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Anthropometric Survey on Male Agricultural Workers of the Middle Euphrates

Area, Iraq

Article · January 2020

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Indian Journal of Ecology (2020) 47 Special Issue (12): 385-390 NAAS Rating: 4.96

Anthropometric Survey on Male Agricultural Workers of the

Middle Euphrates Area, Iraq

Ahmed Merza Abood, Jawad Kadhim AL Aridhee, Flaieh Hammed Kassar

Grzegorz Lysiak1 and Majid Mayih Dakhil2
College of Agriculture, Al-Muthanna University, Al-Samawah City, Iraq
1
University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Lublin City, Poland
2
Al-Muthanna Agricultural Directorate, Al-Samawah City, Iraq
E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract: An anthropometric study was conducted for establishing anthropometric database of male agricultural workers of Iraq. Five hundred
th th
subjects were randomly selected from five provinces of Middle Euphrates region in Iraq. Mean, 95 and 5 percentiles of stature were 171.40,
182.02 and 160.78 cm, respectively. While, the mean, 95th and 5th percentiles of weight were 78.80 54.69 and 102.90 kg, respectively. Most of
the selected body dimensions of the subjects were correlated with stature significantly at 1 percent level of significance. These data can be
used for ergonomic design and modification of agricultural machines end equipment. Furthermore taking into concern the range of 5th and
95th percentile of the selected body dimensions and weight, an adjustable design could be made and range of modifications may be provided.

Keywords: Anthropometric, Body dimensions, Iraqi agricultural workers, Ergonomic

The agricultural sector is an important source of human body in standard postures (Abood et al 2015). Many
economic development, especially in the economies of anthropometric surveys were conducted in different
developing countries including Iraq. The sector's contribution countries all over the world in order to establish a data bank of
is estimated to be about 8.4 % of total GDP (Ministry of Iraqi different body dimensions of agricultural workers. Also it is
Finance 2011). Although there are vast areas in Iraq suitable proved that anthropometric varying among male workers
for agriculture, only a half of the arable land is cultivated. In within the same region as well as other countries which
addition, more than 147 thousand farmers are involved in undeniably essential for ergonomically designing
agriculture sector in the country. The sources of water used machines/tools/equipment of the target users (Sombatsawat
for irrigation vary between irrigation from the Tigris and et al 2018). In present study, the anthropometric Data of male
Euphrates rivers, groundwater and rainfall water. The arable Agricultural workers of the Middle Euphrates were identified,
land was about 5.85 million ha whereas, the actual cultivated collected and analyzed to build the data bank which can be
area was about 2.85 million ha (The Iraqi Central of Statistics, used for designing, modifying, and adopting the farm power
2017). The middle Euphrates consists of five Governorates and machineries to match the ability and limitation of Iraqi
(Babylon, Karbala, Najaf, Dywaniah and Al-Muthanna). The agricultural workers.
2
total Area of this region is about 98870 Km , which contribute
about 22% of Iraq area. The total number of tractors, MATERIAL AND METHODS
combines, different types of ploughs and irrigation pumps Five hundred subjects Agricultural workers were
were 17374, 1034, 52.122 and 57693, respectively (Iraqi selected randomly from the five Middle Euphrates
Agriculture Ministry 2010). The agricultural tractor driving governorates. Each 100 subject were belong to one
requires the operators to maintain a stable posture despite governorate. The selected subjects were in the age group of
dynamic conditions. These requirements may involve a large 18-48 years. Twenty-seven body dimensions and weight of
number of turning movements from looking ahead to behind the subject were selected for the recent study. These body
and vice versa resulting into a poor posture (Daeijavad and dimensions were selected keeping into our consideration the
Maleki 2016) and (Gupta and Gupta 2018). However, most of design requirements of tractors, combines, power operated
agricultural machines and equipment in Iraq are imported machines, equipment, hand tools etc. and work place
from other countries or their design copied and manufactured (Syuaib2015). These body dimensions were measured using
in Iraq without taking in the consideration the limitation and an anthropometer, vernier caliper, caliper, grip measuring
ability of Iraqi agricultural workers. The anthropometric device and a digital weighing machine (Table 1, Fig. 1, 2, 3).
studies provide more information on static dimensions of the Most of the selected body dimensions were measured while
386 Ahmed Merza Abood et al

