Validation of Criteria for Predicting Tractor Fuel Consumption and CO2 Emissions When Ploughing Fields of Different Shapes and Dimensions

Abstract

Climate change is linked to CO2 emissions, the reduction of which has become a top priority. In response to these circumstances, scientists must constantly develop new technologies that increase fuel efficiency and reduce emissions. Agriculture today is dominated by arable fields of various sizes, shapes, and dimensions, and to achieve fuel economy and environmental impact requirements, it is not enough to know only the principles of optimization of tillage processes; it is also necessary to understand the influence of field size and its shape and dimensions on tillage performance. The purpose of this research is to present a methodology that allows predicting tractor fuel demand and CO2 emissions per unit of ploughed area when ploughing field plots with different shapes and dimensions and to confirm a suitable variable for such a prediction. Theoretical calculations and experimental tests have shown that the field ploughing time efficiency coefficient is a useful metric for comparing field plots of different shapes and dimensions. This coefficient effectively describes tractor fuel consumption and CO2 emissions during ploughing operations on differently configured field plots. A reasonable method for calculating the real field ploughing time efficiency coefficient is based on field and tillage data and a practical determination method using tractor engine load reports. It was found that during the research, when ploughing six field plots of different shapes and dimensions, with an area of 6 ha, the field ploughing time efficiency coefficient varied from 0.68 to 0.82, and fuel consumption between 15.6 and 16.5 kg/ha. In the field plot of 6 ha, where the field ploughing time efficiency coefficient was 15% higher, the fuel consumption per unit area was lower by about 5.5%. The results of this study will help to effectively predict tillage time and tractor fuel consumption required for different field shapes and dimensions.