Landscape Sprinkler Irrigation Design TutorialTable of Contents

Posted by FARMERSBLOG , , Saturday, 1 May 2010 03:43




Here's the table of contents for this sprinkler irrigation design tutorial. It looks like a lot to cover, but much of it you will skim over because it applies only to very specific situations that don't matter for most sprinkler systems. (But if it turns out one of those specific situations applies to YOU won't you be glad that I included it?) You will find that the tutorial goes quickly once you get started. I suggest you skim through all the steps quickly, just so you understand the general process (don't bother taking notes!), then go back to the beginning and take it step-by-step through your actual design.
Start Here! Introduction to Irrigation Design: How to use this tutorial, information on software programs to design your sprinkler system, and a few suggestions on those "free designs" at the home improvement stores. (Big surprise! I don't totally trash them!)
Step #1 Collect Information:
Measure Your Yard: How to measure your yard easily and accurately for your sprinkler irrigation system.
City-Slicker Water: How to find the PSI and GPM if you get your water through a pipe from a water-company.
Country-Bumpkin Water: How to find the PSI and GPM if you pump water from a well, creek, lake, etc..
Backwoods Water: How to measure the GPM and PSI for other types of water supplies (Moses would use this section).
Step #2 Select Your Equipment:
Pressure Loss: Determine pressure losses for your sprinkler irrigation system.
Water Meter: Water meters.
Backflow Preventer: How to select a backflow preventer.
Mainlines: What type of pipe to use and how to calculate pressure loss in an irrigation system mainline.
Valves: Types of irrigation valves.
Elevation Pressure Loss: How to calculate pressure loss in your irrigation system caused by elevation changes.
Sprinkler Heads: How to select your sprinkler heads.
Laterals: Type of pipe to use and pressure losses for the sprinkler system lateral pipes.
Adjustments: Making pressure loss adjustments to balance the system (very important if you want the sprinklers to work).
Step #3 Place Sprinkler Heads:
Sprinkler Spacings: How to determine the correct sprinkler spacings, and which nozzles to use.
Draw in the Sprinklers: How to determine where to place each sprinkler head in the irrigation system.
Sprinkler GPM: How to determine the GPM for each sprinkler head.
Step #4 Create Valve Zones and Draw in Pipes:
Hydro-Zones and Valve Zones: Identify hydro-zones and create valve zones.
Sprinkler Pipe Layout: How to route the sprinkler piping in your irrigation system.
Step #5 Size Piping:
Pressure Loss: Why calculating the pressure loss is so important for an irrigation system.
Lateral Pipe Sizes: How to calculate the size for each lateral pipe in the irrigation system.
Congratulations! A few loose ends to tie up and your sprinkler irrigation design is completed!