th th
the subject in one of following postures: standing erect, or with results of Lee et al (2017). The 95 and 5 percentiles of
sitting erect. stature were 182.02 and 160.78 cm, respectively. This
Standing erect: The subject stands erect, looking straight suggests that, the design parameters while designing
ahead (head in the Frankfort plane), heels together, weight agricultural machines and equipment should not be exceed
distributed equally on both feet, and with his arms hanging this range. The mean weight of Iraqi male agricultural
th th
naturally at his side (Fig. 1). workers in this region was 78.80, while, the 95 and 5
Sitting erect: The subject sits erect, looking straight ahead percentiles were 54.69 and 102.90 kg, respectively. This
(head in the Frankfort plane), upper arms hanging relaxed, indicated that most of Iraqi agricultural workers are in
forearms and hands extended forward (Fig. 2). The collected overweight and this should be considered while designing
data were analyzed in order to estimate Mean, standard
deviation, range, coefficient of variation, 5th & 95th percentile,
the difference between them, coefficient of correlation and
standard error for all dimensions and weight of male
agricultural workers of this region.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The mean stature was 171.40 cm and it is in agreement

Fig. 1. Body dimensions measurement in standing posture Fig. 2. Measurement of body dimensions in sitting posture
with an anthropometer with an anthropometer

Table 1. Selected body dimensions according to the measuring posture

S. No. Standing posture S. No. Sitting posture S. No. Miscellaneous body dimensions

1 Stature * 10 Sitting height 20 Hand length

2 Weight 11 Sitting eye height 21 Hand breadth
3 Arm reach from the wall 12 Shoulder height 22 Palm length
4 Standing eye height 13 Elbow rest height 23 Foot length
5 Standing shoulder height 14 Waist height 24 Foot breadth
6 Elbow to shoulder length 15 Popliteal height 25 Instep length
7 Standing elbow height 16 Sitting Knee height 26 Hip breadth
8 Olecranon height 17 Elbow grip length 27 Grip diameter inside
9 Standing waist height 18 Buttock popliteal length 28 Shoulder breadth
19 Buttock knee length.
*All units in cm except weight in Kg
 Anthropometric Survey on Male Agricultural Workers 387

seat of agriculture machines. The results of this study are

consistent with the results of the study carried out by
Mansour (2016). The mean stature and weight of Saudi male
subject were 170.10 cm and 71 kg, respectively. The
correlation coefficient ranged from 0.44 to 0.97 and
coefficient of variation from 3.77 to 18.60 percent. However,
coefficient of variation of weight (18.60%) was higher than
other body dimensions. This may be due that male gaining
more weight as the age increased. The results of this study
are in close agreement with Yadav et al (2010) and Abood et
al (2015). The coefficient of variation of male agricultural
workers as reported was 12.58 and 17 percent, respectively.
Tractors and combines are usually driven from sitting
position. These body dimensions can be used in ergonomic
design of seat and control panel of tractors and combines and
th th
other machines (Table 2). The mean, 5 and 95 percentiles
of sitting height of the selected subjects were 80.16cm 69.16
Fig. 3. Measurement of miscellaneous body dimensions th th
and 91.16 cm, respectively. The mean, 5 and 95

Table 2. Anthropometric data of agricultural workers of middle Euphrates region measured in standing posture
Body dimensions Mean S.D Range CV (%) 5th 95th 95th percentile Correlation Std. error
percentile percentile – 5th percentile with stature of mean

