International Journal of Agricultural Engineering

G. S. Patange ¹, P. J. Thokale ², P. G. Popale ²

Affiliations
1 Farm Machinery Testing and Training Center, Mahatma Phule Agricultural University, Rahuri, Ahmednagar M.S., IN
2 AICRP on FIM, Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri, Ahmednagar M.S., IN

Abstract

Osmotic dehydration is the process of removal of water by immersion of water containing cellular solids in a concentrated aqueous solution of sugar or salt. This results in intermediate moisture product with lower water activity. At low water activity, most of chemical reactions, which deteriorate the food, growth and toxins production by microorganism, are ceased. The experiments were conducted to characterize the osmotic dehydration of banana with respect to drying behaviors and the quality of dehydrated product with syrup concentrations (50, 60 and 700B), slice thickness (6mm, 8mm and 10mm) and time of immersion (1 hr interval up to 12 hrs). The fruit to solution ratio was taken as 1:5(w/v). The maximum amount of weight reduction (g) was found at lower concentration 500 B for 10 mm slices and minimum amount of weight reduction (g) was found at lower concentration 700 B for 6 mm slices. The maximum amount of water reduction 50.97 % was found at 700 B and 6 mm thick slices. The minimum amount of water reduction 39.83 % was found at 500 B and 10 mm thick slices. The minimum amount of solid gain 3 % was found at 500 B and 6 mm thick slices. The maximum amount of solid gain 5.81 % was found at 700 B and 10 mm thick slices. The maximum amount of weight loss 54.42 % was found at 700B and 6 mm thick slices. The minimum amount of weight loss 43.79 % was found at 500B and 10 mm thick slices.

Keywords

Osmotic Dehydration, Weight Loss, Solid Gain, Banana

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G. S. Patange ¹, P. J. Thokale ², V. D. Deshmukh ²

Affiliations
1 Farm Machinery Testing, Training and Production Centre, AICRP on FIM, Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri, Ahmednagar (M.S.), IN
2 All India Coordinated Research Project on Farm Implement and Machinery, Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri, Ahmednagar (M.S.), IN

Abstract

Weed control is one of the most essential and expensive operation in crop production. The conventional methods of weeding viz., manual and animal drawn involve drudgery, time loss and also increase the cost of operation. Manual weeding is common in Indian agriculture. It is the most widely used weed control method but it is labour intensive. The use of mechanical weeder will reduce drudgery and ensure a comfortable posture of the farmer or operator during weeding. This will resultantly increase production. Average depth and width of operation of developed machine was 14 cm and 110 cm, respectively. The performance evaluation of machine was calculated on the basis of three different engine speeds i.e. 2180, 2752, 2905 rpm and results showed that, field efficiency of 51.3, 64.96, 72.73 per cent was with fuel consumption of 0.81, 1.19, 1.68 lt./hr, respectively with weeding efficiency of 53.4, 63.73, 72.11 percent. Thus, this weeder was found to be beneficial on the basis of weeding efficiency and operating time.

Keywords

Performance, Self Propelled, Rotary Weeder.

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