Comprehensive semestral report at Philippine center for postharvest development and mechanization (PHILMECH [manuscript]
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Date
2019
Authors
Melissa U. Fabros
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Abstract
The two-month field practice at Socio-Economic and Policy Research Division at Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization, provided a comprehensive training especially in the performance evaluation of modified row-onion mechanical seeder that is adapted for soybean production. The study focused on determining the delivery rate of seeder and germination rate of soybean seeds under laboratory and field testing, and performed cost analysis of machine that supporting the Department of Agriculture in minimizing the import dependence of soybean and initiated the development of soybean industry in the Philippines cause of its high demand. Laboratory delivery rate of seeder was gathered from the use of hopper capacity (1, ½, ¼, 1/8) and revolutionary speed (3, 3.5 and 4 kph) that laid out in Complete Randomized Design Soybean seed germination rate under laboratory condition was determined from the collected normal seedlings emerged in sand substrata method. Seeder field performance parameters (effective field capacity, theoretical field capacity, field efficiency, delivery rate, fuel consumption) was determined from gathered data of consumed seeds, total operating time, speed and area planted. Soybean seedling survival rate under field condition was gathered from the collected seedlings in a 2m² sample frames and the cost analysis of mechanical seeder was determined from 30 days of planting/year, 2.22 ha/day and 6 hrs of effective operating time. Highest delivery rate of mechanical seeder gathered in laboratory test was the combination of full hopper capacity and 3 kph operational speed and soybean seed was resulted with a germination rate of 81%. Field performance of seeder was resulted to an effective field capacity of 0.37%, theoretical field capacity of 0.4%, field efficiency of 77% seedling rate of 81.8% and fuel consumption of 0.56 L.hr with an average soybean plant population of 77.30 seedlings/frame and seedling survival rate of 59.18%. Mechanical seeder has a breakeven point of 21.17 ha/yr, payback period 1.57 years and annual net income of 80,880.50.