Agricultural Engineering

About the Department

About the Department

  • Established in the year 2014 with the intent of raising qualified Agricultural Engineers and Researchers who can make substantial contribution to the field of Agricultural Engineering.
  • The nomenclature of B.E Agriculture Engineering has been changed to
    B.Tech Agricultural Engineering and this come into effect from the academic year 2022-2023 onwards.
  • The curriculum and syllabus is approved by the Board of Studies and Department Advisory Board in which the external expert members are from educational institutions, industries and research centres of repute  the curriculum is periodically reviewed on pace with the global industrial scenario.
  • The Department offers four major specializations in Agricultural Engineering viz. Farm Machinery and Power Engineering, Soil and Water Conservation Engineering and
    Post-Harvest Process and Food Engineering. Each has its unique and wide scope for research work.
  • Well-equipped Farm Machinery and Power Laboratory, Post-Harvest Engineering Laboratory, Dairy Processing and Food Engineering Laboratory, Bio Energy Laboratory and Irrigation Laboratory facilities are available
  • Specially designed skill development programs are organized with the support of industrial experts.
  • To acquire the knowledge on crop cultivation aspects from seed to harvest, the Department has 5 acres of farm especially for students to practice along with well-equipped Crop Husbandry Laboratory, Agriculture Meteorology Observatory, and Soil Science Laboratory.
  • A fully automated Polyhouse and Green shade net available in the Department for student’s project work under controlled environment
  • Publication in NAAS index / Scopus indexed Journals
  • Consultancy work and social interactions by faculty members.
  • National and international conferences and courses are organised.
  • Thirty-three percentage of faculty members have Ph.D., qualification

Programmes offered

  • B. Tech - Agricultural Engineering- 4 years

Vision & Mission

Vision

  • To attain excellence in Agricultural Engineering Education, Research and Extension activities for sustainable Agricultural development and harmonized livelihood of humans.

Mission

  • To impart technical education through effective teaching-learning process.
  • To enhance students’ employability through mentoring and skill based training.
  • To educate and train the future professionals to face various agricultural challenges due to global changing scenario.
  • To discover and improve new technologies for stakeholders based on integrated approach.

PEO, PO and PSO

Program Educational Objectives (PEOs)

The graduates of will be able to

  • PEO1: To provide a sound theoretical knowledge in engineering principles applied to agriculture.
  • PEO2: To develop leadership qualities with responsibilities to provide ethical and technical solutions in Agricultural Engineering.
  • PEO3: To Identification of bottlenecks in agriculture specific sectors to develop a sustainable Agricultural Engineering practice.
  • PEO4: To maximal utilization of resources which are minimal and develop state of the art technologies in Agricultural Engineering.

Program Outcomes (POs)

Engineering Graduates will be able to:

  • Engineering knowledge: Apply the knowledge of mathematics, science, engineering fundamentals, and an engineering specialization to the solution of complex engineering problems.
  • Problem analysis: Identify, formulate, review research literature, and analyze complex engineering problems reaching substantiated conclusions using first principles of mathematics, natural sciences, and engineering sciences.
  • Design/development of solutions: Design solutions for complex engineering problems and design system components or processes that meet the specified needs with appropriate consideration for the public health and safety, and the cultural, societal, and environmental considerations.
  • Conduct investigations of complex problems: Use research- based knowledge and research methods including design of experiments, analysis and interpretation of data, and synthesis of the information to provide valid conclusions.
  • Modern tool usage: Create, select, and apply appropriate techniques, resources, and modern engineering and IT tools including prediction and modeling to complex engineering activities with an understanding of the limitations.
  • The Engineer and society: Apply reasoning informed by the contextual knowledge to assess societal, health, safety, legal and cultural issues and the consequent responsibilities relevant to the professional engineering practice.
  • Environment and sustainability: Understand the impact of the professional engineering solutions in societal and environmental contexts, and demonstrate the knowledge of, and need for sustainable development.
  • Ethics: Apply ethical principles and commit to professional ethics and responsibilities and norms of the engineering practice.
  • Individual and team work: Function effectively as an individual, and as a member or leader in diverse teams, and in multidisciplinary settings.
  • Communication: Communicate effectively on complex engineering activities with the engineering community and with society at large, such as, being able to comprehend and write effective reports and design documentation, make effective presentations, and give and receive clear instructions.
  • Project management and finance: Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the engineering and management principles and apply these to one’s own work, as a member and leader in a team, to manage projects and in multidisciplinary environments.
  • Life-long learning: Recognize the need for, and have the preparation and ability to engage in independent and life-long learning in the broadest context of technological change.

