The study dealt with the selection of various components to develop the Variable Rate Applicator (VRA) and evaluation of the machine. The machine was developed by using different components like Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) Raven Envizio Pro Controller, Hydraulic Motor and Zero Till Seed cum Fertilizer Drill, and then evaluated for its performance. The evaluation shown that the fertilizer rates varied from 25.53 to 237.93 kg/ha with the change in adjustment on E-Pro II controller from 1000 to 4000 with the corresponding change in hydraulic motor speed from 70 to 265 rpm respectively. The Coefficient of Variance (CV) calculated for different adjustment of E-Pro II controller showed that maximum CV was i.e. 11.35 % at 4000 adjustment or 260 rpm of hydraulic motor and minimum CV was i.e. 3.69 % at adjustment of 3500 or 236 rpm of hydraulic motor.

A prototype of an electrostatic nozzle was developed for spraying cotton crops in a project titled ‘Design and development of an electrostatic nozzle for agricultural applications’. The study was carried out to evaluate the locally-developed electrostatic nozzle and compare its performance with an imported electrostatic nozzle and solid cone nozzle (conventional knapsack sprayer) in the cotton crop at the departmental research farm of Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India. Different spray performance parameters, i.e. number median diameter (NMD), volume median diameter (VMD), uniformity coefficient, droplet density, the volume of spray deposition, and area covered with droplets were determined with the help of water-sensitive paper (WSP) method of deposition collection. There was comparatively less variation in uniformity coefficient with the imported and locally-developed electrostatic nozzles than the solid cone nozzle at a 5 % level of significance. The average droplet density obtained with both the imported and locally-developed electrostatic nozzles was significantly more compared to the solid cone nozzle. The area covered by the droplets of the locally-developed prototype of the electrostatic nozzle was more than the solid cone nozzle. The volume of spray deposition differed significantly for all three treatments at a 5 % level of significance. Overall, there was no significant difference in the performance of both electrostatic sprayers, but they were found to be more effective than the solid cone nozzle.

An automated yield monitoring system consisting of one yield sensor, global positioning system (GPS), field computer with custom software, and header cut off switch was mounted on a self propelled indigenous grain combine harvester for real-time crop yield mapping, Four wheat fields were selected at the farm of Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana to evaluate the performance of the yield monitor for grain yield mapping. The yield maps were generated by using ArcGIS software from the data collected for four different wheat fields. Total area harvested was 1.92 ha comprising four fields having areas 0.72, 0.46, 0.28 and 0.46 ha respectively. On an average yield variations recorded for the all the four fields was having C.V. of 18.4, 24.0, 17.4 and 22.2% respectively. The overall results shows that yield variability existed even within the smallest field of 0.28 ha having C, V, of 17.4%. Yield variability among the four fields was also existing having standard deviation of 866.67 kg/ha and coefficient of variation (C.V.) 19.8%. The yield delay was recorded 15-17 seconds used in travelling of grains from header to main tank. It was also observed that the mean error was 6.85% and that maximum error never exceeded 9.48%, indicating acceptable accuracy of the yield monitor in wheat crop. The coefficient of correlation was 0.94 between yield monitor recorded data and actual weight, using Pearson linear simple correlation that was moderate.

The present study was carried out at Department of Farm Machinery and Power Engineering, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India during May to December, 2017 to evaluate the effect of mechanical cleaning methods on mechanically harvested cotton. The treatments consisted of three cotton cleaning methods viz. Boll Crusher cum Seed-Cotton Extractor, Pre-cleaner and On-board cleaner (field cleaner). The comparative performance of these methods was evaluated in terms of cotton fibre quality parameters viz. span length, uniformity ratio, elongation (%), micronaire (%), fibre strength (g tex-1) and reflectance of cotton lint etc. The minimum trash content (seed cotton basis) was observed for boll crusher+pre-cleaner (5.17%) and maximum for on-board cleaner (21.4 %). The 2.5% span length for the manual was observed maximum (26.04 mm) and the minimum for boll crusher+pre-cleaner (23.83 mm). The uniformity ratio observed was minimum for manual (45.99) and maximum for boll crusher+pre-cleaner (47.29). The micronaire for the manual was observed as a minimum (3.97%) and maximum for boll crusher+pre-cleaner (3.57%). The fibre strength for manual (20.50 g tex-1) was maximum whereas it was minimum for boll crusher+pre-cleaner (19.36 g tex-1). The reflectance for manual (0.87) was observed as minimum and maximum for boll crusher+pre-cleaner (0.81). Based upon the fiber quality parameters of harvested cotton cleaned by boll crusher machine was of superior quality but it was inferior in quality for the boll crusher+pre-cleaner machine.

The present study was conducted to design, develop and evaluate a wireless-based automated drip irrigation system for improving the productivity of tomato crop. Various independent and dependent parameters were considered in design of automated drip irrigation system. The field trial included soil analysis, experimental layout, evaluation of drip system and crop under different irrigation treatments. The highest yield was recorded in wireless irrigation system with treated fruit processing wastewater during both the years of study. In wireless irrigation system, crop irrigated with pressure compensating dripper (PC) has an average yield of 377.97 q ha-¹which is higher as compared to non-pressure compensating dripper (NPC) (364.65 q ha-1). Under the treatments involving the use of fruit processing wastewater in the tomato crop, the percentage of protein, moisture content, carbohydrates, lycopene and sugar increased as compared to those under groundwater irrigation. Treatments comprising of fruit processing wastewater recorded higher dry matter accumulation (6.67 %) and more amounts of lycopene (4.50 mg/100 g) as compared to ground water treated plots. The study revealed that the automated drip irrigation system is an efficient irrigation approach, as it reduces water, labour, energy, time and fertiliser use.