Allimuthu Surendrakumar

Post-harvest processing plays a key role in reducing grain losses and improving overall yield in crops, including paddy. Despite many advancements in agricultural mechanisation, the small and marginal farmers face challenges due to the high cost and limited availability of suitable equipment. This study aims to address this gap by comparing the performance of three types of threshing cylinders: spike tooth, wire loop and rasp bar on two paddy varieties, namely CO 54 and CO 55. The comparative analysis will enable the farmers to select the threshing cylinder best suited for their needs, in maximising output and preserving grain quality. The performance was evaluated across different feed rates (70-126 kg h-1) and cylinder speeds (550-950 rpm). The parameters, such as output capacity, threshing efficiency, unthreshed grain loss, broken grain loss and total grain loss were evaluated. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was used for optimisation. The results showed that feed rate had a stronger effect than cylinder speed on most performance indicators. Among the three, the spike tooth cylinder gave the best results, with a maximum threshing efficiency of 96.81 % and a consistent output of 67.50 kg h-1 at 650 to 750 rpm and 126 kg h-1 feed rate. It also had the lowest unthreshed loss (3.19 %), broken grain loss (1.47 %) and total grain loss (4.66 %) under these levels of feed rate and rpm. The wire loop cylinder matched the output for CO 55 but had higher losses under extreme conditions. The rasp bar showed the least broken grain loss (0.88 %) but higher total grain loss (up to 16.16 %). CO 55 performed better than CO 54 across all measures. ANOVA results confirmed the significance of results for the variables such as feed rate and cylinder speed, with strong model fits (R² > 0.99). The thresher showed optimal results at feed rate of 90 to 105 kg h-1 and cylinder speed of 650-750 rpm. This study provides valuable insights for improving the efficiency and thereby the sustainability of small-scale paddy threshing by offering optimised operating conditions.

Pelleted feeds ensure balanced nutrition, improved digestibility, long-term preservation and enhanced palatability, making them vital for livestock during lean seasons. With the growing demand for optimized feed formulations, evaluating complex nutritional data has become crucial. However, ranking feed combinations using Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) methods remains a significant challenge. This study, conducted at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, during 2024–2025, assessed 27 fodder pellet combinations using a Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) framework that integrated the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS). Pellets comprised Bajra Napier hybrid, Guinea grass, Fodder maize and legumes such as Lucerne, Desmanthus and Agathi, combined with crop residues from rice, maize and groundnut. Nutritional parameters, including crude protein, fibre fractions (ADF, NDF, ADL, cellulose and hemicellulose), crude fat, total ash, palatability and in vitro dry matter digestibility, were studied. AHP assigned weights to each parameter, while TOPSIS ranked combinations by closeness to the ideal solution. The Bajra Napier Hybrid + Agathi + Groundnut haulms combination had the highest TOPSIS score (0.8808), indicating superior nutritional performance. This study validates AHP-TOPSIS as a reliable tool for optimizing fodder pellet formulations. Correlation studies showed a negative relationship among various pellet formulations. Guinea grass + Desmanthus + Maize stover exhibited the highest crude fibre content (32 %) with moderate digestibility (66 %), indicating greater fibre accumulation. Conversely, Fodder Maize + Agathi + Groundnut haulms had a lower crude fibre content (28%) but achieved a digestibility of 64%, making it a favourable choice for improved nutrient bioavailability. The findings from this study can guide feed industries and farmers in selecting nutritionally balanced, cost-effective pellet combinations that contribute to local fodder availability and support sustainable livestock nutrition strategies.

An extensive overview of nano calcium is given in this article, with particular attention paid to its synthesis methods, characterization techniques and agricultural applications. It highlights the unique properties of nano calcium and its potential as a promising nanomaterial in agriculture. The synthesis section discusses various methods to produce nano calcium, including sol-gel, precipitation, hydrothermal synthesis and green synthesis approaches and it highlights the nuances involved in tailoring nano calcium particles for agricultural purposes. The article also emphasizes the significance of characterization techniques in understanding the physicochemical attributes of nano calcium by using tools such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). It explores the agricultural applications of nano calcium, particularly its role in enhancing nutrient uptake, soil fertility and crop yield. The impact of nano calcium on plant growth, stress tolerance and disease resistance is discussed, offering a comprehensive perspective on its potential benefits for sustainable agriculture. The article also highlights how nano calcium can be an eco-friendly alternative by reducing dependence on traditional fertilizers and minimizing environmental harm. In conclusion, it combines existing research on nano calcium synthesis, emphasizing its potential to transform modern agriculture and support global food security.