Programme Specific Outcomes (PSOs)

The students will demonstrate the abilities

  • PSO1: Survey, scrutinize, design and develop agriculture systems to promote a sustainable agriculture with high yield with less utilization of resources.
  • PSO2: Execute innovation and excellence in Agricultural Engineering problem solving and design in global and societal contexts.
  • PSO3: Commit to lifelong learning and professional development in the Agricultural Engineering field to stay updated in technology, research topics and contemporary issues.
  • PSO4: Understand the fundamentals of Agricultural Engineering in commercial contexts and in expediting Irrigation projects.

Advisory Committee

Department Program Advisory Committee (DPAC)

S.No Member Designation
1 Dr.P.Venkatachalam Professor & Dean, Department of Agricultural Engineering
2 Mr.Paul Raj Head, ETDC, Bangalore
3 Mr.P.Sellamuthu Director General, IIEM
4 Dr.V.Shanmugam., Dean,SMS
5 Dr. T. Jesudas, Professor, Dept of Mechatronics
6 Dr. R. Thanigaivelan, Professor, Dept of Mechanical Engg
7 Dr. K. Vidhya,. Professor, Dept of Civil Engg
8 Dr. S. Umamaheswari, Professor, Dept of EEE

Board of Studies

Members of the Board of Studies

Sl. No. Name full address of the members Position in BoS
1

Dr.KR. Kalphana
Associate Professor and Head

Head of the Department,
Department of Agricultural Engineering,
Mahendra Engineering College,

Chairperson
2

Dr.C.Meiaraj
Professor

Department of Civil Engineering,
Government College of Technology,
Coimbatore.

Anna University Nominee
3

Dr.T.Senthilkumar
Principal Scientist

ICAR-Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering
Regional Centre,
Coimbatore - 641 007

Subject Expert
  4

Dr.R.Murugesan
Managing Director

Roots Irrigation Private Limited,
55F, Vilankurichi Road,
Coimbatore.

Industry Expert
5

Mr.K. Karthik Ram
CEO

M/S Ramkumar Industries
57, Vellaikinar Road,
Coimbatore-641029

Industry Expert
6

Dr. P. Venkatachalam
Professor

Nandha Engineering College, Erode.

Academic Expert
7

Dr. V. Shanmugam
Dean

School of Mechanical Sciences,
Mahendra Engineering College.

Academic Expert
8

Dr.K. Vidhya
Professor and Head

Department of Civil Engineering
Mahendra Engineering College
Mallasamudram,
Namakkal-637503.

Allied Department
9

Dr.V. Dhineshkumar
Associate Professor and Head

Department of Food Technology,
Mahendra Engineering College
Mallasamudram,
Namakkal-637503.

Allied Department
11

Er.N.Mukilan
Assistant Professor

Nandha Engineering College,
Erode.

