Design and construction of an auger-type metering device for granular fertilizers

Abstract

Accurate fertilizer application is important to improve fertilization efficiency and reduce environmental impact. However, fertilizer dosing in agricultural practices is often still inaccurate due to the limitations of simple application tools. Therefore, the development of a reliable fertilizer metering device is required. This study aims to design and develop an auger-type fertilizer metering device and to evaluate its functional performance. The research method used was a design and development approach followed by functional testing. The device was designed using a hopper with a rectangular and truncated prism shape to support smooth fertilizer flow into the auger mechanism. The results show that the auger-type fertilizer metering device was successfully fabricated and operated properly during functional testing. The fertilizer flowed continuously without blockage, and the auger mechanism was able to dispense fertilizer in a stable manner. These results indicate that the developed device is functionally feasible and has potential for application in agricultural fertilization systems.