Design and fabrication of equipment for treatment of nematodes-infected planting materials.

Abstract

Among the many challenges faced in crop production, pests are a very significant menace that terribly inhibit the growth and yield potential of plants. Nematodes are among the very catastrophic crops with over 2000 host plants that are susceptible to their attack and destruction. Hot water treatment technology was developed based on the principle of the behaviour and relationship of the different living organisms with changes in temperature. Research discovered that nematodes when exposed to certain temperature ranges for specific durations, can be killed. Since these nematodes are embedded in the planting stock of the affected plants, care should be taken no to have the planting materials succumb to termination by heat injury. In this study, a prototype was designed and fabricated to avail a setup to treat planting materials that have been affected by nematodes. Engineering drawing software were used to design the prototype and then the prototype was fabricated in adherence to the drawings. The design was based on the size of the planting materials and the volume of water required in the treatment process. The prototype was technically and economically evaluated and it was found to have an operational capacity of 7.2kgs/hr and NPV of U. shs27, 511,820.