Alumnus
12

Mr.M.Lokesh,
Final Year student

Department of Agricultural Engineering,
Mahendra Engineering College,

UG Student

Board of Studies Meeting

Laboratory

Bio energy laboratory

Major Equipment

  • KVIC Biogas Plant Model
  • Deenabandhu Biogas Plant Model
  • Solar Water Heater
  • Solar Water Distillation
  • Solar Dryer
  • Solar Water Pump
  • Wind Mill Model
  • Hot Air Oven
  • Muffle Furnace

Capabilities

  • Understanding of working principle of Solar water heater, Solar tunnel dryer, Hot air oven and Muffle furnace
  • Understanding of components and working principles of Biogas plants through KVIC model and Deenabandhu model

Utilization

  • Bio energy Laboratory for third year Agricultural Engineering Students

Laboratory In-charges

  • Dr.T.Kiruthika

Farm Power and Machinery Laboratory

Major Equipment

  • Tractor
  • Power tiller
  • Disc Plough
  • Cultivator
  • Seed Drill
  • Knapsack Sprayer
  • Mower
  • Weeder
  • Power Sprayer
  • Rotavator
  • Screw Auger
  • Ridger
  • Bund Former

Capabilities

  • Identification of components of tractor, their maintenance and study of safety aspects while operating the tractor and power tiller
  • Identification, operation, maintenance and study of Primary and secondary tillage equipments
  • Identification, operation, maintenance and study of sowing equipments
  • Identification, operation, maintenance and study of Intercultural equipments
  • Identification, operation, maintenance and study of Plant protection  equipments
  • Identification, operation, maintenance and study of harvesting equipments

Utilization

  • Agricultural Engineering practices laboratory for first  year students
  • Operation maintenance of farm machinery laboratory for third  year students
  • Testing and management of farm machinery for final year students

Laboratory In-charges

  • B.Kailashkumar
  • Dr.V.Poonguzhali

Post Harvest Engineering Laboratory

Major Equipment

  • Angle of Repose Apparatus- Round Type
  • Angle of Repose Apparatus- L Type
  • Fluidized Bed Dryer
  • Porosity Apparatus
  • Coefficient of Friction Apparatus
  • Bucket Elevator
  • Screw Conveyor
  • Rubber Roll Sheller
  • Hot Air Oven
  • Grain Moisture Meter
  • Bucket elevator
  • Groundnut Decorticator
  • Maize Sheller

Capabilities

  • Understanding the working principles of coefficient of friction, angle of repose, digital moisture meter and porosity apparatus.
  • Understanding the working principles of Groundnut decorticator, Paddy thresher and Paddy winnower
  • Understanding the working principles of grain dryers and Shellers

Utilization

  • Post harvest technology laboratory for second year students
  • Food and Dairy engineering laboratory for third year students

Laboratory In-charges

  • Mr.S.Anand

Agricultural Engineering Practices Laboratory

Major Equipment

  • Meteorological instruments
  • Automatic Weather station
  • Soil EC, Ph, and TDS meter
  • Digital Soil moisture meter
  • Tensiometer
  • Seed growth Germinator
  • Drip and Sprinkler setup with all features

Capabilities

  • To understand the concepts and working principles of Meteorological instruments, Automatic weather station, soil parameters and Modern Irrigation equipments

Utilization

  • Agricultural Engineering practices laboratory for first year students

Laboratory In-charges

  • Mrs.C.N.S.Swathi

Strength of Materials Laboratory

Major Equipment

  • UTM of minimum 400 KN
  • Torsion testing machine for steel rods
  • Izod impact testing machine
  • Charpy/Izod impact testing machine
  • Hardness testing machine Rockwell and Brinnel
  • Beam deflection test apparatus
  • Extensometer

Capabilities

  • Demonstrating the basic principles in the area of strength and mechanics of materials and structural analysis to the undergraduate students through a series of experiments

Utilization

  • Strength of materials laboratory for second year students

Surveying Laboratory

Major Equipment

  • Total station
  • Theodolite
  • Leveling instruments
  • Plane table
  • Pocket stereoscope
  • Prism square
  • Optical square
  • Prismatic compass
  • GPS
  • Dumpy level

Capabilities

  • To find out the Cross section, Longitudinal section, length, height, angle and location of agricultural land.
  • To draw the Contour mapping of agricultural field

