December, 2019 AgricEngInt: CIGR Journal Open access at http://www.cigrjournal.org Vol. 21, No.

4 107

Design, fabrication and performance evaluation of

drum type potato grader

Md. Nazmul Huda, Md. Kamal Uddin Sarker*, Md. Abdul Munnaf
(Department of Agricultural and Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and
Technology University, Dinajpur 5200, Bangladesh)

Abstract: Grading potatoes by size is an important operation for preparing tubers for seed and for commercial purposes. If
potatoes were sold after grading, this would be beneficial to both producers and consumers. Since mechanical graders are not
locally available, potatoes are graded, when necessary, by hand. This is a time consuming, costly, and inefficient method.
This work concerns the development of a potato-grading machine for small-scale farmers. The grader consisted of a hopper,
grading unit, prime mover and catchment tray fitted on a frame. The grading unit was made up of plastic oil container, hopper
and catchment tray made up of mild steel sheet and the frame was made up of mild steel angle bar. A 0.56 kW, single phase
electric motor was used as a prime mover with a gear box (30:1) for reducing the rotational speed. Machine parameters for the
evaluation included the speed of the grading unit (RPM) and inclination of the grading unit (degree). These were tested on
potato tubers taking note their influence on grading system efficiency, capacity, damaged tubers and power consumption as
independent variables. Data were analyzed and the results indicated that optimum set-up of the grader was at 6 RPM speed of
the grading unit, inclination of 30 giving a system efficiency of 91.57%, capacity 420.10 kg hr-1, damaged tubers of 1.17% and
low power consumption of 9.30 W-hr. The cost of the grader was estimated to be US$434 (1US$ equals 84.25 BDT) with a
break-even quantity of 29 tons of tubers in one year.
Keywords: potato grader, capacity, power consumption, efficiency, damage tubers, break event point

Citation: Huda, Md. N., Md. K. U. Sarker, and Md. A. Munnaf. 2019. Design, fabrication and performance evaluation of drum
type potato grader. Agricultural Engineering International: CIGR Journal, 21(4): 107–114.

hectares in Fiscal Year-17, against 9.47 million tons on

1 Introduction
4.75 million hectares in Fiscal Year-16 (Bangladesh
Potato is a prominent crop in consideration of Bureau of Statistics, 2018).
production and its internal demand in Bangladesh. It is Potato production was 9.254 million tons in Fiscal
the third largest food crop in Bangladesh and has recently Year-15, 8.95 million tons in Fiscal Year-14 and 8.60
occupied an important place in the list of major food and million tons in Fiscal Year-13, the BBS data showed
cash crops of Bangladesh (Ali and Haque, 2011). Potato (Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, 2017).
cultivation has been getting popular over the last many Grading is an important factor in production and in
years Bangladesh maintained its eighth position among the marketing process of potato. Grading of fresh product
top potato-producing countries in the world and third in may be defined as ‘sorting according to quality’, as
the Asia by showing consecutive bumper production in sorting usually upgrades the product (Brennan et al.,
the last four years (Saifullah and Ashish, 2018). Potato 1990). Grading is basically separating the material in
output was a record 10.21 million tons on 4.99 million different homogenous groups according to its specific
characteristics like size, shape, color and on quality basis
Received date: 2018-12-09 Accepted date: 2019-04-03
(Narvankar et al., 2005). In the south-east Asian country
* Corresponding author: Md. Kamal Uddin Sarker, Ph.D.,
Department of Agricultural and Industrial Engineering, Hajee like Bangladesh grading is mainly done for the separation
Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur of seed and table potato. In Bangladesh, seed potatoes are
5200, Email: [email protected], Tel: +8801713163307. graded by hand through eye estimation when necessary.
 108 December, 2019 AgricEngInt: CIGR Journal Open access at http://www.cigrjournal.org Vol. 21, No. 4

This is a very laborious, costly and inefficient method. If grader.

