Basic Studies on Flail-type Rotary Cultivator for Swampy Land Preparation

Grass Cutting Characteristics and Energy Requirement

Abstract

A flail-type rotary cultivator is efficacious for swampy land preparation, grass cutting and topsoil treatment. The cutting characteristics of the cultivator were studied in the laboratory to determine the energy requirement for cutting grass stems. The cutting speed was significantly effective in the cutting process. The specific energy required decreased by approximately 58% when the cutting speed increased from 10 to 25m/s. Effective cutting was achieved at cutting speeds of over 20m/s. The bent angle of the knife did not significantly affect the specific cutting energy, although less energy was required at bent angles between 90° and 102°. The specific energy required was less when the grass stems inclined towards the machine and when cutting a single stem rather than a bunch of stems. The effect of the number of stems in a bunch on the specific energy decreased as the cutting speed increased.