DEVELOPMENT OF TRACTOR MOUNTED KENAF HARVESTER.

The design, fabrication and evaluation of a tractor mounted kenaf harvester was carried out in this study. The machine comprises of a rotary drive mechanism, which was adapted from a forage harvester. A review of kenaf stem properties was done to ensure accuracy of the design calculation for the machine components. The design of the machine was carried out using standard design procedures. A kenaf experimental field was set up at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching and Research Farm for the evaluation of the machine. The machine was evaluated using, crop maturity, crop variety and forward speed of the machine as factors. Effective field capacity and field efficiency of the machine were used as performance output parameters. The data obtained was analysed using 3-level factorial response surface methodology (RSM) of design expert software. The effective field capacity was observed to decrease with increase in plant maturity and increase with increase in forward speed of the machine. The highest effective field capacity recorded was 2.13 ha/day with Ifeken 100 at crop maturity of 10 weeks after planting, and forward speed was 5 km/hr. The field efficiency of the machine was found to decrease with increasing crop maturity and forward speed of the machine. The highest field efficiency of 97% was recorded for Ifeken 100 when the crop maturity was 10 weeks after planting and at 2 km/hr forward speed of machine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]