Disc Harrow Research Articles

THE RESULTS OF THE MAIN ARABLE WORK IN AGRICULTURE ACCORDING TO THE THEORY OF QUEUING

When fulfilling the requirements for digitalization of agriculture, the primary task is the need to equip it with structurally perfect, advanced technology. Working with such equipment is characterized by high reliability, high productivity, as well as the possibility of rational use of this technique. Rational use of agricultural machinery means ensuring the economic efficiency of mechanized work, complete and high-quality performance of basic work on tillage in agrotechnical terms.In order to obtain a plentiful crop of agricultural crops, it is necessary to use the equipment correctly during the main work on tillage, ensuring the qualification of an agricultural engineer. Now, when farms use the theory of queuing in the efficient use of technology, this technology is certainly economically beneficial to any farm. The essence of this method lies in the fact that when works are carried out sequentially with each other, the time and labor costs in relation to the use of equipment are significantly reduced. According to the theory of queuing, the efficiency of basic operations is determined, operating modes are established, a clear assessment of the technical level, quality and efficiency of aggregates is given during basic tillage. The theory of queuing in the article is based on the analysis of the rational use of technology for resource-saving technology in agriculture. The main arable work in the conditions of the Kyzylorda region has its own specifics in comparison with other regions. Depending on the climatic conditions of the area, tillage on the sown areas is carried out in different ways. The interrelation of plowing operations, disk harrowing, malovanie, etc. should be formed by organized systems. In addition, when performing these operations, the queuing theory should demonstrate a very low indicator of its economic efficiency and other costs. This article proves the feasibility of calculating and implementing an effective technology that benefits the economy

EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT TILLAGE PRACTICES ON SOIL FERTILITY PROPERTIES: A REVIEW

Soil tillage is an important factor affecting soil fertility properties and crop yield. Tillage impact certain soil physical and chemical properties such as bulk density, soil porosity and water-holding capacity, infiltration rates, hydraulic conductivity, soil temperature, soil organic carbon, pH, CEC, available nitrogen, phosphorus and exchangeable potassium amongst others. The main objective of the present work was to compare the effect of no-tillage systems and the conventional tillage systems. Tillage systems can be generally categorized into plow tillage (conventional tillage), reduced tillage using chisel plow, disc plow, harrow disc or cultivators and no-till systems. Conservation tillage and its various types generally improve the soil quality indicators including soil organic carbon (SOC) storage. Whereas, conventional tillage practices give birth to a finer and loose-setting soil structure with a modified soil bulk density and soil moisture content, hence, causing loss of soil organic carbon and deterioration in other soil properties. Generally, soil fertility properties are more favourable with no-till than tillage-based systems. However, some researchers observed no significant effect of tillage methods (no-tillage and plow till) on bulk density (BD), pH and total porosity, while others found otherwise. The magnitude of these discrepancies could be due to the differences in crop species, soil properties, climatic characteristics and their complex interactions as well as tillage system adopted.

Influence of natural production conditions on efficient operation of wheel tractors

For the zones of “risky farming” characteristic of the Far East of the Russian Federation, the natural production conditions of the region are an important problem in preparing the soil for further basic agricultural work. So, when carrying out early spring agricultural work, due to presence of a solid underlying layer in the form of permafrost, they shall be completed in operational terms no more than 10 days, until the permafrost base thaws and the soil has not lost its bearing capacity. In addition, due to the peculiarities of the relief, the soil does not thaw equally in depth everywhere, which reduces the quality of field work and harrowing, as the most common operation, namely. This article provides theoretical and experimental studies on the adaptation of a wheeled tractor as part of a machine-tractor unit (MTU) used in harrowing to natural production conditions by installing a device that automatically regulates the load on the working body of the disc harrow or on the propellers of the energy device, depending on the conditions of use or the state of the motion surface.

