangladesh Sugarcrop Research Institute (BSRI), Pabna to reduce drudgery and cost of sugarcane production. Field tests were conducted in experimental sugarcane field at BSRI and technical and economic performances of the developed earthing up machine were also carried out based on the field test. Average effective field capacity and field efficiency were found 0.16 ha/hr and 77.41 %, respectively for the developed earthing up machine. The earthing up machine was not found economically viable when it is used only for earthing up operation. Besides, when the 2WT was being used as the main driver for other activities including earthing up operation, then the earthing up machine becomes economically beneficial with net cash flow, net present value, internal rate of return, benefit-cost ratio and payback period of BDT 148497/ha, BDT 23184, 3%, 3.81:1 and approximately 1 year, respectively. On the contrary, considering cost of only earthing up tool without 2WT, then it was found economically beneficial with net cash flow, internal rate of return, net present value, benefit-cost ratio and payback period of BDT 16428/ha, BDT 3053, 4.7%, 2.71:1 and approximately 2 years, respectively. Since 2WT is commonly used for versatile farming purposes. Therefore, versatile use of 2WT as prime mover for other machines including earthing up machine can make earthing up machine economically viable and beneficial for sugarcane growers.
Keywords
Sugarcane cultivation; development; 2WT; earthing up machine; economic performance
Subject
Biology and Life Sciences, Agricultural Science and Agronomy
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
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