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Growing concern regarding enhancement of engine performance associated with reduced emission levels as per EURO norms and to meet increasing energy requirements for the growing population aninterest has been created to study renewable and alternative fuels for internal combustion engines. Alternative fuels like biodiesels offer a very promising alternative to diesel oil since they are renewable and have similar properties to fossil diesel. Biodiesel derived from Uppage oil provide more suitable diesel substitute for compression ignition (CI) engines. Use of biodiesel in the CI engine lowers the engine's performance and increases the hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide emissions. But proper deployment of blending the biodiesel with diesel and adopting thermal barrier coatings (TBC) on engine piston, cylinder wall, and inlet and outlet valves to make the engine fully adiabatic will enhance the overall engine performance. In view of this experimental tests on diesel engine using Uppage oil methyl ester (UOME) and its blends in a TBC diesel engine using partially stabilized zirconia (PSZ) and aluminium oxide (Al 2 O 3 ) ceramic coated engine components were undertaken. The brake thermal efficiency, specific fuel consumption, carbon monoxide, unburned hydrocarbon and oxides of nitrogen emissions of both diesel and UOME and its blends were measured before and after coating and the results are compared. B20 fuelled biodiesel and PSZ coated engine provides almost comparable engine performance with acceptable emission norms. However, the longevity of TBC in diesel engines needs to be ensured before it can provide a sustained performance compared to blending option.

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The present study assesses the potential of using paddy harvesters and its impact on timeliness, harvesting cost, crop yield, farm income and employment. The results indicated that CLAAS30 ensures rapid harvesting, reduces harvesting costs, minimises post harvest losses, raises income of farmers and assists farmers in overcoming labour shortages during peak harvesting period. The machine replaces labour by about 90 per cent, reduces the harvesting costs by Rs. 5500 per hectare and increases net return by around Rs. 35000/ha. Field conditions such as crop density, crop maturity, soil moisture condition, weed population, plot size, lodging and operators skills determine the efficiency of harvesting. The crop tiger 30 harvests 10 acres per day. The CLAAS30 is an impressive equipment, which reduces the cost of paddy production by about 25-30 per cent and reduces post harvest losses to a considerable extent. The present study implies a positive financial viability. Negative effects are noticed on employment opportunities and also on the income of harvesting labourers. Although the CLAAS30 has gained greater acceptance among farmers, the price of the machine is around 23 lakhs, which tends to discourage them to invest on this technology. However, it is possible to popularize this machine in major rice producing areas by providing subsidy to farmers and companies and by way of conducting appropriate training programmes.