General information

The Laboratory of Farm Mechanization was founded in 1995. It covers the student education as well the research on farm mechanization. It covers the  description, design, construction and testing, use by the farmer  and management of  machinery and equipment used in crop and animal production as well as in the first processing of the products at the farm level.

 

Laboratory  content

The laboratory covers a wide range of applications of the Mechanical Engineering in Agriculture. It covers basic engineering subjects like mechanics, material properties and strength, soil mechanics, .manufacturing tools, internal combustion engines, machinery and equipment used in farm work as well as their management. The laboratory has facilities in the main building in Fytoko and in the Velestino Farm. The laboratory has develop different sections dealing with specific part of the research and education activities and are described in the following.

 

Laboratory sections

A small workshop covers the basic need of the laboratory for light constructions. The existing facilities are divided in sections.

1. Soil physical properties   It covers the requirements of measuring the mechanical properties of the soils like soil strength in compaction, in shear and in penetration,  measurement of plastic limits,  soil aggregate distribution and strength, soil temperature and water content measurements in the field etc.

2. Strength of materials and physical properties of biological material.  Analysis of strength of material using an electrical tensometer and other properties like friction.

3. Measurement of forces and power during field work. An instrumented tractor can measure pulling forces in three dimensions, linear velocity of the tractor, fuel consumption, PTO torque and linear velocity, and implement working depth. There is also an electrical PTO testing dynamometer.

4. Farm machinery section.  It covers the  field machinery with some prototypes developed through the research projects like a modified subsoiler with shallow tines, a strip tillage  equipment etc This section covers the sprayer testing facilities. There are under development a soil bin and a pump testing plant.

5. A farmer health and safety department was developed through a programme funded by the ministry of Education.  Instrumentation for measuring noise and vibration in tractors as well as equipment for farmer protection from chemicals are available.

 

Research activities

The laboratory research activities of the last ten years are

 

  1. Collection of crop residues and  use for energy production. Funded by the Greek Ministry if Education and the research committee of the TEI of Larissa
  2. Comparison of methods of silage production suitable for small farms. Funded by the Greek Ministry if Education and the research committee of the TEI of Larissa
  3.  Vinasse recycling in agriculture 1992093   Funded by the Hellenic Distileries and Spirits S.A.
  4. Vinasse recycling in agriculture Funded by the Greek Ministry of Labour and the European Social Fund
  5. Comparison of Ploughs imported and locally produced. Funded by the Greek Ministry of Labour and the European Social Fund
  6. Improvement of the disc harrow produced by the company Sons of A. Sabris. Funded by the Ministry of Research
  7. Tillage methods for cotton crop establishment  Funded by the Ministry of Research
  8. Study of the traditional farm machinery and tools used in Thessalian traditional agriculture. Funded by the Research committee of the University of Thessaly
  9. Cotton crop cultivation in single and twin rows. Funded by the Research committee of the University of Thessaly
  10. Design and construction of instrumentation of a tractor to measure forces and power during field work. Funded by the Research committee of the University of Thessaly
  11. Improvement of a subsoiler  Funded by the Ministry of Research
  12.  Study of the machinery used for cotton cultivation in ridges Funded by the Ministry of Research
  13. Health and safety   of work in agriculture  Funded by the Greek Ministry of Education
  14. Developing data basis and algorithms for precision agriculture application in cotton crop.