Development and Performance Evaluation of Power Driven chopper

Abstract

Maize and sorghum stalk considered among the most fodder materials in Ethiopia. Therefore the chop machine was adapted and evaluated. The research was conducted at Asella Agricultural Engineering Research Center (AAERC), Arsi Negelle and Zuway Dugda districts to evaluate the machine performance in terms of chopping efficiency, throughput capacity, cutting efficiency and fuel consumption at different speed of cutter shaft. The output of chopper was found to be remarkable achievement.  The chopping efficiency was decreased from 97.28 to 92.43 % on maize stalk and 95 to 90.2 % on sorghum stalk as rpm increases from 1150 to 1850 respectively. Throughput capacity of chopper was increases from 8.13 to 12.6 kg/min on maize stalk and 10.26 to 14.5 kg/min on sorghum stalk as rpm increases from 1150 to 1850 respectively. The mean of chopping length and cutting efficiency of 3.5 cm and 96.64 % on maize and also 2.53 cm and 97.63 % on sorghum stalk respectively.

Keywords:  Throughput capacity, Cutting and chopping efficiency, Chop length

DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/16-2-01

Publication date: July 31^st 2026