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BIOFERTILIZERS: AN ECOFRIENDLY WAY TO REPLACE CHEMICAL FERTILIZERS

Posted by FARMERSBLOG , , Friday, 30 April 2010 12:52



Introduction
Increasing use of chemical fertilizers in agriculture make country self dependent in food production but it deteriorate environment and cause harmful impacts on living beings. Due to insufficient uptake of these fertilizers by plants results, fertilizers reaches into water bodies through rain water, causes eutrophication in water bodies and affect living beings including growth inhabiting micro organism. The excess uses of chemical fertilizers in agriculture are costly and also have various adverse effects on soils i.e. depletes water holding capacity, soil fertility and disparity in soil nutrients. It was felt from a long time to develop some low cost effective and eco-friendly fertilizers which work without disturbing nature. Now, certain species of micro-organism are widely used which have unique properties to provide natural products, and serve as a good substitute of chemical fertilizers.
What is biofertilizer?
A number of micro-organisms (bacteria fungi and algae) are considered as beneficial for agriculture and used as biofertilizers.
Why biofertilizers?
Biofertilizers are supposed to be a safe alternative to chemical fertilizers to minimize the ecological disturbance. Biofertilizers are cost effective, eco-friendly and when they are required in bulk can be generated at the farm itself. They increase crop yield upto 10-40% and fix nitrogen upto 40-50 Kg. The other plus point is that after using 3-4 years continuously there is no need of application of biofertilizers because parental inoculums are sufficient for growth and multiplication. They improve soil texture, pH, and other properties of soil. They produces plant growth promoting substances IAA amino acids, vitamins etc. They have 75% moisture and it could be applied to the field directly. Biofertilizers contained 3.5% - 4% nitrogen, 2% - 2.5% phosphorus and 1.5% potassium. In terms of N: P: K, it was found to be superior to farmyard manure and other type of manure (Mukhopadhyay, 2006).
Microbes used as Biofertilizer
Microbes are effective in inducing plant growth as they secrets plant growth promoters (auxins, abscisic acid, gibberellic acid, cytokinis, ethylene) and enhance seed germination and root growth. They also play a considerable role in decomposition of organic materials and enrichment of compost.
Nitrogen fixing Bacteria
1. Rhizobia: - Legumes plants have root nodules, where atmospheric nitrogen fixation is done by bacteria belonging to genera, Rhizobium, Bradyshzodium, Sinorhizobium, Azorhizobium and Mesorhizobium collectively called as rhizobia. When rhizobial culture is inoculated in field, pulse crops yield can be increased due to rhizobial symbiosis (Dubey, 2001). Rhizobium can fix 15-20 N/ha and increase crop yield upto 20%.
2. Azorhizobium: It is a stem nodule forming bacteria and fixes nitrogen symbionts of the stem nodule also produce large amount of IAA that promotes plant growth.
3. Bradyrhizobium: Bradyrhizobium is reported a good nitrogen fixer. Bradyrhizobium strain inoculation with Mucuna seeds enhances total organic carbon, N2, phosphorus and potassium in the soil, increases plant growth and consequently plant biomass, reduction in the weed population and increased soil microbial population..
Diazotrophs
These are aerobic chemolithotrophs and anaerobic photoautotrophs. These are non nodule forming bacteria. They include numbers of the families:-
1) Azotobacteracae: e.g. Azotobacter:
They are the free living aerobic, photoautotrophic, non-symbiotic bacteria. They secretes vitamin-B complex, gibberellins, napthalene, acetic acid and other substances that inhibit certain root pathogens and improves root growth and uptake of plant nutrients. It occurs in the roots of Paspalum notatum (tropical grasses) and other spp. and adds 15-93 Kg N/ha/annum on P. notatum roots (Dobereiner et al., 1973). Azotobacter indicum occurs in acidic soil in sugarcane plant roots. It can apply in cereals, millets, vegetables and flowers through seed, seedlings soil treatment.
2) Spirillaceae: e.g. Azospirillum and Herbaspirillum:
