Interaction Effect of Operating Parameters of Blade on Vermicompost Quality under Drum Condition
Shambhu Singh *
Department of Farm Machinery and Power Engineering, IGKV, Raipur, C.G., India.
S. V. Jogdand
Department of Farm Machinery and Power Engineering, IGKV, Raipur, C.G., India.
R. K. Naik
Department of Farm Machinery and Power Engineering, IGKV, Raipur, C.G., India.
A. K. Dave
Department of Farm Machinery and Power Engineering, IGKV, Raipur, C.G., India.
V. M. Victor
Department of Farm Machinery and Power Engineering, IGKV, Raipur, C.G., India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The curve blade, operational parameters and vermicompost physical properties are the key parameters come to pronouncement for breaking, churning and mixing clods condition. C, L and J curve blades was tested in the churning machine under drum condition for large, medium and small textured clods at vermicompost physical properties namely moisture content (15.24-35.48 % db.), bulk density (646 -732kg m-3) and crushing force (30 N). The performance results were analyzed in terms of mean mass diameter of vermicompost with the effects of three operating parameters namely moisture content % db, blade speed m s-1 and blade type. Experiments were designed by opstate software and statistically analyzed and evaluated by RBD method. The average values of vermicompost mean mass diameter were found to be minimum 4.31 mm with their optimum moisture content % db, blade speed m s-1 were found to be 25.42 %, 5.34 m s-1 and C-curve blade respectively.
Keywords: C-curve blade, moisture content, bulk density, operating parameters, mean mass diameter, opstate software RBD three factor methodology