Determination of the Field Capacity and Field Efficiency of String-Cutter Grass Mower

Abstract

Grass mowers with nylon string-blade cutters are becoming a common-place lawn maintenance machinery owing to their low initial cost, deployment capability in hard-to-reach areas and versatile applications. However, very little is known about their field performance which is important for their proper use and management. This study determined the field performance of two string cutters; coded C1 and C2, having nylon cutting-string blades. Direct measurement of mowed area, and productive and idle operation times was done. Effective field capacity was obtained as 0.0785 ha/hr for C1 and 0.0748 ha/hr for C2. Field efficiency of 83.78% and 85.18% were obtained for C1 and C2 respectively. A 2.98 kW push-type lawn mower also studied had 0.0821 ha/hr field capacity and 81.93% field efficiency. The field performances were similar to those reported by other researchers. The mowers with string blades gave higher specific field capacities; 0.0842 ha/kW.hr for the 0.932 kW C1 and 0.1004 ha/kW.hr for the 0.745 kW C2 as against 0.0288 ha/kW.hr obtained for the push-type mower. Statistical T test conducted at 0.05 level of significance showed no significant difference between the 3 studied mowers’ performances. Ascertaining the mowers field performance will give the buyers and operators some purchase and management decisions support information.