These are gram negative, free living, associative symbiotic and non-nodule forming, aerobic bacteria, occurs in the roots of dicots and monocot plants i.e. corn, sorghum, wheat etc. It is easy to culture and identify. Azospirillum is found to be very effective in increasing 10-15% yield of cereal crops and fixes N2 upto 20-40% Kg/ha. Different A. brasiliense strains inoculation in the wheat seed causes increase in seed germination, plant growth, plumule and radicle length. Herbaspirillum species occurs in roots, stems and leaves of sugarcane and rice. They produce growth promoters (IAA, Gibberillins, Cytokinins) and enhance root development and uptake of plant nutrients (N, P & K).
3) Acetobacter diazotrophicus:
Another diazotroph is Acetobacter diazotrophicus occurs in roots, stem and leaves of sugarcane and sugar beat crops as nitrogen fixer and applied through soil treatment. It also produces growth promoters e.g. IAA and helps in nutrients uptake, seed germination, and root growth. This bacterium fixes nitrogen upto 15kg /ha/year and enhance upto 0.5 – 1% crop yield (Gahukar – 2005-06).
Cyanobacteria (Blue green algae):
Nostoc, Anabaena, Oscillatoria, Aulosira, Lyngbya etc. are the prokaryotic organisms and phototropic in nature. They play an important role in enriching paddy field soil by fixing atmospheric nitrogen and supply vitamin B complex and growth promoting substance which makes the plant grow vigorously. Cyanobacteria fixes 20-30 Kg/N/ha and increase10-15% crop yield when applied at 10 Kg/ha.
Azolla – Anabaena symbiosis
It is a free floating, aquatic fern found on water surface having a cyanobacterial symbiont Anabaena azollae in their leaves. It fixes atmospheric nitrogen in paddy field and excrete organic nitrogen in water during its growth and also immediately upon trampling. Azolla contributes nitrogen, phosphorus (15-20 Kg/ha/month), potassium (20-25 kg/ha/month) and organic carbon etc. and increases 10-20% yield of paddy crops and also suppresses weed growth. Azolla also absorbs traces of potassium from irrigation water and can be used as green manure before rice planting. Azolla spp. are metal tolerant hence, can be applied near heavy metal polluted areas.
Phosphate Solubilising Bacteria
Pseudomonas fluorescens, Bacillus megatherium var. phosphaticum, Acrobacter acrogens, nitrobacter spp., Escherichia freundii, Serratia spp., Pseudomonas striata, Bacillus polymyxa are the bacteria have phosphate solubilising ability. ‘Phosphobacterin’ are the bacterial fertilizers containing cells of Bacillus megatherium var. phosphaticum, prepared firstly by USSR scientists. They increased about 10 to 20 % crop yield (Cooper, 1959) and also produces plant growth promoting hormones which helps in phosphate solubilising activity of soil.
Phosphate solubilizing fungi
Some fungi also have phosphate dissolving ability e.g. Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus awamori, Penicillium digitatum etc.
Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR)
They are also called as microbial pesticides e.g. Bacillus spp. and Pseudomonas fluorescence. Serratia spp. and Ochrobactrum spp. are able to promote growth of plants. Pseudomonas fluorescence application to the Black pepper enhanced uptake of nutrients which increased plant biomass. Fluorescent rhizobacteria improve the growth of H. brasiliensis.
Mycorrhiza
Mycorrhizas are developed due to the symbiosis between some specific root inhabiting fungi and plant roots and used as biofertilizers. They absorb nutrients such as manganese, phosphorus, iron, sulphur, zinc etc. from the soil and pass it to the plant. Mycorrhizal fungus increases the yield of crops by 30-40% and also produces plant growth promoting substances.
VAM fungi or Endomycorrhiza
They occur commonly in the roots of crop plants. VAM fungal hyphae enhance the uptake of phosphorus and other nutrients that are responsible for plant growth stimulation including roots and shoot length. VAM also enhances the growth of black pepper and protects from Phytophthora capsici, Radopholus similis and Melvidogyne incognita (Anandraj et al., 2001). VAM fungi enhance water uptake in plants and also provide heavy metals tolerance to plants.