Utilization

  • Surveying laboratory for second year students

Fluid mechanics and hydraulics Laboratory

Major Equipment

  • Rotometer
  • Venturimeter and  Orifice meter
  • Flow through variable duct area - Bernoulli‟s Experiment
  • Flow through Orifice, Mouthpiece and Notches
  • Centrifugal pumps
  • Gear pump
  • Submersible pump
  • Reciprocating pump
  • Pelton wheel turbine
  • Francis turbine

Capabilities

  • To understand the concepts and working principles of pipes, pumps and turbines.
  • To calculate the efficiency of various Pumps and turbines

Utilization

  • Fluid mechanics and hydraulics laboratory for second year students

Food and Dairy Engineering Laboratory

Major Equipment

  • Auto clave
  • Laminar flow chamber
  • Cream Separator
  • Hot air oven
  • Hand refractometer
  • Dessicator
  • Soxhlet apparatus
  • Kjeldahl Apparatus
  • Microwave oven
  • Spectrophotometer
  • Butter Churner

Capabilities

  • Understanding the components and working principle of various food and dairy equipments

Utilization

  • Food and Dairy engineering laboratory for third year students

Laboratory In-charges

  • Mrs.C.N.S.Swathi

Other laboratories

Design and drawing of agricultural equipments, machineries and structures

  • CAD for Agricultural Machinery

Agricultural practices

  • Crop husbandry Laboratory

Faculty & Staff

Sl. No Name of the faculty Designation Qualification
1 Dr. KR. KALPHANA Associate Professor & HEAD M.E, Ph.D
2 Dr. T.KIRUTHIKA Assistant Professor M.Tech, PhD
3 Dr. B.KAILASHKUMAR Assistant Professor M.Tech, PhD
4 Mr.V.PRABHAKARAN Assistant Professor M.E
5 Mr.P.SENTHIL Assistant Professor M.E
6 Mr.C .VASANTHAKUMAR Assistant Professor M.E.
7 Mr.S.DHIVIN Assistant Professor M.E.
8 Mr.A.KAMALAHASAN Assistant Professor M. Tech.
9 Mrs.C N S.SWATHI Assistant Professor M.Sc. (Agri)
10 Mr. S.ANAND Assistant Professor M.Sc.(Agri)
11 Ms .K.PRIYADHARSHINI Lab Technician B.Sc.(Agri)
S.NO NAME OF THE FACULTY No. of research publication
1 Dr. K R Kalphana 8
2 Dr. V .Poonguzhali 5
4 Mrs.M.Suganthi 8
5 B.Kailashkumar 5
6 Mr. S Anand 1
7. Dr. T Kiruthika 16
8 Dr.M.Angaleeswari 11
S.No Name of the Supporting Staff Qualification Designation
1 K.Priyadharshini B.Sc (Agriculture) Lab technician

Credentials

Credentials of the Department

  • Three faculty members have completed Ph.D degree and 1 faculty is currently pursuing Ph.D in the last three academic years 2020-21,2021-22 and 2022-23
  • Faculty members are life membership in Professional Bodies like IE(I),IWA, ISTE &  chapters and Anna University Syllabus Subcommittee member for framing
    Agricultural Engineering Syllabus.
  • Faculty members have Published 43 technical papers .
  • NPTEL local chapter is established for students and faculty members appearing for NPTEL courses online examinations
  • Faculties and students have submitted research proposal to various funding agencies like DST, TANSCST, MSME, YUKTI
  • Students have developed various models of agricultural systems under sub categories namely Heritage, Kitchen gardening, Integrated Farming, Watershed management, Bio energy and Dream Agriculture
  • Various technical training, workshops and seminar have been conducted in the department for the developing the technical skills and credentials of the students to become the successful agricultural engineers.
  • Our students have undergone internship in various government / reputed private industries / organizations.
  • All the students are undergoing skill development programmes like soft skills, communication skills, aptitude and logical reasoning, group discussions and technical interview skills

CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE

Agro Innovation


Soilless cultivation in Hydroponics





Short-Term Courses

S. No Name of the Value Added Course Duration Date of commencement Course  Co-Ordinator
1

 IOT and Its Application

35Hrs 07-10-2022

Mr. Anand S

2

Soil, Water and Plant Analysis

35Hrs 07.01.2023 Mrs. C N S Swathi

Events

Academic year: 2021-22 (ODD Semester 2021-22)

S.No Date(s) of the Event   Type of Event Name of the Event Resource Person Name &Designation
1. 9.10.2021 Seminar “Advanced Technology in Farm Mechanization – India” Dr. T. SENTHILKUMAR 
 Principal Scientist (Farm Machinery and Power)
 ICAR – Central Institute of Agri Engg, 
 Regional Centre, Coimbatore.
2. 12.10.2021 Webinar “Career opportunities for agricultural engineers” Dr. M.M.PRAGALYAASHREE,M.Tech PhD
Assistant professor, 
Food processing Technology,
 Karunya Institute of Science and Technology
 Coimbatore
3. 11.11.2021 Webinar “The importance of hydraulics structures for society” Mrs. K.KAVITHA RANI
Assistant exrecutive Engineer
PWD/Water resource Department ,Salem .
4. 6.10.2021 Guest lecture “Agricultural engineering – past, present and future” Dr.P.VENKATACHALAM
Director (R&E), MIT College of Agricultural
Technology, Musiri And
Former Dean and Professor
Tamilnadu Agricultural University
5. 21.10.2021 International lecture “Applications of Novel and Emerging Non-thermal Processing Technologies” DR. KATHIRAVAN Krishnamurthy, PhD  
Clinical Assistant professor
Department of Food Science and Nutrition  Illinois Institute of Technology
Chicago, United States 
6. 30.11.2021 NIT / IIT Lecture Series “Advancements, new challenging and novelty about the harvesting equipment” Dr. P. SATHIYA
Professor
Department of production Engineering
National  Institute of Technology
Tiruchirappali
7. 23.10.2021 Mails “Placement awareness in agricultural engineering” Mr. R.GUNASEELAN
Alumni (2014-2018)
8. 29.10.2021 Mails “Recent trends in micro irrigation system” Er. A.ARIVANANTHAN,
District Manager,
Jain Irrigation Systems Ltd,

Programmes Organized During EVEN Semester 2021-22

S.No Date(s) of the Event Type of Event Name of the Event Resource Person Name &Designation
1 02.02.2022   Webinar Agri engineering start-ups – “The big Opportunity, Challenge and the Thrill” RAJKUMAR ARUMUGAM,
Founder &Director,
Renaaissance Power Products Private limited,
Coimbaore.
2 18.03.2022   MAILS Career Guidance of Agriculture Technology for Agriculture Engineer Mr.NirmalKaliannan
Agtech Engineer
Digiteinfotech Pvt Ltd
Bangalore
8870880787
Nirmal.kaliannan@digite.com
3 22.03.2022   Guest lecture Advanced  technologies for manufacturing  plant based dairy alternative. Mr.SureshChander C.R.
New Product Development and Applications Team Head,
Arboreal Bioinnovations
4 28.03.2022   NIT / IIT Lecture Series Ocean Engineering: An Introductory Overview Dr.SrineashVijaya Kumar
Room No:142, Dept. of Civil Engineering,
Indian Institute of Technology Bombay,
Mumbai – 400076.
5 29.03.2022     Webinar Agri Engineering Startups“ Energy saving opportunity in Domestic and Agri based equipments by using Solar power plant”. Mr. Sivakumar. S
Petroleum Conservation Research Association,
Southern Region office,
BSNL building Tower – 2,
Ground Floor, No. 16,
Greams road,
Chennai - 600006
6 30.03.2022     MAILS Entrepreneurship Opportunities and Skills in Agriculture Sector Mr. K. Sasikumar
Lecturer
Department of Agricultural Technology,
Thiyagarajar Polytechnic College,
Salem.
7402757517
sasikumar.agricultureengineer@gmail.com
7 22.04.2022   Webinar World Earth Day 2022 – Invest in our planet Dr. S. Chandran
Associate Professor
Department of Civil Engineering,
Thiagarajar College of Engineering, Madurai .
8 06.05.2022   Webinar Information Technology Application in Farm Mechanization Mr. Ramesh Kumar Sahni
Scientist (Farm Machinery &Power) ICAR-CIAE, Bhopal
Research Scholar at Washington university, WA, USA

