Development and Evaluation of a Power Weeder

Abstract

Mechanical intervention in crop production is increasing rapidly in Nigeria. Researchers are finding ways to manage weeds in farms using suitable mechanical devices instead of conventional hand weeding and chemical control. This study was conducted to design, fabricate and evaluate the field performance of a power weeder. The weeder was evaluated at "Idogo” farm settlement which is located in "Ilaro” community, Ogun state. The variety of cassava on the farm was TMS 30572 (145 days) which was planted at non-uniform inter and intra row spacing. Field performance parameters such as speed of operation, effective field capacity, field efficiency, weeding efficiency, plant damage and fuel consumption were observed to be 0.28m/s, 0.03hah^-1, 97.3%, 89%, 15.02% and 0.264 lh^-1 respectively. The soil moisture content of the farm was determined on dry basis (18%db) while the soil bulk density was also determined before and after weeding, the bulk densities are 1.31gm/cm³ and 1.22 gm/cm³ respectively. The weeder worked effectively with very little emission of smoke from the engine exhaust and its fuel consumption is minimal, this shows that the weeder is economic, easy and also environmentally safe weed control device.