Minor millets are small, seeded grains with enriched minerals and nutrients over other grain crops. Besides its nutritional quality, low yielding potential and lack of available technologies restricted its cultivation area. During the last few decades, most of crop-producing activities turned to mechanization except minor millets due to less focus on minor millet research. In this experiment, various establishment technologies were evaluated through mechanization with the objective of increasing foxtail millet (Italian millet) productivity. The treatments were formulated with various land management [(Ridges & Furrow (RF); Compartmental Bunding (CB); Broad Bed Furrow (BBF); Flatbed (FB)], sowing [Line sowing (LS), Sowing by drone (SD) and Machine sowing (MS)] and irrigation methods (Modified surge irrigation (MSI), Rain gun (RG)). The Randomized Block Design (RBD) was used to lay the experiment with 3 replications during the Rabi seasons of 2023 and 2024. Among the Establishment Technologies (ET), higher plant height was measured in ET-7 at 40 DAS (74.87 cm), 60 DAS (109.33 cm) and harvest stage (114.67 cm). Higher dry matter production of foxtail millet was recorded in ET-8 at 40 DAS (3772.40 kg/ha) & CT at 60 DAS (6035.87 kg/ha) and harvest stage (7541.90 kg/ha). In yield and economics parameters, ET-6 produced higher productive tillers (4.44/plant), grain yield (2340 kg/ha) & straw yield (4516 kg/ha) and it reflected on economic indices as higher net return (Rs. 47959) and benefit-cost ratio (1.65). ET-2 recorded the lowest values across all parameters during both the studies.

Rice is a vital food crop globally, ensuring food and nutritional security for the population. Same way, rice is an important food crop in the India and also has many traditional values. The mechanization of rice cultivation has significantly advanced, covering various aspects of farming operations, including transplanting, weeding, spraying, harvesting and post-harvest processes. The majority of rice harvesting operations worldwide are mechanized, marking a major leap in agricultural technology. Numerous studies and research initiatives have contributed to this transformation, delivering innovative technologies and methods that have made rice harvest mechanization a successful strategy. However, despite these advancements, several constraints and challenges persist in rice harvest mechanization. This paper delves into the influence of the crop harvesting stage on grain losses, examining how factors like crop moisture content and timing affect efficiency. Additionally, it reviews different mechanical harvesting mechanisms, exploring their working principles, advantages and disadvantages. By consolidating insights from extensive research, the paper provides a comprehensive overview of rice mechanization, emphasizing its significance in improving productivity while reducing labour dependency and drudgery. Concluding with an analysis of existing constraints, the paper highlights the scope for further improvements in technology to make harvest mechanization more accessible and efficient for rice farmers.

Tree fruit harvesting is a vital process in agriculture, involving the collection of ripe fruits from trees. This review examines manual, mechanical and automated harvesting methods, focusing on their benefits, challenges and potential advancements. Manual methods, such as hand-picking and using ladders, are highly labour-intensive and time-consuming. To address these challenges, mechanical systems like trunk shakers, canopy shakers, limb shakers and catch-and-frame methods have been introduced. These systems use vibrations and capturing mechanisms to improve efficiency and reduce labour costs. However, mechanical methods are not commonly used for fresh fruit harvesting due to the risk of damaging soft fruits and trees. To solve this issue, precise shake-and-catch systems with controlled vibration frequency and amplitude are being developed, achieving fruit removal rates of up to 93.3 %. Harvesting speeds vary, with manual pickers managing 0.5 th-1, trunk shakers 10 th-1 and canopy shakers 25 th-1. Automated harvesting offers even greater efficiency by using robots equipped with advanced technologies, such as deep learning, image processing and specialized grippers, to detect and pick fruits. These systems can complete harvesting in just 4 seconds per fruit. This review highlights the strengths and weaknesses of current methods and explores strategies to enhance fruit harvesting technologies.

Conventional farming guidelines lack detail, providing crop suggestions without location-based advice. This makes it challenging for farmers to make informed decisions about where to plant crops, affecting their productivity and profitability. The reason for tackling this issue lies in the potential of cassava, a crop that can withstand drought conditions to thrive if the right areas are identified accurately. This evaluation has a look at the way in which advanced technologies as well as artificial intelligence (AI) can be used to revolutionize mechanized cassava planting, with the objective of increasing productivity and sustainability. Cassava, a nutrition base for over 500 million people worldwide, is sourced from India, especially in the Tamil Nadu and Kerala regions. However, its existence is subject to certain problems that are linked to the conventional method of planting, like inconsistency in planting depths, wrong sweating of the stem and clogging of the channel, which all in turn serve to lower yields and increase labor costs. The former factors caused by mechanical devices like two-ploughed and three-ploughed planters have already been close to the economies of scale by achieving better planting efficiencies and consistency, but they are still presenting some difficulties. Some of the latest advances, such as tractor-operated single-row stake cutter-planters and rotary dibble-type planters, provide alternatives that are not only cheaper but also have the highest degree of accuracy when it comes to planters. Furthermore, the introduction of IoT (Internet of Things) and machine learning and the use of big data analytics in farming are the new directions for precision agriculture. This review emphasizes that the research that is continually being carried out, the unbeatable innovation or technological development and the farmer education that is expected to be high enough are crucial for the full realization of smart in cassava cultivation. In this way, we will be closer to a more sustainable type of agriculture and improved food security. By embracing these innovations, agriculture can be modernized, empowering farmers to overcome obstacles and achieve increased productivity. The data and findings highlighted in the review demonstrate the effectiveness of mechanization in revolutionizing practices and bolstering global food security.