Mudanças no estoque de carbono orgânico e produtividade de culturas em solo arenoso tropical sob sistemas de produção de grãos-algodão em sequeiro na Bahia, Brasil

ABSTRACT Most studies about soil organic carbon stock changes in the Cerrado (Brazilian Savanna) biome are either related to field data collected in clayey Ferralsols or different land uses, as if they were in equilibrium. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of tillage systems and crop sequences on the soil organic carbon stock and crop yield, in a sandy Ferralsol from Bahia, Brazil. The experimental design was randomized blocks, with four replicates. Soil samples were collected after fve years of cotton, soybean and maize monocropping under heavy disk harrow and leveling harrow (conventional tillage), and of crop rotation of cotton, soybean and maize with green manure or cover crop (no-tillage). Additional samples were collected from a non-cultivated site (Neotropical Savanna, Cerrado sensu stricto). Soil conservation practices such as no-tillage and crop rotation with cover crop and green manure favored the soil organic carbon stock at the 0-40 cm layer, with the highest values reaching 36.03 Mg ha−1. The accrued soil carbon stock under conventional tillage and monoculture of cotton, maize and soybean was lower than under no-tillage, which ranged from 30.9 to 54.9 %, with the soil organic carbon stock increasing at the annual rate of 2.36 Mg ha−1 during fve years. The no-tillage, with the soybean-maize-cotton rotation, in combination with cover crop and green manure, increased the cotton and soybean yields, with a simultaneous organic carbon accumulation in the sandy soil.

The Use of Surfacing Materials to Increase the Durability of Disc Harrow Working Elements

Introduction. For surface tillage operation there widely used disc harrows, working bodies of which are discs wearing out during operation. The wear intensity of discs depends on the wear resistance of their working surfaces, working modes and properties of the cultivated soil. It has been found that an effective way to increase the life of discs is surfacing them with wear-resistant materials. The aim of the work is to study the wear out of surfacing materials, which can be used to harden discs and to make recommendation for the use of these materials in the repair departments of agricultural enterprises. Materials and Methods. Surfacing with electrodes T-590 and powder wires PP-Np200Kh15S1GRT, VELTEK-N560.02 and PP-Np280Kh9F7SG4 were taken as test materials. For wear tests of materials in abrasive mass, there was used an apparatus to simulate the moisture content and composition (sandy loam or loam) of the soil. In the disk-pad tests, the effect of abrasive particle size, load and sliding friction velocity on the wear of the materials was studied. In field tests, wear of the disks made of 65G steel, surfaced toothed and solid disks were monitored. Results. Laboratory studies of the materials revealed the effect of soil moisture and composition, load, abrasive grit and sliding friction velocity on wear. The main factor determining the wear resistance of materials is their structural state. The indexes of wear resistance of surfacing were determined during the laboratory tests and confirmed by field tests. Discussion and Conclusion. Surfacing with flux-cored wire PP-Np280Kh9F7SG4 has the highest wear resistance of the studied materials. The technology of hard-facing disks with modern materials, in particular with flux-cored wire PP-Np280Kh9F7SG4, can be implemented in repair departments of agricultural enterprises when they have the equipment for hard-facing and sharpening of working surfaces.

Evaluation of Different Land Preparation Techniques for Preparing Medium Textured Soil in Rice Production under Agro-Ecological Conditions of Sheikhupura-Pakistan

Tillage is an important factor affecting different soil properties and crop yields. Tillage relates to applying forces to soil using different implements for preparation of a proper seed bed. For rice crop, land preparation is a rigorous and time consuming operation that needs special attention for preparing a puddled soil condition to transplant the weak and tender rice seedlings. A field experiment was established under agro-ecological conditions of Sheikhupura to evaluate different land preparation techniques during fall in 2017 and 2018 years. The experiment was performed at Adaptive Research Farm Sheikhupura. It was laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four different land preparation techniques including T1= Cultivator (4 times) + Planking (2 times) (Farmer’s Practice), T2=MB plough (1 time) + Disc Harrow (1 time) + Planking (2 Times), T3=MB plough (1 time) + Cultivator (2 times) + Planking (2 Times) and T4= Rotavator (1 time) + Disc Harrow (1 time) + Planking (2 Times), each treatment replicated thrice during both the years. All the other agronomic and crop husbandry operations were kept uniform throughout the growing season every year. The results revealed that preparing land with MB plough (1 time), Disc Harrow (1 time) and Planking (2 times) is the best land preparation method can increase the paddy yield 13.5-17.5% as compared to the traditional method practised by the farmers. Moreover, highest plant height (134.00 cm and 132.00 cm), number of tillers (224 and 220 m-2), number of grains per spike (130 and 116) and 1000-grain weight (23.0 and 22.0 g) respectively during Kharif-18 and Kharif-19 was also recorded in the same treatment. So, preparation of land for paddy in agro-ecological conditions of Sheikhupura using MB plough (1 time), Disc Harrow (1 time) and Planking (2 times) can significantly enhance the paddy yield.