a low cost grader could be developed and extended to
2 Materials and methods
cold storage owners and whole sale businessmen, then
graded potatoes could be available in the market. 2.1 Physical properties of potato tubers
Marketable tubers will command a premium price in the Diamant, Cardinal and Granola are most commonly
market when properly graded. Bringing ungraded tubers grown varieties in Bangladesh. Among these three
in the market will affect marketing system making a varieties physical characteristics of Cardinal and Granola
delay on the disposal of other products. This causes were measured. From each variety 100 samples were
significant loss due to physiological degradation of the randomly selected. Their mass and diameter were
crops as a result of long queue. measured using digital balance with accuracy of 0.01 g
Different methods have been applied for gradation and slide caliper (0.1 mm). The mean, standard deviation,
and developed for various zones and needs since many maximum, minimum, coefficient of variation, quartile
years ago. Now, history and done works are stated briefly and percentile (33, 66 percent) were calculated using data
in the grader machines field. analysis software SPSS version 22.
Shyam et al. (1990) designed and made a potato 2.2 Design considerations and machine construction
grader machine with oscillating screen and operation of Figure 1 and Figure 2 shows the schematic and 3-d
250 kg hr-1. Gradation precision was reported 80%-90% isometric view of the potato grader that was initially
using a person for tendance and avoiding screens fabricated. The unit comprised of a hopper, grading unit,
obstruction. Damages were measured 2% while operation. prime mover, catchment tray mounted on a frame. The
Machine required 10-14 workers. hopper serves as guide for the potato tubers into the
Roy et al. (2005) designed and fabricated a potato grading unit. The grading unit of the grader was
grader with oscillating sieve. The average capacity of the cylindrical in shape, made by connecting three empty
grader was 2030 kg hr-1 in the laboratory and 1500 kg hr-1 plastic oil containers having equal diameter with the help
in the field. The cost of grading was 0.03 Taka kg-1. of mild steel sheet and star joint bolts.
Ghanbarian et al. (2010) reported a potato grader The grading unit were divided into three parts; in the
system with drum made of Capron net as gradation first part 40 mm diameter holes were made for separating
surface with square cells. The cells of net had dimensions small size potato, in the second part 55 mm diameter
of 35×35 mm and 45×45 mm. Machine could grade holes were made for separating medium size potato with
products in three sizes: small (bellow 50 g), medium (50 the help of specially constructed drill bit and in the last
to 80 g) and large (above 80 g). Its gradation accuracy was part extra-large holes were made for separating the
about 74% and mechanical damages of potatoes were 5.5%. remaining large size potato. Below the grading unit was a
Hossain et al. (2013) designed and made a power catchment tray for the graded tubers. The tray had three
operated farmers size potato grader. The grader was divisions to separate the graded tubers from the regions of
operated by 0.5hp electric motor or 4hp diesel engine. the grading unit. A 0.56 kW, single phase electric motor
-1
The capacity of the grader was 1.3 ton hr with 95% was used as a prime mover with a gear box (30:1) for
-1
efficiency and the cost of grading was 75 Taka ton . reducing the speed.
Each machines and mechanisms had advantage and 2.3 Working principle of the grader
defect. For example, optical and machine vision graders Potato tubers were fed into the hopper and then rolled
were not economical for some users because of heavy down into the grading unit. The principle of operation of
cost. Some had much construction cost due to complex the device begins with the rotating motion of the grading
mechanism and at some, required workers was high and unit through the prime mover. Tubers with small, medium
so on. In view of this fact, the present work was and large diameters pass through the respective holes
undertaken to design, fabricate and evaluate the during rotation and are collected in the respective tray
performance of a small scale low cost rotary type potato provided below the grading unit.
 December, 2019 Design, fabrication and performance evaluation of drum type potato grader Vol. 21, No. 4 109

Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the grader

2.4.2 Machine parameters

Two machine parameters were used during the
evaluation. These were the speed of the grading unit (6, 9
and 12 RPM) and the inclination of the grading unit (3, 6
and 9 degrees). The influence of these machine
parameters to the performance of the machine during the
evaluation was observed. Machine performance, response
variables, was indicated by the grading system efficiency
(GSE) in percent, capacity (C) in kg hr-1, percent damage
tubers and power consumption in W-hr.
The grading system efficiency was determined by
taking the products of the efficiency of small, medium
Figure 2 3-D isometric view of the grader
and large regions as shown in Equation (1) (Valentin et
2.4 Performance test
al., 2016).
2.4.1 Design of experiments
GSE=(effS×effM×effL)×100, % (1)
The experimental design for performance test of the
where, effS is the efficiency, in decimal, of the small
grading machine was done for three rotational speed of
region of the grader to classify the small tubers; effM is
the rotating unit and three degree of inclination of the
the efficiency of the medium region and effL is the
grading unit with the horizontal. The experimental design
efficiency of the large region.
is shown in Table 1.
The capacity of the grader was determined by
Table 1 Experimental design for performance test
considering the time it takes to grade the given quantity
RPM of the grading unit Inclination angle (degree)
of tubers. In this study 7 kg of tubers were used for each
3
6 6
experiment. The capacity is expressed in kg hr-1 as shown
9 in Equation (2) (Valentin et al., 2016).
3
W
9 6 C= , kg/hr (2)
t
9
3
where, W is the quantity of potato in kg and t is the time
12 6 in hr.
9
The power consumption was taken by simply taking
 110 December, 2019 AgricEngInt: CIGR Journal Open access at http://www.cigrjournal.org Vol. 21, No. 4