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सोलर बोरे एंड सुर्फस वातेरे पुम्पिंग

Posted by FARMERSBLOG , , 12:10


Solar bore and surface water pumping

There are more than 10,000 solar powered surface and bore water pumps in use around the world today. They are widely used on farms and outback stations in Australia to supply bore and surface sourced water to livestock.


In developing countries they are used extensively to pump water from wells and rivers to villages for domestic consumption and irrigation of crops. Once a very expensive technology, prices have dropped in recent years and can be further offset through government rebates (Western Australia) and Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs)

A typical solar powered pumping system consists of a solar panel array that powers an electric motor, which in turn powers a bore or surface pump. The water is often pumped from the ground or stream into a storage tank that provides a gravity feed, so energy storage is not needed for these systems. PV powered pumping systems are a cost-effective alternative to agricultural wind turbines for remote area water supply.

Design a solar water pumping system using the Energy Matters system builder
Learn more about solar water pump rebates
View information on RECs (Renewable Energy Certificates)
Browse our range of solar pumping products;

Benefits

Photovoltaic (PV) systems are used to pump water for livestock, plants or humans. Since the need for water is greatest on hot sunny days the technology is an obvious choice for this application. Pumping water using PV technology is simple, reliable, and requires almost no maintenance.

For farmers with a creek running through their properties, using a solar powered water pumping solution means less fouling of waterways and far less erosion of banks. It can also lead to better pasture management as livestock will be able to access water via multiple distribution points.

Solar powered water pumping systems are similar to any other pumping system, only the power source is solar energy. PV pumping systems have, as a minimum, a PV array, a motor, and a bore pump. Solar water pumping arrays are fixed mounted or sometimes placed on passive trackers (which use no motors) to increase pumping time and volume. AC and DC motors with centrifugal or displacement pumps are used.

The most inexpensive solar bore pumps cost less than $1,500, while the large systems can run to over $20,000, however, the pricing can be reduced through government rebates (Western Australia) and Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs). Most PV water pumps rarely exceed 2 horsepower in size. Well installed quality PV water pumping systems can provide over 20 years of reliable and continuous service.

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COTTON HARVESTER

Posted by FARMERSBLOG , , 11:18


The invention claimed is:

1. A cotton picker spindle assembly comprising: a cotton picker spindle support having a generally cylindrically shaped bore; a bushing adapted for receipt within the bore; a spindle having a cylindrically shaped shaft with a shaft surface rotatably supported within the bushing for rotation about a spindle axis and having a driven end and a picking end; the spindle including a lubrication cavity extending axially from the driven end towards the picking end; and lubrication apertures extending radially from the cavity to the shaft surface.

2. The spindle assembly as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a lubrication and dirt seal supported in one end of the bushing, the seal limiting lubricant flow from outwardly from the spindle and preventing dirt from entering the bushing.

3. The spindle assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein the seal includes lip structure and means for minimizing seal contact force of the lip structure against the spindle to limit drag on the spindle.

4. The spindle assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein the shaft has a radius R1 and the lubrication cavity is centered on the spindle axis and has a radius at least half the radius R1 to minimize spindle weight.

5. The spindle assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein the lubrication cavity is generally coextensive with the bushing.

6. The spindle assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein the bushing comprises an inner bushing and an outer bushing offset axially outwardly from the inner bushing and defining a lubrication storage area therebetween.

7. The spindle assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein at least one of the apertures opens to the lubrication storage area and lubricant is directed outwardly from the cavity to the storage area by centrifugal force as the spindle rotates about the spindle axis.

8. A cotton picker spindle assembly comprising a spindle nut with a cylindrical bore, an inner bushing press-fit into the cylindrical bore at one end of the nut, an outer bushing press-fitted into the bore at an opposite end of the nut, an annular cavity located axially outwardly of the outer bushing, a lubricant and dirt seal located in the annular cavity, a spindle with a cylindrical shank having a radius R1, a dust collar located on the cylindrical shank outwardly adjacent the dirt and lubricant seal, the dust collar projecting into the annular cavity, the dust collar having an inner face offset outwardly from an outer face of the outer bushing to define the annular cavity, wherein the seal includes means for minimizing drag on the spindle and limiting outward movement of lubricant from the outer bushing past the dust collar while reducing or eliminating axially inward migration of dirt and other contaminants that get past the dust collar, the seal being in non-contacting relationship with the dust collar and including a radially inwardly biased narrow lip contacting a narrow area of the cylindrical shank.

9. The cotton picker spindle assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein the seal includes a ring-shaped main body having an inner radius R2 slightly larger than the outer radius R1 of the spindle shank and an outer radius R3 approximately equal to the diameter of the bore to provide a firm interference fit against the spindle nut when the seal is pressed into the cavity.

10. The cotton picker spindle assembly as set forth in claim 9 wherein the seal main body is offset radially outwardly of the spindle, the narrow lip biased radially inwardly from the main body into generally an edge contact with the shank.

11. The cotton picker spindle assembly as set forth in claim 10 wherein the narrow lip ramps axially outwardly away from the outer bushing.

