Theoretical and Experimental Evaluation of Impact on Soil by Wheel Drives of the Self-Propelled Seeder

Abstract

Dedicated vertical axial loads on the soil from the wheels of a self-propelled seed drill, the area of the contact patch, the maximum contact pressure for the front and rear wheels and the density of the soil are determined by evaluations and experimental methods. The discrepancy between the theoretical and experimental indicators was: 1.4% and 2.0% for the rear and front wheels in vertical axial loads; 2.8% and 2.2% for the rear and front wheels by the contact area of the tires of the seeder with the soil and the maximum contact pressure; 6.2% – the maximum discrepancy on the values of soil density at a depth of 7.6 cm. Soil hardness was measured in three zones: before the seeder's passage and after each of its passage in a rut behind the front and rear wheels at six different depths, determined by the marks on the soil densimeter tester density. Graphics of dependencies of soil hardness on the depth of measurement were constructed.