Models Establishment for Predicting Interaction between Tillage Practices and Some Selected Engineering Properties of Cassava (Manihot esculenta) Tubers

Abstract

Enough technical data on the physical and mechanical properties of tubers are needed for machine design and crop parameters in modeling and designing cassava processing. The main objective of this study was to establish models for forecasting interaction between the tillage practices and some physical and mechanical properties of cassava tubers. Eight tillage practices have been used and are coded in alphabets such as, ploughing + harrowing (A); ploughing + harrowing + ridging (B); manual ridging (C); flat manual clearing (D); ploughing + harrowing + manual digging to a depth of 30 cm + 10 cm of saw-dust placed at the base (E); ploughing + harrowing + ridging +10 cm of saw-dust placed at the base (F); manual ridging + 10 cm of saw-dust placed at the base (G) and manual digging to a depth of 30 cm + 10 cm of saw-dust placed at the base (H). The experiment was conducted in TME (Tropical Manihot esculenta) 419 with two soil conditions using recommended nutrient dosage. The experimental design was split-split plot design with three replications. The physical and mechanical properties of cassava were determined 10 months after planting using standard equations and methods. Statistical Package for Social Science window 21 versions was used for data analysis. Models were developed using Linear Regression. Manual Ridging + 10 cm Sawdust placed at the base + TME 419 + Rainfed + 933.75 kg/ha of NPK 15:15:15 fertilizer tillage practice gave the highest yield of 15.02 tons/ha with uniform physical and mechanical properties. The model equations revealed that tillage had positive impact on the selected physical and mechanical properties of cassava tubers such as length, width, thickness, size, aspect ratio, surface area, sphericity, roundness, unit mass, unit volume, true density, bulk mass, bulk volume, bulk density, porosity, angle of repose, coefficient of static friction, compressive extension at break, compressive strain at break, compressive load at break, compressive stress at break, energy at break, modulus automatic, compressive load at yield, compressive extension at yield, and compressive strain at yield and compressive stress Models developed could be used by engineers in designing improved equipment and machineries for harvesting and processing of cassava tubers into useful products.