12. The cotton picker spindle assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein the spindle includes an driven end having a bevel gear and an opposite outer end, and a blind bore extending axially through the bevel gear end towards the outer end to reduce weight of the spindle and provide a lubrication cavity opening through the bevel gear.

13. The cotton picker spindle assembly as set forth in claim 12 including a sized aperture extending radially from the blind bore through the shank, wherein lubrication is metered outwardly from the lubrication cavity to the shank by centrifugal force as the spindle rotates about the spindle axis.

14. The cotton picker spindle assembly as set forth in claim 13 wherein the aperture opens adjacent the outer bushing.

15. The cotton picker spindle assembly as set forth in claim 12 wherein the blind bore has a radius at least half the radius R1.

16. A cotton picker spindle for a spindle assembly, the spindle including a rotational axis, a driven end having a bevel gear centered on the rotational axis, an outer end opposite the driven end, the spindle including a cylindrical portion having an outer bearing surface adapted for rotation within bushing structure, and a bore extending axially from the driven end and through the cylindrical portion towards the outer end to reduce weight of the spindle and define a lubrication cavity, and an aperture extending from the bore to the outer bearing surface.

17. The cotton picker spindle for a spindle assembly as set forth in claim 16 wherein the cylindrical portion has a radius R1 and wherein the bore has a radius at least half the radius R1.

18. The cotton picker spindle for a spindle assembly as set forth in claim 16 wherein the bore is generally coextensive with outer bearing surface.

19. The cotton picker spindle for a spindle assembly as set forth in claim 16 wherein the aperture comprises a sized cross hole extending radially through the cylindrical portion for metering lubricant from the bore by centrifugal force as the spindle rotates.

20. The cotton picker spindle as set forth in claim 16 wherein the bore comprises a blind bore extending through the bevel gear.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to cotton harvesters and, more specifically, to spindles for such cotton harvesters.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A typical cotton picker includes a plurality of rotating barbed spindles which project into the plants. A picker drum assembly includes a plurality of vertical picker bars which each support a column of rotatable picker spindles. Each spindle is elongated and includes a drive gear which is driven to rotate the spindle about its principle axis as the barbs engage the cotton. The cotton wraps around the spindles and is doffed therefrom by a doffing mechanism which includes a plurality of flexible doffers, one for each row of picking spindles. Cotton pickers typically include from two to six forwardly located row units, each unit supporting a pair of upright picker drums having from twelve to sixteen picker bars. Each picker bar, in turn, rotatably supports up to twenty picker spindles. Several hundred spindles are therefore supported from each drum, and a large amount of mass is put in motion when the picker drums are rotated. The rotational speed of the spindles is on the order of 4000 rpm, and therefore the gyroscopic effect is substantial and adds to the forces generated by the system. The row units are relatively heavy and their weight shifts the center of gravity of the harvester forwardly. The weight of the spindles increases forces on drives and cam tracks.

A typical cotton picker spindle has a generally solid body fabricated from special heat-treated steel which is chrome plated to provide a hard, smooth surface. Such spindles have a high density and add a substantial amount of weight to the driven portion of the row unit. The drive speed of the picker drum assembly and thus machine productivity is limited by the amount of mass in motion.

A lubrication path directs grease through the picker bar to lubricate the bevel drive gears and the journal areas of the spindles. The picker bars must be greased at regular intervals to maintain adequate lubrication at the spindle journals. If the lubrication interval is too long, the spindle bearings do not receive adequate grease and will suffer premature wear and failure. Most spindle mounting nut assemblies are unsealed, so grease tends to leak out from the spindles, especially when the picker bars are over-greased to assure adequate spindle lubrication. The outward movement of grease flushes dust from the assembly to reduce contaminants in the picker bar. If the intervals between greasing are too long, dirt is inadequately flushed and wear is increased.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,757,671 discloses a seal assembly for reducing the amount of grease lost by the spindle assembly area and reducing the amount of contaminants entering the drive and journal areas. A first sealing ring contacts and seals the outer surface of the spindle. A second sealing ring, mounted over the first ring, seals non-moving components. Although the seal assembly reduces contaminants and the amount of lost lubricant, the seals tend to add substantial drag and significantly increase the power required to drive the large number of spindles on each drum. Previously, the amount of added power required by the seal assembly was high enough to make the seal assembly impractical.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved spindle assembly for a cotton harvester and spindle therefor. It is a further object to provide such an assembly and spindle which decrease weight and mass in motion and increase service interval, part life, and lubrication retention within the spindle assembly without adding substantial spindle drag.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved spindle assembly which increases lubrication capacity and reduces the frequency of spindle bar lubrication without compromising spindle journal lubrication. It is a further object to provide such an assembly having a dirt and lubricant seal with relatively little drag.

