RESEARCH ARTICLE

Journal of Oil Palm Research Vol. 32 (2) June 2020, p. 228-236

PRELIMINARY FIELD AND COSTS EVALUATION OF A NEW MECHANISED SYSTEM FOR HOLING SOIL IN LARGE POLYBAG IN OIL PALM NURSERY

NOR AZI ASMINDA JOHARI*; DARIUS EL PEBRIAN**; SELVAKKUMAR K N VAIAPPURI** and NAQIUDDIN A HAYUM**

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21894/jopr.2020.0027
Published Online: 5 June 2020
ABSTRACT

A preliminary field and costs evaluation was conducted to evaluate the performance of a newly developed prototype machine system for holing soil in large polybags in oil palm nursery. The parameters measured during the preliminary field and costs evaluation included production capacity, mean increase in heart rate, human energy expenditure, total operating costs and return on investment (ROI). The results showed about 257 bags hr-1 per man of production capacity were obtained with the new machine system or 209.64% increase as compared to 83 bags hr-1 per man with the current practice. Mean increase in heart rate of worker when operating the machine systems was 24.2 beats min-1 or a decrease of 52.54% when compared to 51 beats min-1 with the current practice. On the basis of human energy expenditure, the new machine system consumed 3.16 kcal min-1 per man or 54.34% less exhausting when compared to 6.92 kcal min-1 per man with the current practice. Total operating costs of the new machine system was RM 0.05 bag-1 or 28.57% cheaper as compared to RM 0.07 bag-1 with the current practice. ROI of the new machine system was 233.07%, which assures the investment on this new machine system is worthwhile.

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* Department of Agricultural Science, Faculty of Technical and Vocational, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, 35900 Tanjung Malim, Perak, Malaysia. ** Faculty of Plantation and Agrotechnology, Universiti Teknologi MARA Melaka, Jasin Campus, 77300 Merlimau, Melaka, Malaysia. E-mail: darius@uitm.edu.my