Programmes Organized During ODD Semester 2022-23

S.No Date(s) of the Event Type of Event Name of the Event Resource Person Name &Designation
1 12.10.2022 Webinar Cyber Security and Cyber Crime Awareness Dr.R.Marshal
Scientiest,
Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In),
New Delhi -110003
2 09.11.2022 Webinar Better Agriculture Nation Using Neotric Technology Er. Prithiya,
Managing Director,
Galwin Technology,
Tiruchirappalli,
Tamil Nadu 620 02
3 28.12.2022 Webinar Energy Saving Opportunities in Agriculture and Career Development for The Engineering Students Dr.KR.Ramela,
Principal
Ultra College Of Engineering and Technology,
Madurai, Tamilnadu-625104
4 10.11.2022 IIC-Webinar New Generation Start-Up Business Model Mr.A.Kesavan
Chief Executive Officer,
Quantanics Techserv PVT Ltd,
Madurai -625016
5 06.12,2022 IIC-Webinar My Story - Motivational Session. Dr. P.Venkatachalamn
Retired Professor from Tamil Nadu Agricutural
University, Coimbatore
6 19.11.2022 Guest Lecture Innovation in Testing of Agricultural and Post Harvest Machinery Dr.T.Senthil Kumar
Director,Farm Machinerry and Power Engineering,
Indian Society of Agricultural Engineers, New Delhi
7 30.09.2022 International Lectures Bring out the Best in Yourself Always Dr.Chithra Karunakaran,
Science Manager,
Canadian Light Source,
Canada
8 24.11.2022 IIT/NIT Lectures Design aspects for shafts
and Couplings”
Dr. Sathiya P,
The Head of the Department & Professor
Department of Production Engineering
National Institute of Technology
Tiruchirappalli
Tamil Nadu – 620015. INDIA
9 29.12.2022 Alumni Lectures   MAILS on Career After Agricultural Engineering Mr. N MUKILAN
Assistant Professor
Department of Agricultural Engineering,
Nandha Engineering College
Perundurai.
10 31.12.2022 Alumni Lectures Entrepreneurship Opportunities after Agriculture
Engineering
Ms SRIVIDHYA A P
Business Analyst at Smartedge Solutions,
Hyderabad, Telangana.
7904052357

RESEARCH AND CONSULTANCY WORK

  • Design of IoT Driven System for Identify Leaf Infection and Soil Property Prediction Using Deep Learning Technique funded by MSME.
  • Development of Hydroponic System of Cultivation for Green Leafy and Horticultural Crops Under Polyhouse funded by MSME

Mous

Memorandum of Understanding signed during last three academic years 2014-15, 2015-16 and 2016-2017

S.No. Name of organization Domain / Area of Activities Contribution Activities & Outcome
1 ESCORTS Ltd, Tractor and implements Technical Training Opportunities are provided to the students Internship, Training, Project works and Research for the Agriculture professional student
2 IMTI Irrigation and  Watershed management Technical training Students and faculties are trained in  Irrigation and  Watershed management

Contact

Department of Agricultural Engineering

Mahendra Engineering College (Autonomous),

Salem- Thiruchengode Highway, Mahendhirapuri,

Mallasamudram,

Namakkal-637503,

E-Mail id: hodagri@mahendra.info

Others

Patent published in KAPILA

  • Design of IoT Driven System for Identify Leaf Infection and Soil Property Prediction Using Deep Learning Technique.