products of the rated size of the prime mover of the took to grade the samples were also recorded.
grader and the time of operation. In this study 0.56 kW Number of correctly graded small tubers
eff S = (5)
motor was used. Power consumption is related by Total number of small tubers in the sample
Equation (3) (Valentin et al., 2016). Number of correctly graded medium tubers
eff M = (6)
Power consumption = kilowatts×t, W-hr (3) Total number of medium tubers in the sample
where, t is the time of operation in hours. Number of correctly graded large tubers
eff L = (7)
Injury was accounted as those tubers with abrasion Total number of large tubers in the sample
after the grading operation. The percentage of injured 2.4.6 Cost analysis of the potato grader
tubers was taken by considering the total number of A Simple cost analysis was done for the potato grader.
tubers with abrasion after the operation against the total The analysis included the actual cost of the device, annual
number of tubers prior to the operation. Abrasion was fixed cost and variable cost. The annual fixed cost
visually inspected and those tubers with abrasion of 5% included depreciation, interest and shelter cost. Variable
higher than the surface area were considered damaged as cost included repair and maintenance cost, labor cost and
shown in Equation (4) (Valentin et al., 2016). electricity cost. Assumption was made as interest 13%,
Total number of tubers with abrasion shelter 0.01% per year; repair and maintenance cost
Injury,% = × 100
Total number of tubers in the sample 0.01% per hr, operation per day 8 hrs, annual use 250 hrs
(4) and estimated life span 7 yrs of the machine.
2.4.3 Sample preparation for performance test The cost was calculated using following formulas:
A quantity of 200 kg of Potato tubers for the chosen The annual depreciation was calculated as
variety (Cardinal) were procured from the market in D = P – S/L (8)
August 15, 2017. Tubers with initial damages such as where, D is the depreciation; P is the purchase price of
scratches, abrasion, decay and greening were not the machine; S is the salvage or selling price and L is the
considered in the sample. Thus, there was no initial time between buying and selling.
damage during the testing of the device. The samples Interest on investment was calculated as
were divided into 27 groups with 7 kg each containing I = [P + S/2]×i (9)
small, medium and large. On the average, each group had where, I is the interest on investment; P is the purchase
50% small, 30% medium and 20% large-sized tubers. price of the machine; S is the salvage or selling price; i is
Each tuber was manually measured with slide caliper to the current interest rate.
determine the size and was given a label to easily Total cost per year calculated as
distinguish after grading. The samples were prepared by Total cost = Annual fixed cost + Variable cost (10)
following Valentin et al. (2016). Break-even point of the device was considered in this
2.4.4 Test run study which is expressed in terms of the amount of tubers
A two factor completely randomized design test runs needed to grade per year. Break even cost of the device is
of 27 were used in the study with 9 treatment given by Equation (11) (Valentin et al., 2016).
combination and 3 replications. Each replication used AFC
BEP = (11)
7 kg of potato tubers as initially prepared. CR − VC
2.4.5 Evaluation procedure where, CR is the custom rate; AFC is the annual fixed
As initially prepared, each 7 kg of potato tubers were cost and VC is the variable cost.
loaded into the hopper while the grading unit was rotating.
3 Results and discussion
After the grading operation, tubers that dropped on the
appropriate region and number of damaged tubers were 3.1 Physical properties of potato tubers
counted and recorded. This was to determine the grading The mean, standard deviation, maximum, and
efficiency of each region as shown in Equations (4), (5), minimum, coefficient of variation, quartile and percentile
(6) and (7) (Valentin et al., 2016). The time, in seconds, it (33, 66 percent) of physical properties (mass and
 December, 2019 Design, fabrication and performance evaluation of drum type potato grader Vol. 21, No. 4 111

diameter) of the Cardinal and Granola (oval shape) potato 40.36 g. Diameter ranges of product separation were
varieties are shown in the Table 2. under 40, 40-55 and above 55 mm selected according to
Results in the Table 2 indicated that the maximum the percentiles. The relationship between mass and
and minimum diameters of the selected potato variety diameter of measured potatoes could be expressed by the
were 108 mm and 22.20 mm. The mean diameter was equation,
48.91 mm. Also the maximum and minimum mass of the Y = 10.986X0.4179 (R2= 0.89)
potato tubers were 194.10 g and 6.10 g with a mean of where, Y= Mass, g and X= Diameter, mm.
Table 2 The physical characteristics of the potatoes
Percentiles
Properties Maximum Minimum Mean Standard deviation Coefficient of Variance
33 66