A spindle assembly includes a spindle with a blind bore extending along the spindle axis from the drive gear towards the outer end. Cross-formed holes extend from the blind bore through to the bearing surface of the spindle. Lubricant from the spindle bars passes into the bore where it is stored and distributed to the journal areas through the holes.

The spindle bores reduce the mass of the spindles to allow higher picking speeds. The lower spindle mass decreases gyroscopic effects, geartrain and cam track forces, and power requirements. The center bore defines a cavity or reservoir for accumulating spindle grease for wear-reducing, continuous picker bar component lubrication. The reservoir allows longer picker bar lubrication intervals. The holes are designed to deliver a steady and predictable amount of grease to the bushings between lubrication intervals to extend bushing life. Drum rotation acts to direct lubricant into the cavity, and spindle rotation directs lubricant from the cavity towards the bearing surfaces.

A very low friction seal between the outer bushing and dust collar is pressed into the spindle nut and seals against the polished chrome spindle surface. The contact area between the seal and the spindle is very narrow and seal contact force is small to reduce drag. The seal is designed to allow a slight amount of lubricant passage outwardly from the bushings while limiting inward movement of dust towards the bushings. The seal substantially reduces lubricant usage without significantly increasing drag.

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TYPES OF SOILS IN DIFFERENT AREAS OF INDIA

Posted by FARMERSBLOG , , 11:14




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HARVESTER

Posted by FARMERSBLOG , , 10:58


Comprehensive safety features deliver unmatched security
Self-cleaning cooling package extends operating time
Cab integrates the latest technology with unparalleled comfort
Intuitive steering and propulsion system improves ergonomics
High-reach topper options for every condition
Parallel linkage crop dividers minimize cane loss
Hydrostatic base cutter and chopper maximize efficiency and performance
Extra-wide, straight feedroller path reduces cane breakage
Efficient cleaning system delivers cleanest cane ever

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कोम्बिनेद- हार्वेस्टर Agricultural Machine (4LZ-210)

Posted by FARMERSBLOG , , 10:47


Product Description
This reaping machine model is intended for reaping rice crop and wheat. The machine is capable of completing reaping, threshing, separating, cleaning and sieving in one smooth sequence. Due to its compact structure, high mobility, stability, reliability, economical value and strong accessibility to paddy fields, it is especially ideal for reaping crops in small and medium size fields(where stem is of 0.5~1.2 meter tall). The tecnocial specification as belowed: Ltem\ Model 4LZ-210 series Total losses(%) Rice¡Ü3.0 Lmpurity rate(% ¡Ü2.0 Breakage rate(%) ¡Ü1.5 Reliability(%) ¡Ý93 Cutting width(mm) 2300 Pure field capacity(ha/h) 0.20-0.47 Structure, Type Full feeding, Self propelled, track Track 400mm*90mm*46 Weigh(kg) 2450 Feed rate(t/h) 2.3-3.0 Dimensions at work, LxWxH(mm) 5260x23900x2320 Diesel engine horsepower(kw/rpm) 52/2600 Ground pressure(kpa) ¡Ü24 Travel speeds 6speeds forward, 2 speeds backward Min. Ground clearance(mm) 260 Fuel consumption 20KG/hectare Grain Tank big tank(0.7M3) Cleaning type Double sieves + blower + re-thresher Grain unloading method Sacked & Auto unloading

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