Development of a mechanical weeding and fertilizing machine for watermelon production

Anuar Abdullah, . and Rohazrin Abdul Rani, . and Wan Mohd Aznan B. Wan Ahamad, . and Hafidha Azmon, . and Mohd Fazly Mail, . and Mohd Shahmihaizah Mat Jusoh, . and Mohamad Fakhrul Zaman Omar, . and Mohd Nadzim Nordin, . and Khairul Idzwan Ayub, . and Mohd Fadly Abdull Rasid, . and Norahshekin Abdul Rahman, . (2023) Development of a mechanical weeding and fertilizing machine for watermelon production. International Journal of Agriculture, Forestry and Plantation (Malaysia), 13. pp. 258-262. ISSN 2462-1757

Watermelon weeding and fertilizing are currently done manually. These two operations are usually carried out separately, which consumes much time and energy. Most watermelon farmers in Malaysia use a knapsack sprayer to apply herbicides during the weeding operation. It requires approximately seven hours to complete the weeding operation for one hectare. After weeding, the farmers will spread N.P.K. fertilizer on the watermelon plants according to the predetermined rate. This process takes between 23 to 24 hr/ha. Therefore, this paper describes the development and evaluation of a mechanical weeding and fertilizing machine for watermelon planting. The study's objective was to design and fabricate a prototype machine that can be used for these two operations, specifically for open-field cultivation. The main criteria considered during the design and evaluation of the prototype machine are its reliability in terms of working mechanism, field capacity, and field efficiency. In addition, the mechanical weeding technique and uniformity of fertilizer rate are also evaluated in this experiment by comparing it to the existing method. This prototype was developed from a rotavator structure as the basis of the chassis. Afterward, the fertilizer tank and its fertilizing mechanisms were added to the main structure, allowing two operations (fertilizing and mechanical weeding) to be carried out simultaneously. This prototype machine needs to be connected to a 4-wheel tractor and uses the power from the tractor's power take-off (P.T.O.) to move the mechanism that has been installed on the prototype machine. According to the evaluation, the prototype machine's field capacity is 0.32ha/hour, with a field efficiency of 91.4 % for both operations. In addition, the use of fertilizer can also be saved up to 18% compared to existing methods due to uniform distribution.

Full text available from: Official URL: https://ijafp.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IJAFP...

Abstract

Watermelon weeding and fertilizing are currently done manually. These two operations are usually carried out separately, which consumes much time and energy. Most watermelon farmers in Malaysia use a knapsack sprayer to apply herbicides during the weeding operation. It requires approximately seven hours to complete the weeding operation for one hectare. After weeding, the farmers will spread N.P.K. fertilizer on the watermelon plants according to the predetermined rate. This process takes between 23 to 24 hr/ha. Therefore, this paper describes the development and evaluation of a mechanical weeding and fertilizing machine for watermelon planting. The study's objective was to design and fabricate a prototype machine that can be used for these two operations, specifically for open-field cultivation. The main criteria considered during the design and evaluation of the prototype machine are its reliability in terms of working mechanism, field capacity, and field efficiency. In addition, the mechanical weeding technique and uniformity of fertilizer rate are also evaluated in this experiment by comparing it to the existing method. This prototype was developed from a rotavator structure as the basis of the chassis. Afterward, the fertilizer tank and its fertilizing mechanisms were added to the main structure, allowing two operations (fertilizing and mechanical weeding) to be carried out simultaneously. This prototype machine needs to be connected to a 4-wheel tractor and uses the power from the tractor's power take-off (P.T.O.) to move the mechanism that has been installed on the prototype machine. According to the evaluation, the prototype machine's field capacity is 0.32ha/hour, with a field efficiency of 91.4 % for both operations. In addition, the use of fertilizer can also be saved up to 18% compared to existing methods due to uniform distribution.

[error in script]

Item Type:	Article
AGROVOC Term:	watermelons
AGROVOC Term:	fertilizers
AGROVOC Term:	weeding
AGROVOC Term:	mechanization
AGROVOC Term:	tractors
AGROVOC Term:	field capacity
Geographical Term:	Malaysia
Depositing User:	Mr. Khoirul Asrimi Md Nor
Date Deposited:	18 Jun 2026 07:05
Last Modified:	18 Jun 2026 07:05
URI:	http://webagris.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/4026

Actions (login required)

View Item