Mass (g) 194.10 6.10 40.36 31.29 979.29 23.60 41.32

Diameter (mm) 108.00 22.20 48.91 15.56 242.13 39.56 55.23

3.2 Specifications of the potato grader 3.3.1 Combined effect of speed and inclination angle on
The fabricated machine tested in the study was a the performance
drum type potato grader which had the following Table 4 shows the summary of the results on the
components: hopper, grading unit, receiving tray and performance evaluation of the device.
power transmission system. Table 3 presents the final Table 4 Interaction effect of the speed and inclination of
specifications of the device after fabrication. potato grader
Table 3 Specifications of the drum type potato grader Angle GSE Capacity Injured Power Consumption
RPM
(degree) (%) (kg hr-1) (%) W-hr/sample
Item Specification
-1 3 91.57a 420.10i 1.17a 9.30a
A. Capacity, kg hr 420.10
b h ab
6 6 85.50 494.20 0.92 7.13c
B. Grading Efficiency, % 91.57
d g abc
9 77.76 586.52 0.67 6.20d
C. Injury,% 2.22
b f abc
3 84.40 547.71 0.83 7.91b
D. Main structure c e abc
Overall Dimensions 9 6 80.13 600.17 0.67 6.51d
Length, mm 3031 9 67.40e 741.34d 0.58bc 5.43e
Width, mm 610 d c abc
Height, mm 1676 3 77.57 630.00 0.67 6.67cd
e b bc
12 6 66.17 720.60 0.58 5.22e
E. Grading unit assembly
f a c
9 60.77 900.53 0.33 4.39f
Length, mm 2286
Note: * Means separation in column followed by the same letter (s) are not
Diameter, mm 584
significantly different at P=0.05.
F. Feeding mechanism type Manual feeding, hopper type

G. Prime mover
220 V, 0.56 kW single phase, The Table 4 shows that the maximum capacity of the
capacitor type electric motor
grader was found to be 900.53 kg hr-1 at 12 rpm and 90 of
H. Gear box 30:1
I. Transmission system Open drive belt and pulley combination inclination angle. But at the same time the grading system
Pulley 1 38.1 mm efficiency was very low (60.77%). At the same time the
Pulley 2 101.6 mm
percentages of injured tubers were low (0.33%) and
Pulley 3 50.8 mm, 76.2 mm, 101.6 mm
Pulley 4 152.4 mm power consumption also low (4.39 W-hr/sample). On the
Belt type V-belt, A-36, A-64,A-65, A-66 other hand, the grading system efficiency was high
3.3 Performance evaluation of the grader (91.57%) at 6 rpm and 30 inclinations angle with the
The overall performance of the grader was lowest capacity (420.10 kg hr-1). At the same time the
determined by measuring different parameters considered percentage of injured tubers were high (1.17%) and
in the study. The grading capacity, grading system power consumption also high (9.30 W-hr/sample). It
efficiency (GSE), injury percentage and power shows from the table that there are variations of grading
consumption of the grader as affected by speed and capacity, efficiency, damaged tubers and power
inclination angle of the grading cylinder were computed consumption with variations of RPM and angle of
and analyzed. inclination.
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3.3.1.1 Grading system efficiency (GSE) 3.3.1.4 Power consumption

