Digital simulation of a mechanized sugar cane farm

Date

1977

Abstract

Sarmiento, Isagani Almoro, University of the Philippines at Los Baños, 1977. Digital Simulation of a Mechanical Sugarcane Farm. Major Professor: Dr. Senen N. Miranda. Co-Adviser: Dr. Manual L. Bonita. The model was used to simulate daily farm activities from land preparation to harvesting operations in haciendas Florencia and San Jose-Bacayan of the Victorias Milling Company. An arbirary harvesting schedule was used in listing priorities for the use of tractors and special purpose power units. The model can be used only for plant-cane culture. It is assumed that the crops in the haciendas are ready for harvest according to a priority policy in the harvesting schedule. The model is capable of dispatching machines to field assignments and tracing their availability and capability from start to end of an eight-hour working day, or even when a three-hour overtime is allowed. Priorities on dispatch of machines are based on the versatility and on the prevailing need for them. The occurrence of machine breakdown is generated by the Monte Carlo simulation technique. Repair policies for each type of breakdown are based on the experience of the repairmen of the Company. Delay on any activity due to wetness of the soil is based on: 10 a daily historical soil moisture data, 20 an average daily evapotranspiration rate of 0.18 inch, and 30 an experience with drying rate of farm soils. Three (3) farm configurations were used in the computer experiment which was done on the FACOH 230 OS2/VS at the National Computer Center and later, on the IBM 370 OS/VS at the University of the Philippines Los Baños. The source program was written in FORTRAN IV S language. Increasing the size of field lots by combining adjacent plots resulted to: 10 an increase in the utilization time of some machines in the pool, 2) an increase in the number of days required to complete the sequence of operations in the farms, and 3) an increase in the operating cost of tractors and other power units. All field operations for the present layout of 117 lots could be finished in 158 days. The compact farm of 46 lots in Trial II could be finished in 163 days, while the farm of 39 lots in Trial III could be finished in 166 days. The extended period of time needed to accomplish all tasks as the farm became compact was brought about by limitations on the number of special purpose machines which did most of the initial operations in the sequence of farm activities. This job-assignment policy resulted to idleness of some machines while others are kept busy. The offset of the extended farm work on the maturity of the crop which was brought about by the inadequacy of the harvester to cope with the assignments was not reflected by the model. The model developed for the mechanized sugarcane farm can be adapted to other crops and farming systems. Its development lays down the basis for future infrastructural planning of agricultural works. By knowing the farm layout that is compatible with the weather condition in the farm and which combination of power units and implements to utilize, the cost of operating the farm could be minimized.

Document Type

Master Thesis

Degree

Master of Science in in Agricultural Engineering

Language

English

LC Subject

Agricultural engineering, Sugarcane -- Philippines, Digital computer simulation

Location

UPLB Main Library Special Collections Section (USCS)

Call Number

LG 995 1977 A2 S27

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