Turmeric is a prominent spice that is cultivated throughout India. India holds a prime position in the world turmeric industry. The activities included in turmeric cultivation, like land preparation, planting, weeding and digging, demand intensive labour. Mechanizing the turmeric cultivation is important to minimize labour requirements and production cost while enhancing the yield quality. Unlike other crops, mechanization of turmeric cultivation is still lagging. To understand the mechanization level of Indian turmeric cultivation, a study was conducted. Literature relevant to turmeric cultivation in India was identified. Since the research exclusive for turmeric is limited, ginger, which shares common properties with turmeric, was also considered for the study. Technologies involved in land preparation, planting and harvesting were identified. The current study aims to analyze the available machineries and compare their machine parameters. Land preparation is being done by common tillage implements like mould board plough and cultivator, without any special equipment optimized for turmeric. Turmeric planting and harvesting are mainly being done by manual work. It is inefficient and causes physical impacts to the labourers. Machinery used for planting and harvesting can be classified based on power sources. Available turmeric planters and harvesters are powered by bullock, power tiller and tractor. Turmeric harvesters just dig out the rhizomes and leave them in field. Later they are collected and cleaned manually diminishing the economic benefits of the mechanical harvesting.

Minor millets encompass more minerals and nutrients than other food grains. They are being cultivated in limited areas due to poor yielding ability and lack of improved technologies (pelleting, sowing methods, land configurations and supplemental irrigation). Mechanization has been adopted intensively by the farming community, for the last two decades for most of the crop production activities. In minor millet production, mechanization has not been adopted notably and there was no strong evidence for mechanization under the minor millet production system. The present research study assessed the establishment (germination, plant population, seed vigour index, seedling height and root length) of minor millet (Italian millet) under mechanization coupled with improved technologies. The strategies included Pelleting (PS) and Non-pelleting (NPS), land configurations (RF-Ridges and Furrow; CB-Compartmental Bunding; BBF-Broad Bed Furrow; FB-Flat Bed) sowing methods (DS-Drone Sowing; LS-Line Sowing and SDS-Seed Driller Sowing) and irrigation methods (MSI- Modified Surge Irrigation; RG-Rain Gun) for evaluation. A Randomized Block Design with three replications was used for the experiment layout during the Rabi season of 2023 and 2024. Observations were made and data subjected to ANNOVA and t-test. The results revealed that treatments IT-1, (FB+PS+DS+RG) recorded (P<0.05) significant higher germination per cent (48.67 %), plant population (88.40/m2), lower cost of sowing (Rs. 2100/-) and IT-7, (CB+PS+DS+RG) observed higher number of leaves (4.14), seed vigour index (2784.49), seedling height (7.03 cm) and root length (12.50 cm). Treatment IT-3, (BBF+PS+SDS+RG) registered (P<0.05) significant lower germination per cent, plant population, number of leaves, seed vigour index, seedling height and root length, registered treatment.

Integrating crop and livestock production, especially with cattle, is vital for food security and economic growth in India. The livestock sector helps increase farm income, boosts the national economy, and provides employment opportunities for millions of people. However, productivity lags global standards due to shortages of quality feeds, including green fodder, dry fodder, and concentrates. Stagnant fodder crop cultivation and dwindling permanent pastures exacerbate the challenge of meeting the rising demand for milk and meat. Addressing these issues is crucial for enhancing livestock productivity and sustaining agriculture. This review highlights the importance of fodder pelletization, compressing animal feeds into dense pellets using a pellet mill. Pelleted feeds offer balanced diets, improved digestibility, and nutrient absorption, with benefits including long-lasting preservation, enhanced handling, stability, bulk density, and palatability. Factors influencing the pelleting process, such as ingredient characteristics, drying, grinding, conditioning, steam pressure, and moisture content, are examined in depth. The positive effects of pelleted feed on ruminant growth and productivity, particularly in cattle and goats, are emphasized, including improvements in milk yield, weight gain, and reproductive performance. These findings emphasize the potential of pelletized feed to address challenges related to fodder scarcity, feed wastage, and transportation costs. This provides valuable insights for efficient diet management in livestock production.