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Production Of Clean Grain From Multi Crop Thresher For Small Scale Farmers
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CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 ThreshingProcess
Threshing is defined by Andrew(2005) as the process of loosening the edible part of cereals grain (or other crop) from the scaly, inedible chaff that surround it. It is a step in grain preparation after harvesting and before winnowing, which separate the loosening chaff from grains. Threshing may be done by beating the grain using a flail on a threshing floor. Another traditional method of threshing is to make donkey or oxen walk in circle on the grain on a hard surfaces.(Andrew2005)
Threshing is also defined as the separation of grains from stalk on which it grows and from the chaff or pod that covers it. Threshing is further defined by (Kepner et al; 2002) as the detachment of individual seed from the supporting part of plant. Threshing of grain in post harvest operation is the removal of grain (maize) seeds from the cob this operation can be carried out on the field or at the storage environment. Therefore grain threshing is an important step toward the processing of grain (maize) to its various finished product like flour. The different method of grain (maize) threshing can be categorized based on the various mechanization technologyused these include hand tools technology, animal technology and engine powered technology. Hand threshing involves the use of hand tools in threshing while as observed animal were used in threshing on the field by marching on the grain. Engine powered technology involves the use of mechanical assistance in threshing or shelling the grain (Abdulkadir 2009).
2.2 AgronomyofSelectedCrops
The application of plant sciences to land management and crop production is very essential to post harvest technology. The agronomy of maize, bean, and guinea corn crops are as below.2.2.1Maizecrop
Maize grown in fertile and well drained soil rich in organic matter however, it can grown in any types of the soil but soil should have heavy clay to light sandy soil and should be medium texture with good water holding capacity. The crop is grown in climate ranging from temperature to tropic during the period when daily temperature are above 15oc early and the growing season are greater than 20oc, grain varieties takes 80 to 110 for 40 days to mature. Rain fall on the crop requires between 500 and 800m of water depending on climate. The soil PH is the level of acidity or alkalinity measure on a scale of 0.00 to 14.0 acidic soil has PH of less than 7.0 while alkaline soil have a PH higher than 7.0. Pure water has a natural PH of 7.0. The relative humidity has the most important variable factors influencing the seed changes which appeal to its quality deterioration (Phillip, 2000).
2.2.2 Guinea corn
It can grow in any types of soil but should be heavy clay soil to light sandy soil. Guinea corn can grow in area with 375 to 100mm of rainfall per year. The optimum rainfall is 500 to 600mm for a short time it can endure water logging. The best temperature for growth and high yield seem to be 27-28oc and the soil PH are 5.4 to 6.0 (Acidic), 6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic) and 6.6 to 7.5 (neutral), (Mohsenin2003).
2.3 Post Harvest Losses on Grains
Grain may be lost in the pre-harvest and post-harvest stages. Pre-harvest losses occur before the process of harvesting begins and may be due to insects, weeds, and rusts harvest losses occur between the beginning and completion of harvesting and are harvest losses occur between harvest and the moment of human consumption. They include farm losses, such as when grain is threshed, winnowed and dried as well as losses along the chain during transportation, storage and processing. It important in many countries, particularly in Africa where farm losses during storage when the grain is being stored for auto consumption or while the farmer a waits selling opportunity or a rise in prices (Onwualu, 2006).
There is potential for loss throughout the grain harvest and agricultural marketing chains. During stripping of maize, losses occur in grains from the cob when mechanical shelling is not followed up by hand-stripping of the grains that are missed. The main causes of losses during shelling is the cracking of kernels that are eaten whole such as rice, some grains may also be lost during the drying process.
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ABSRACT - [ Total Page(s): 1 ]ABSTRACTThe traditional methods of threshing of crops are inefficient, laborious, and time consuming and low out put. The existing fabricated machine was observed during preliminary testing to have low performance. In the light of the above mentioned problems, there is need to modify and testing multi-crop thresher to threshed grain at optimum speed. The threshing machine consist of the following component: Hopper, frame, beater, sieve, pulley, grain outlet and chaff outlet. The factors consider ... Continue reading---
TABLE OF CONTENTS - [ Total Page(s): 1 ]TABLE OF CONTENTS Title page Certification Dedication Acknowledgement Abstract Table of contents List of figures List of plates List of tables’ CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background of the study 1.2 Problem statement 1.3 Aims and objectives 1.4 Justification 1.5 Scope of the project CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW 2.1 Threshing Process ... Continue reading---
CHAPTER ONE - [ Total Page(s): 2 ]CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION1.1 Background of the StudyCowpea is a grain legumes appears to have originated from west-African, very widely in Nigeria were there are many wild weedy species in both savanna and forest zone (Steel, 1992).Cowpeas are now widely distributed throughout the tropics and sub-tropics. They are grown in India, south eastern Asia, and Australia the Caribbean, southern united state and throughout the low land tropical Africa. Nigeria alone ... Continue reading---
CHAPTER THREE - [ Total Page(s): 7 ]Torgue = F × rWhere, F = Centrifugal force =2666N R = radius of machine pulley 0.155 Torgue = F × r = 2666 × 0.155 = 413NmPower = Where,N = speed of the electric motor = 1430rpm = 3.142T = 413NmP = 2 × 3.142 × P = 61854.5KW3.4.3 Design for Shaft of the machine A shaft is a rotation machine element which is used to transmit power from one place to another. The power is delivered to the shaft by force and the resultant torgue ( ... Continue reading---
CHAPTER FOUR - [ Total Page(s): 1 ]CHAPTER FOURRESULT AND DISCUSSION4.1 ResultThe experimental result obtained from the experiment is as shown in table 5.1 and 5.2 the raw data is as shown in appendix.4.2 DiscussionsA multi-crop threshing machine was modified and evaluated for performance. The threshing efficiency, unthreshed efficiency, breakage efficiency and throughput capacity were 90.1%, 9.5%, 20.1%, 143.4kg|hr for feed rate of 2kg and 90.9%, 9.1%, 14.11% and 251kg|hr for feed rate of 3kg respectively at a consta ... Continue reading---
CHAPTER FIVE - [ Total Page(s): 1 ]CHAPTER FIVECONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION5.1 Conclusion The following conclusion was drawn from the performance carried out on the multi-crop thresher.I. The speed of the blower was obtained which reduces the blown out of grains from the outletII. The feed rate of 3kg favors the constant speed of 300rpmIII. The higher the feed rates at the threshing drum the higher the throughput capacity.5.2 RecommendationBased on the result and conclusion, the foll ... Continue reading---
REFRENCES - [ Total Page(s): 1 ]REFERENCESAbdulkadir.B.H. and Olufemi A.O (2009).The design and construction of threshing machine.Assumption university journal of technology 12(3) pp199-206.Adaokoma (2001) Design and fabrication of multi-purpose grain dehauler.Eng Thesis, Department of mechanical engineering federal university technology (FUT) minna Nigeria.Adewumi (2006).Design, fabrication and preliminary testing of a thresher cleaner for grain legume, food science technology.Bates.W.N. (1999).Mechanization of tropical crops ... Continue reading---
