| Summary: | A preliminary field and costs evaluation was conducted to evaluate the performance ofa newly developed prototype machine system for holing soil in large polybags in oil palm nursery. The parameters measured during the preliminary field and costs evaluation included production capacity, mean increase in heart rate, human energy expenditure, total operating costs and return on investment (ROI). The results showed about 257 bags hrl per man of production capacity were obtained with the new machine system or 209.64% increase as compared to 83 bags hrl per man with the current practice. Mean increase in heart rate of worker when operating the machine systems was 24.2 beats min 1 or a decrease of 52.54% when compared to 51 beats milt-I with the current practice. On the basis of human energy expenditure, the new machine system consumed 3.16 kcal min 1 per man or 54.34% less exhausting when compared to 6.92 kcal min-l per man with the current practice. Total operating costs of the new machine system was RM 0.05 bag-I or 28.57% cheaper as compared to RM 0.07 bag-I with the current practice. ROI of the new machine system was 233.07%, which assures the investment on this new machine system is worthwhile. © 2020 Lembaga Minyak Sawit Malaysia. All rights reserved.
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