Abstract
The aim of this study is to develop, construct and evaluate a local plastic-mulching machine ( mulcher ) to prove beneficial for crop growth by modifying soil temperature, reduction in evaporation, weed competition, soil compaction and erosion. The developed mulcher consists of the main chassis of 1.0 x 1.30 m made of steel with three hitch-points. A furrow opener, warped steel tube for warping a plastic sheet, two adjustable wheels and a compressing wheel with manure hopper were mounted and fixed on the main chassis. Forward speed of 2.4 km/h and tilt angle of 450 with wheel adjusting depth of 20 cm showed the optimum results under different treatments which can be summarized in the following points: 1- Soil covering depth (ridge height, cm) for subsurface mulch was 29 cm. 2- Tractor wheel slip of 5.1 and 3.2 % for subsurface and surface mulch, respectively. 3- Fuel consumptions were 5.1 l/h, for subsurface mulch and 4.60 l/h, for the surface mulch under the same conditions. 4- Covering width for surface mulch was 21 cm for both sides of the plastic sheet. 5- Uniformity covering efficiency was 98 % for subsurface mulch and 92 % for surface mulch. 6- Power requirements and energy were 14.11 kW, 24.75 kiwi. h/fed., and 12.73 kiwi. and 21.70 kiwi. h/fed., respectively for subsurface and surface mulching. 7- Total costs decreased totally by 80.4% when applying the new mulcher.
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