Stature + 171.40 6.46 157.5-190 3.77 160.78 182.02 21.24 0.289

Weight (kg) 78.80 14.65 50-105 18.60 54.69 102.90 48.21 0.41** 0.655
Arm reach from the wall 86.57 3.97 80-96.5 4.59 80.04 93.11 13.07 0.66** 0.178
Standing eye height 160.64 6.98 148-175.5 4.35 149.16 172.13 22.97 0.97** 0.312
Standing shoulder height 141.20 6.68 145-125.5 4.73 130.22 152.18 21.96 0.97** 0.299
Elbow to shoulder length 35.62 1.78 32-40 5.01 32.69 38.55 5.87 0.44** 0.080
Standing elbow height 110.00 5.64 100-124 5.13 100.73 119.28 18.55 0.61** 0.252
Olecranon height 109.46 5.32 99-123 4.86 100.71 118.21 17.50 0.61** 0.238
Standing waist height 104.99 4.65 97-119 4.43 97.33 112.64 15.31 0.73** 0.208
Sitting height 80.16 6.69 64.5-97 8.34 69.16 91.16 22.00 0.80** 0.299
Eye height 70.66 6.12 55-87.5 9.47 58.67 81.66 22.99 0.798** 0.299
Shoulder height 61.16 6.3 45.5-78 10.94 50.26 72.16 21.90 0.784** 0.093
Elbow rest height 23.72 2.08 19.5-28.5 8.76 20.33 27.14 6.81 0.219 0.104
Waist height 26.72 2.32 22.5-31.5 7.78 23.30 30.14 6.84 0.219 0.126
Popliteal height 42.79 2.83 38-47 5.42 38.98 46.61 7.63 0.662** 0.098
Knee height 53.66 2.19 47-59.5 5.27 49.01 58.31 9.30 0.783** 0.126
Elbow grip length 36.23 2.81 32-46 6.03 32.63 39.83 7.19 0.600** 0.098
Buttock popliteal height 45.78 3.22 37.5-53 6.13 49.01 50.39 9.23 0.496** 0.126
Buttock Knee height 53.66 2.08 50-62 5.72 32.63 61.57 10.60 0.673** 0.144
Hand length 19.66 0.83 18-22 4.22 18.30 21.03 2.73 0.270 0.037
Hand breadth 8.45 0.53 7.5-10 6.23 7.58 9.32 1.73 0.270 0.024
Palm length 10.92 0.67 9-12.5 6.14 9.81 12.02 2.20 0.160 0.030
Foot length 26.09 1.16 23.5-29 4.44 24.18 28.00 3.81 0.260 0.26
Foot breadth 10.58 0.61 9.3-11.9 5.74 9.58 11.57 2.00 0.050 0.027
Instep length 19.92 1.30 17-24 6.51 17.79 22.06 4.27 0.220 0.058
Hip breadth 34.08 2.78 29.5-41 8.16 29.50 38.65 9.15 0.180 0.124
Grip diameter inside 4.99 0.39 4-6.3 7.83 4.35 5.63 1.28 0.200 0.017
Shoulder breadth 43.54 3.24 38-54 7.45 38.20 48.88 10.67 0.080 0.145
+
All dimensions are in cm and weight in Kg. ** Significant at 1% level
388 Ahmed Merza Abood et al

Fig. 4. Relationships between stature and all body dimensions in standing posture
 Anthropometric Survey on Male Agricultural Workers 389

Fig. 5. Relationships between stature and all body dimensions in standing posture
View publication stats

390 Ahmed Merza Abood et al

percentiles of the sitting eye height were 70.66 and 58.67and other parts of the country and even other countries to suit
81.66cm, respectively. The mean of sitting shoulder height, human capabilities and limitations of agricultural workers in
elbow rest height, sitting waist height, popliteal height, knee Iraq. Furthermore, the recent draws the attention of the
height, elbow grip length, buttock popliteal length and buttock designers to make an adjustable designs of agricultural
knee length of the subjects were 61.16, 23.72, 26.72, 42.79, machines taking the within range of 5th and 95th percentile of
53.66, 36.23, 45.78 and 53.66, respectively. Therefore, it is the selected body dimensions.
recommended that the design parameters while designing
seats and control panels of agricultural tractors and REFERENCES
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Received 22 January, 2020; Accepted 10 June, 2020