DEVELOPMENT OF A MULTI-PURPOSES MACHINE FOR SECONDARY TILLAGE, FERTILIZING AND PLANTING SOME MEDICINAL AND AROMATIC PLANTS

Abstract

Field experiments were carried out to develop a multi-purposes machine for secondary tillage, fertilizing and planting some medicinal and aromatic plants; fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) and caraway (Carum carvi L.). The combination machine performance was evaluated comparing with the traditional method as a function of change in forward speed (2.1, 3.6, 4.5 and 6.3 km/h),in terms of soil physical properties, seed scattering, emergence ratio, yield, power, energy and cost requirements. The experimental results revealed that soil physical properties, seed scattering, emergence, energy requirements and operational cost were in the optimum region under the following recommended conditions: - The use of the developed combination machine for secondary tillage, fertilizing and planting as a multi-purposes machine because of its minimum both energy and cost, added to the improvement of soil properties. - Adjust fluted roll length of the feeding device at 10 mm for seeds and 22 mm for fertilizer to obtain the desired quantity of seeds and fertilizers per feddan. - Operate the developed combination machine at forward speed of about 4.5 km/h, which corresponded to kinematic parameter of 3.28 for seeds and 7.5 for fertilizers.