Comparison of means in table 4 showed that the best Table 4 shows that power consumption was highest
combination to achieve the highest grading system when the grader was operated at 3 degree inclination in
efficiency was operating the machine at 6 RPM with combination with speed 6 RPM and lowest power
3degree inclination. The lowest grading system efficiency consumption was found when operated at 12 RPM and
was found when operating at 12 RPM with 9 degree 9 degree inclination. Power consumption was increased
inclination. The grading system efficiency gradually with decreasing the speed and inclination of the grading
decreased with increasing the speed and inclination of the unit. This was because when the grader was operated at a
grading unit. This was because with increasing the speed high speed and inclination causing shorter time of
and inclination of the grading unit, the potato tubers operation. Thus the power consumption was less.
moved first through the grading unit. For this reason 3.3.2 Influence of speed
some of the small size potato tubers moved into the Data in Table 5 shows the performance of the grader
region of hole for medium size classification and some of at different RPM. It shows that the grader had the highest
the medium size moved into the large size region which GSE when operated at 6 RPM. Extremely fast RPM of
decreased the grading system efficiency. the grading unit were observed to cause the tubers a fast
3.3.1.2 Capacity random movement through the grading unit. This
Table 4 shows that the highest grading capacity mechanical reaction caused some tubers to move over one
achieved when the machine was operated at 9 degree region to another to the extent that small-sized tubers
inclination and speed of operation of the machine even move to the region of the hole for medium-sized
-1
12 RPM, with a value of 900.53 kg hr . The lowest classification. This unwanted motion of tubers during
grading capacity was found when the grader was operated extreme rotation significantly affected the grading system
at 6 RPM with an angle of 3 degree inclination with a efficiency of the device. On the other hand lower RPM of
-1
value of 420.10 kg hr . The results showed that grading the grading unit were observed to cause the tubers move
capacity gradually increased with increasing the speed slowly through the grading unit hence the tubers got
and inclination of the grading unit and decreased with enough time for grading accurately. For this reason
decreasing the speed and inclination. This is because the grading system efficiency was high in lower RPM than
potato tubers move first through the grading unit with higher RPM of the grading unit. Meanwhile, analysis of
increasing the speed and inclination of the grading unit. variance on the influence of machine parameters to
For this reason greater amount of potato was graded with grading system efficiency showed significant effect.
less time hence the capacity was increased. For the Table 5 Effect of speed on efficiency, capacity, injury and
grading operation it will therefore important to select power consumption of potato grader
suitable combination on the basis of use and grading Speed (RPM)
Machine Parameters
efficiency requirements. 6 9 12

3.3.1.3 Injured tubers GSE (%) 84.51a 77.27b 68.64c

Table 4 shows that minimal injured tubers were found Capacity (kg hr-1) 532.60c 605.00b 742.80a
a ab
Injured (%) 0.89 0.72 0.53b
when the grader was operated at 12 RPM and 9 degree
Power Consumption (W-hr) 7.96a 6.29b 5.34c
inclination with a value of 0.33%. Highest injured tubers Note: *Means separation in raw followed by the same letter (s) are not
were found when grader was operated at 6 RPM and significantly different at P=0.05.

3 degree inclination. Percentage of tuber injured The capacity of the grader using speed of 9 and
increased with decreasing the speed and inclination of the 12 RPM is significantly higher than using a speed of
grading unit. Slow speed and small inclination angle 6 RPM. High speed (12 RPM) induces more velocity to
caused accumulation of the tuber in the grading unit that the tubers causing them to travel along the unit at a faster
induced greater impact as result of their weight which rate. Conversely, lowest speed (6 RPM) resulted to slow
increased the percentages of injured tubers. material flow through the grading unit resulting to longer
 December, 2019 Design, fabrication and performance evaluation of drum type potato grader Vol. 21, No. 4 113

time of operation that caused lower capacity. amount of tubers in the grading unit along with very high
Power consumption was lowest at 12 RPM. The RPM. The large number of tubers in the grading unit
grader operated at a faster rate causing shorter time of tends to create a heavier impact among each other during
operation. Lowest speed (6 RPM) resulted to more power the rotation of the grader. For the inclination of the grader,
consumption. Tubers stayed at a longer time in the unit it was observed that at very low inclination which is 3
causing more power inputs. Although power consumption degrees, there were more number of tubers injured which
is very minimal, the differences on the mean values are is almost 0.91% of the total samples as shown in Table 6.
significant. 3.4 Cost analysis of the potato grader
Injured tubers were found to be minimal at a speed of 3.4.1 Cost estimation
12 RPM. Highest injury of 0.89% at 6 RPM could be due The present potato grader was designed and
to large accumulation of tubers in the unit creating fabricated in such a way as to keep its cost low. Table 7
significant impacts as a result of weight of the large shows the cost factors and items of the potato grader.
quantity of tubers. Abrasion of tubers resulted not only From the table, it can be seen that the cost of grading with
with the high RPM of the grader but also due to large the present grader was only Taka 0.28 per kilogram.
quantity of tubers. The combined effect of the speed of Table 7 Cost factors and items of the potato grader
the grading unit and the heavy weight of tubers causes Cost factors/items Unit Amount
greater impact to the tubers. A. Cost of the grader US$/Unit
Materials US$ 261.14
3.3.3 Influence of Inclination Gear box US$ 83
Table 6 shows the mean values for the machine Electrical motor US$ 47.5
Construction cost US$ 142.4
parameters as affected by the inclination of the grading Total Cost US$ 534