Case Study on Numerical Calculation of a Disc Bush in the Disc Harrow in the Welding Version

The optimization of production processes in companies comes down to two main measures influencing the economic factor. The first one is the reduction of interval micro-periods between operations, and the second is to use post-production waste as much as possible. These treatments apply to virtually all industries regardless of the final product effect. This article describes the application of a special welding device for welding the workpiece with a bush type, designed for fixing the plate in the plate gun. As a result of its application, a significant reduction of time needed to produce one bush has been achieved, and thus the amount of time in a unit of time has been increased. As part of the implementation work, the bush design changes were also made, which made it possible to reduce post-production waste not suitable for current production, but allowing its use for other purposes. The results of the work were implemented in the company producing agricultural machinery in Lublin.

Зернова продуктивність сої за різних систем обробітку ґрунту у Західному регіоні України

The purpose of research is determination of an effective soil cultivation method that will create favorable soil conditions for plant growth and development, accumulation of crop seeds and provides high economic efficiency of culture growing on sod-podzolic soils in the Western region of Ukraine. Research methods - hypothesis, experiment, field observation, laboratory, visual and comparative calculation. Research results. The scheme of the experiment involved studying the impact on yield and efficiency of soybean cultivation of the following factors: – factor A (soil type): a) turf deeply gley sandy; b) sod-slightly podzolic sandy loam; – factor B (tillage): a) traditional (plowing with a reversible mounted plow PON-5/4 to a depth of 25 cm); b) mulching (disking in two tracks with a harrow BDV-3.6 to a depth of 15 cm). The plow and the disc harrow were aggregated with HTZ-150 K tractors According to the quality scores, the turf deeply gleyed sandy soil of plot I by all criteria prevails over similar parameters of sod-slightly podzolic sandy soil of plot II, which indicates its higher fertility. The agrochemical score of the soil in plot I is 56 and is higher than in plot II, where it is equal to 37 points. In the area and density of the stem in the gathering period was 1.7-1.9 pcs./m2 greater compared to this indicator in the II site. On the site and plants grew better and evolved. Biological yield on the site and amounted to 1.77-2.01 t/ha and was greater than in the II region by 41.6 % and 43.6 %. According to the results of research, deterioration of grain performance in variant with mulk treatment is also noted. Biological yield of seeds in areas with traditional treatments was 13.6 % and 12.0 % more comparable to variants of mulum grinding. In section I, the density of stems during the harvest period was 1.7-1.9 units/m2 higher compared to this indicator in section II. In the area I plants grew and developed better. Biological yield in plot I was 1.77-2.01 t/ha and was higher than in plot II by 41.6 % and 43.6 %. According to the results of the research, the deterioration of grain productivity indicators in the variant with mulching was also noted. Biological yield of seeds in areas with traditional tillage was 13.6% and 12.0% higher compared to mulching options. According to research, it can be stated that soil fertility has a greater impact on soybean grain productivity than tillage systems. The costs of growing soybeans, depending on the type and mechanical composition of the soil and the method of tillage ranged from 18860 to 19735 UAH / ha. Higher tillage costs were obtained in section I, which was characterized by heavier mechanical composition of gley soils. However, the soils of plot I have higher fertility and optimal acidity, which allowed to obtain higher grain productivity than in plot II – 1.77-1.01 t/ha against 1.25-1.40 t/ha. Due to higher yields, the unit cost of production in section I was 9818-10765 UAH/t and was lower by 4019-4323 UAH/t compared to section II. Conclusions. The use of traditional tillage requires higher costs, but due to higher yields, and hence the growth of income from the sale of seeds, greater profits and the level of profitability of production. Therefore, it should be noted that in the conditions of Western Ukraine, the traditional method of tillage based on plowing is a more effective method than mulching.

