Mechanization Assessment of Soil Compaction Induced by Traffic of Farm Machinery

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the impacts of compacted and non-compacted soils induced by traffic of farm machines and equipment during the agricultural operations on some mechanization properties (e.g. Draught Force, Specific Resistance, Energy Use Efficiency and Soil resistance to cutting and shaping). The experiment was conducted during the spring agricultural season of 2022 in one of the farms that located about 30 km Northwest Mosul city - Nineveh Governorate - Iraq. Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) was used for data analyses with four replications (n=4). The experimental site was divided into two main blocks based on the investigated factors (1) two levels of rear tire pressure were tested (8 psi and 15 psi), (2) number of traffic (no traffic, one traffic, two traffics and three traffics). These variables were investigated under two different soil textures (clay soil, silty loam soil). Duncan’s multiple range test was utilized to compare between the means at a 5% probability level. The results showed that CTF system represented by non-trafficked soil has achieved the best values (P< 0.05) for all studied indicators, particularly when practiced under clay soil. Draught force was significantly better with non-trafficked soil compared to the one-traffic, two-traffics and three-traffics by approximately 30%, 33% and 40%, respectively. Energy Use Efficiency was also increased under non-trafficked soil (no-traffic) by approximately 30%, 45%, 48% compared to the one-traffic, two-traffics and three-traffics of farm machinery, respectively. The best values of the investigated indicators were reported when CTF has practiced (no-traffic) in the clay soil using 15 psi tire pressure.