Influence of soil moisture content on the traction performance of a 78-kW agricultural tractor during plow tillage

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyze the traction performance of an agricultural tractor according to soil moisture content (SMC). A load measurement system was assembled using a wheel torquemeter, a proximity sensor, a six-component load cell, and a data acquisition system. The field experiments for plowing were conducted at two test sites (Fields A and B) that were divided into 9-m2 (3 m × 3 m) grids in which SMC was measured. The overall SMC was in the range of 20.0–50.0 % vol. To analyze tractor traction performance based on SMC, the data measured at Fields A and B were integrated. The SMC was divided into ranges of 20.0–25.0 % vol, 25.0–30.0 % vol, 30.0–35.0 % vol, 35.0–40.0 % vol, 40.0–45.0 % vol, and 45.0–50.0 % vol. Overall tractor traction performance parameters such as axle torque, slip, and traction increased with SMC. The traction coefficient gradually rose from 0.484 to 0.539 (a 111.4 % gain) as the SMC increased from 20.0 to 25.0% vol to 45.0–50.0 % vol. Additionally, the tractive efficiency was 0.748 at the SMC range of 20.0–25.0 % vol and 0.713 at the SMC range of 45.0–50.0 % vol. The tractive efficiency at the highest SMC level was 95.3 % based on lowest SMC level. The SMC influences various tractor traction performance factors such as traction coefficient and tractive efficiency. Therefore, it is necessary to consider SMC in the design of experiments intended to explore traction performance improvement.