Noise exposure and its impact on psychological health of agricultural tractor operators

Constant exposure of noise to the auditory system of the agricultural tractor opera- tor can cause physical and psychological problems. A field study was conducted in the Faisalabad and Narowal districts of Pakistan to examine the spread of tractor noise and its psychological effects on the safety of tractor operators driving tractors without cabins and other noise reduction measures. Four of the most common imple- ments used in Pakistan, including land scraper, cultivator, disk harrow and seed drill, were used to detect the changes in tractor noise at two speeds of 5.3 km/h and 10.6 km/h in all four directions. Lowest noise was produced during the field operation of the seed drill at a mean noise value of 81.9 dB(A) among all four implements. Disk harrow and cultivator were found to be the most noisy implement, and during oper- ation, the tractor operator was directly exposed to high noise levels of 86.9 dB(A) and 84.9 dB(A), respectively. This noise pollution caused psychological problems in agri- cultural tractor operators, as demonstrated by the highly positive correlations of de- pression, aggression, anxiety and stress. This trend had a negative effect on their social interactions relative to the comparable population of office employees. In or- der to mitigate the adverse health effects, tractor operators must be equipped with sound proof cabins or at least ear plugs because of direct exposure to high noise levels. Furthermore, a safe distance of 48 m or at least a warning distance of 26 m from the tractor must be maintained by farm workers.

Methods for restoring fertility and improving physical and mechanical properties of soils

Insufficient intake of organic matter into the soil, non-compliance with crop rotations result in the soil degradation. Only due to the use of mineral nutrition, it is impossible to maintain a high level of soil fertility. To compensate for the lack of humus, the most optimal is the use of green fertilizers. The costs of producing and applying cover crops are significantly less than the costs of using organic fertilizers. In terms of peasant farms conditions in the Tambov region, two types of crop rotations with the introduction of sideral crops are recommended. It is important to carry out grinding and embedding of sideral crops specifically so that it can provide optimal parameters for the decomposition of organic mass and promote humus formation. Currently, four processing techniques are used for harvesting and embedding sideral crops. The recommended scheme involves mowing and step-by-step grinding of the grass stand with a mower-shredder located in front of the tractor, followed by embedding in the soil with a disc harrow. The analysis shows that small producers segment has no affordable machines for high-quality grinding of sideral crops with low specific energy consumption. To ensure stems cutting with minimal specific energy consumption, a mower has been developed, which, due to the trough-shaped type of its body, forms plants tilted forward in a mass and then, they fall into the grinding zone with the angle of inclination of the stems in this mass close to the angle of body inclination. In the grinding zone, the plant stems are exposed to knives rotating in plane surfaces perpendicular to the longitudinal surface of the mower body. As a result of operational tests of the mower-shredder of sideral crops and crop residues, it was found that technological process of plants grinding is carried out steadily and with a quality that meets agrotechnological requirements.

On the application of a discharge with liquid electrodes for polishing metal surfaces

The work investigates the electrical parameters of the discharge plasma with a liquid cathode and a combined porous anode. The discharge is carried out in the vertical position of the plasma column, has a volumetric multichannel structure with a pronounced diffuse structure of the electrode spots. The influence of the porous element on the stabilization of the discharge characteristics is revealed. Discharges with a liquid electrolyte cathode continue to be of great interest from the point of view of practical application and are studied in a wide range of changes in physical and geometric characteristics [1 - 4]. Discharge plasma with a liquid cathode can be most effectively used for cleaning, polishing, with simultaneous removal of fractured and relief layers, hardening, gas saturation, surface activation, improvement of mechanical and other characteristics of agricultural machinery parts. In this work, for plasma polishing, parts of the bearing assemblies of disc harrows were selected.