unit. Highest grading system efficiency of 84.94% was B. Life of the grader Year 7
C. Annual use Hrs 250
observed at an inclination of 3 degrees whereas; lowest
D. Annual fixed cost
efficiency was obtained at an inclination of 9 degrees. a. Depreciation US$/yr 68.67
b. Interest (13%) US$/yr 38.19
Extremely high inclination caused fast transfer of tubers c. Shelter(0.01% of P) US$/yr 0.05
Total US$/yr 106.91
to the next region as caused by gravity plus the effect of Total US$/hr 0.43
the rotation of the grading unit. This also reduces the time E. Variable Cost
a. Repair and maintenance (0.01% of P) US$/hr 0.05
of operation causing significantly high capacity of b. Labour (two labours, 3.5 US$/day) US$/hr 0.88
c. Electricity US$/hr 0.04
750.38 kg hr-1 and lower power 5.43 W-hr. Tubers in this Total US$/hr 0.97
scenario especially the smaller ones at the first region F. Total cost US$/hr 1.4

move to the next selection region without passing to the G. Cost of grading (assuming 420.10 kg/hr) US$/kg 0.003

succeeding region. 3.4.2 Break-even point

Table 6 Effect of inclination on efficiency, capacity, injury From Table 7 shows that the device has an initial cost
and power consumption of potato grader of US$534 with an estimated life span of 7 years. With
Inclination (degrees) basic assumptions and current market practice the annual
Machine Parameters
3 6 9 fixed cost of operating the device is US$ 106.91.
GSE (%) 84.94a 77.31b 68.17c Assumptions include: interest, 13%, shelter 0.01% per yr,
-1 c b a
Capacity (kg hr ) 500.27 629.74 750.38 repair and maintenance 0.01% per hr, operation per day
Injured (%) 0.91a 0.69ab 0.53b
8 hr, annual use 250 hr and custom rate US$ 0.006 kg-1.
Power Consumption (W-hr) 7.54a 6.62b 5.43c
Note: * Means separation in raw followed by the same letter (s) are not The grader needs to grade a quantity of 29 tons of potato
significantly different at P=0.05. tubers in one year to break-even the cost of fabrication.
Injured tubers as influenced by the inclination of the Figure 3 shows the cost curve emphasizing the
grader were observed to decrease with higher inclination break-even quantity. If available quantity of tubers is
as shown in Table 6. As shown earlier in Table 5, injured greater than the break-even quantity, the use of the grader
tubers were observed to be influenced by the large will result to profit. Otherwise, the machine is expensive
 114 December, 2019 AgricEngInt: CIGR Journal Open access at http://www.cigrjournal.org Vol. 21, No. 4

to use when available quantity is less than the break-even graded by the device in one year to break-even the cost.
quantity. Grading by using this machine will cost US$0.003 kg-1.

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Editorial, 8 January.
of 420.10 kg hr-1, less damaged tubers of 1.17% and a
Shyam, M., R. Singh, and V. Singh. 1990. Design and development
power consumption of 9.30 W-hr. The initial cost of the of potato grader. Journal of Agricultural Mechanization in
grader was US$534 and is expected to last for 7 years. Asia, Africa, and Latin America, 21(1): 40–42.
The annual use of the grader in the village is Valentin, M., V. Villota, V. Malamug, and I. Agulto. 2016.
approximately 250 hrs. Cost of operating the machine is Evaluation of a helix type potato grader. CLSU International

affected by several factors such as: depreciation, shelter, Journal of Science and Technology, 1(1): 46–52.
Widodo, T. W., J. Pitoyo, D. Anggit, and E. Rahmarestia. 2013.
repairs and maintenance at a current custom rate of Tk.
Design and development of potato grading machine. In ISHS
0.50 kg-1, the grader has an annual fixed cost of
Acta Horticulturae 1011: II Asia Pacific Symposium on
US$106.91 and variable operating cost of US$0.97. A Postharvest Research Education and Extension: APS2012, pp.
quantity of 29057 kg (29 tons) of tubers is needed to be 125–131. Yogyakarta, Indonesia, 5th November.