Effects of Speed on Draft for Selected Tractor-Driven Tillage Implements in Samaru Soil, Zaria, Nigeria

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of speed on drafts of some selected tractor-driven tillage implements in Samaru soil in order to address the problem of inadequacy of local design data, inappropriateness and inadaptability of such imported implements. Three tillage implements were used at three tractor speeds on the field at three tillage depths using two Eicher tractors (5660). The draft forces replicated, three times, were measured using dynamometer. Soil samples collected from different points in the field were analyzed for moisture content (MC), humus content and bulk density (BD). The results showed that draft of the three implements were related to the speed of the tractor. Result obtained also showed MC varies from 8.40-15.11%, BD varies from 1.62-1.77g/cm3 and humus content from 4.207-0.625% down the soil profile. At the lowest MC of 8.40%, drafts of 3.07, 5.13 and 9.33kN at speed 2.5 m/s were obtained for the selected implements. Drafts of 2.00, 2.80 and 4.03kN were obtained at the highest MC of 15.11% at 2.5m/s speed. It is clear from the experiment that draft increases with increase in speed for disc plough, disc harrow, tillage depths and BD, while draft decreases with increase in MC and speed of mouldboard ridger. The best speed for tillage is 2.5 m/s obtained at optimum MC 10.67–15.11% for soil under consideration. Disc plough requires highest draft 2.8-9.33kN followed by mouldboard ridger 4.03-5.83kN and disc harrow requires least draft 2.0-3.57kN at each of the three speeds considered.

Совершенствование технологии лесовосстановления на вырубках с применением энергонасыщенных тракторов

Currently applied partial reforestation in cuttings and removal of stumps by uprooting have a number of significant technological, environmental and economic disadvantages. These are removal of the humus layer of soil outside the cleared strips, compaction and reduction of soil porosity; formation of understump holes and their local waterlogging; littering of noncleared belts of trees between strips with felling debris and uprooted stumps; low productivity of uprooting machines and high energy consumption of stump uprooting; termination of agrotechnical tending after 2–3 years after planting and impossibility of cleaning stands due to their obstruction for tractor units; low level of traction force of special forest tractors and their insufficient power for uprooting stumps. Technology, machines and tools for reforestation in cuttings become the subjects of the research. The aim of the research is to provide a comprehensive mechanization of the reforestation process in order to improve work productivity, reduce energy and material consumption of the technology and create conditions for the effective use of machines and tools in combination with energy-efficient tractors of the traction-energy concept, ensuring the elimination of harmful effects on soil and plants ecology. The results of achieving the set aim and objectives are substantiation of forestry and ecological, technical, and economic feasibility of using the technology based on the complete clearing of cuttings from felling residues, dead wood and coppice of shrub vegetation by their crushing using mobile mulchers; removal of stumps in cuttings through crushing them at a depth of 0.15–0.20 m by an upgraded MUP-4A machine with scattering chips over the planting area and subsequent continuous tillage with a disk harrow BDK-2.5. Harmful effects on the ecology of soil and plants are practically eliminated with an increase in productivity, and the grinded woody biomass mixed with the soil turns into an organic fertilizer. The elimination of mechanical obstacles such as felling residues, fallen trees and stumps makes it possible to effectively use energy-efficient tractors by combining technological operations and performing them in one pass of the unit, as well as increasing the working width and operating speeds. Conditions for efficient operation of forestry machines and tools on tractormotor traction to protect the forest from pests, diseases, and fires, and for mechanization of various types of thinning are being created. For citation: Bartenev I.M., Drapalyuk M.V. Improving the Technology of Reforestation in Cuttings with the Use of Energy-Efficient Tractors. Lesnoy Zhurnal [Russian Forestry Journal], 2021, no. 5, pp. 117–133. DOI: 10.37482/0536-1036-2021-5-117-133

Seedling transplanting and conservation tillage increases water productivity and seed cotton yield

Crop management approaches, specifically tillage and planting patterns, influence crop productivity in the arid and semi-arid areas. A field experiment was carried out to assess the influence of crop establishment methods under different tillage systems on seed cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) yield (SCY), irrigation water productivity (IWP), and yield attributes of irrigated cotton under the ecological conditions of the south of Iran during 2017 and 2018. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with split-plot arrangement in three replicates. The planting patterns were cotton transplanting using a semi-automatic transplanter (CTr), and a cotton direct seeding (CDs) as the main plots. The subplots consisted of four tillage systems: chisel plow plus one disk harrow pass (Til.1), chisel plow plus one power harrow pass (Til.2), stubble cultivator plus one disk harrow pass (Til.3), and moldboard plow plus two disk harrow pass (Til.4). On a two-year average, CTr led to a significant reduction (15.4 %) in the amount of applied water for irrigation as compared to CDs. Cotton grown in CTr produced significantly more total number of bolls and larger boll size compared to those grown by the direct-seeded method in both years (46.7 and 8.5 %, respectively). The maximum seed cotton yield (SCY) and irrigation water productivity (IWP) were observed from the CTr × Til.1 and CTr × Til.3, whereas the minimum yield and irrigation water productivity occurred in the CDs × Til.4 in average of two years. Results of this study suggested that application of CTr in combination with Til.1 could give an optimum seed cotton yield and water productivity compared to individual use of conservation tillage (Til.1 and Til.3) in cotton-cultivated regions of the southern part of Iran and other areas with the similar ecological conditions.

Interactive Effects of Residue and Tillage Methods on Growth, Yield and Yield Components of Melon

Field experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of residue and tillage on growth and yield of melon. Tillage treatments included conventional tillage (using a moldboard plough and two passes with a disk harrow), minimum tillage (one pass with a disk harrow), and no tillage (NT). Residue treatments included the application of 0%, 30% and 60% residue. Yield and yield components were obtained for all treatments. Tillage significantly affected yield and its components (P ≤ 0.05). The maximum FWPP (2.678 kg), NFPP (6.799), D (18.49 cm), L (45.93 cm), S (12.51%) and RUE (2.470) and yield (16.17 t/ha) were recorded in the conventional tillage treatment. Also, maximum FWPP (2.192 kg), NFPP (5.353), D (16.66 cm), L (39.52 cm) and yield (12.83 t/ha) were observed in the 30% residue treatment. In terms of the interaction effects, maximum FWPP (2.850 kg), NFPP (6.790), D (20.71 cm), L (53.53 cm) and yield (17.09 t/ha) were obtained in the conventional tillage + 30% residue treatment. Therefore, the use of a moldboard plough followed by two passes with a disk harrow, in concert with 30% residue treatment, were maximizing the yield Almost all growth indicators had the optimum values in the conservation tillage treatments.

Determination of the effects of tillage on the productivity of a sandy loam soil using soil productivity models

Based on the hypothesis that soil properties and productivity components should be affected by different tillage methods, field and laboratory experiments were conducted to study the effects of zero tillage (ZT), one pass of disc plough tillage (P), one pass of disc plough plus one pass of disc harrow tillage (PH) and one pass of disc plough plus two passes of disc harrow tillage (PHH) on the distribution of the bulk density, available water capacity, pH, organic matter, available phosphorus, iron oxide and aluminium oxide at different soil depths, and their effects on the soil productivity. The available water capacity, pH, organic matter and available phosphorus were found to increase with the degree of tillage, while the bulk density, iron oxide and aluminium oxide were found to decrease with the degree of tillage. The results show that the soil productivity index was significantly (P ≤ 0.05) affected by the tillage methods and found to increase with the degree of tillage.

Influence of Azotovite and Phosphatovite on the Productivity of Oats and the Fertility of Sod-Podzolic Soil in the Conditions of the Novgorod Region

Sod-podzolic low-fertile soils (70% of the territory) are mainly widespread in the Novgorod region. According to the granulometric composition, the sown areas are mainly light and medium loamy. Technological operations include two methods of application of microbial fertilizers Azotovit and Phosphatovit: pre-sowing seed treatment (A+Ph, 2 l/t of each preparation) + foliar treatment in the phase of entering the tube (A+Ph, 1 l/ha of each preparation) together with mineral fertilizers (based on the planned yield and reduced by 50%), which contributes to an increase in oat grain production by 32 and 33%, and digestible protein by 30 and 34%, respectively, in relation to background 1 and background 2, where microbial fertilizers were not used. As an organic fertilizer, chopped straw of spring barley was plowed (4 t/ha) with addition of 10 kg of nitrogen for each ton. After harvesting cereals, a disc harrow was used to chop the straw and mix it with the soil at a depth of 0-10 cm.Taking into account the main articles of the arrival of humus (stubble-root residues of cereals and straw) in all variants of the experiment, soil fertility increased and its energy potential increased from 9 up to 16 GJ/ha.

Evaluation of the efficiency of four-row disc harrows to be used with energy-intensive tractors

The results of the analysis of the use of domestic four-row disc harrows tested with energy-intensive tractors in 20192020 are presented. Performance indicators are provided.

Sugar Beet (Beta vulgaris) Production as Affected by Tillage Systems, Planting Methods and Irrigation Intervals in Guneid area (Sudan)

The present research was carried out at Guneid Sugar Cane Research Center during two successive seasons 2013/14 and 2014/15. The objective was to investigate the effect of four tillage systems (moldboard ploughing (T1), disc ploughing (T2), chisel ploughing (T3) and disc harrowing (T4)), three irrigation intervals (7, 10, and 14 days) and twoplanting methods (manual and mechanical) on sugar beet production. The parameters measured were machinery performance as effective field capacity (EFC), field efficiency (FE) and Fuel consumption (FC), some soil parameters (soil moisture content and bulk density), some crop parameters (root thickness (RT), crop root yield (RY), polarization or sugar content (Pol %), total sugar production (TSP) and cost of production. A spilt -split plot design with four replications was used inthis study. The results showed that all machine performance parameters measured were significantly different and the highest EFC, FE and FC were recorded by the planter, ridger and chisel machines respectively.Tillage treatments and irrigation intervals interaction insignificantly affected soil moisture content and significantly (P≤0.01) affected soil bulk density. The highest values of RT (38.6 cm), RY (31.9 t/fed), Pol % (19.9%) and TSP (4.9 t/fed) was recorded by (T3×M2×I1), (T2×M1×I2), (T4×M2×I3) and (T2×M1×I1) treatments respectively. The highest (4280 SDG/fed) and lowest (3290 SDG/fed) total cost of production was recorded by (T1×M1×I1) and (T4×M2×I4) treatments respectively. It can be concluded that generally disc ploughing with 10 days irrigation intervaland manual planting can give higher crop root yield, higher TSP and lower cost of production at Guneid Sugar Cane Research Center

Effects of tillage method and drainage management on some soil physical properties

Tillage is one of the most important practices affecting soil physical and hydraulic properties. Its effects may vary intensely according to the tillage method. This study aims to evaluate the effects of different tillage methods (moldboard plow+disk harrow, moldboard plow+rotary tiller and chisel plow+disk harrow) and drainage (subsurface drainage and non-drainage) on soil physical properties in a clay loam soil. The experiment was conducted in split-plot in time statistical design. Soil bulk density, aeration porosity, organic matter, aggregate mean weight diameter (MWD) and water infiltration rate were measured after planting and after harvesting of winter-wheat crop. Results revealed that the tillage method had significant effect on organic matter content, such that the lowest (1.18%) and highest (1.35%) values were observed in moldboard plow/disk harrow and chisel treatment, respectively. Tillage effect was significant on saturated moisture content, MWD, aeration porosity and infiltration rate. The effect of time was significant on all investigated factors. The effect of drainage was significant on MWD and infiltration rate. Evaluating the interaction effect of tillage and drainage indicated that the contribution of drainage on changing MWD is higher than the tillage methods. Further, it was concluded that the selection of tillage method had an important role on aeration porosity and MWD in no drainage condition, so that moldboard plow makes much more aeration porosity (25.48% against 17.17%) and less MWD (2.40 against 2.80 mm) compared to chisel. According to the result, the treatment combination including drainage/after planting/moldboard plow and disk harrow had the lowest MWD and also, combined treatment of no drainage/after harvesting/chisel plow) had the highest MWD. The application of chisel is not recommended in no-drained areas having high level of groundwater, because of the highest saturated moisture content and MWD along with the lowest aeration porosity compared to moldboard plow.