Tillage Implements Research Articles

Efficiency of precision farming systems application in the implementation of main tillage

Abstract The main direction of crop production development is transformation from traditional agro-technologies to resource- and energy-saving technologies. One of the options of developing resource- and energy-saving technologies is precision farming technologies. Implementation of these technologies will provide optimal results in crop production. However, the use of tractors, agricultural machines and combines in the system of effective precision farming is possible, based on the analysis and substantiated conclusions of modern scientific and technical information. As well as the possibilities for specific natural and production conditions. Thus, the purpose of the study is to increase the efficiency of precision farming systems in the implementation of main tillage. The article presents the results of comparative tests of disc ripper “John Deere” (model 2720) in combination with tractors “Claas” (model AXION 950). The tests were conducted in the process of main tillage in the system of precision agriculture. The fields of “Agricultural Experimental Station “Zarechnoye” LLP, located in Kostanay region, Kostanay oblast, were chosen as a testing ground. During the comparative testing process, the objective was to determine the impact of the automatic driving system “Claas GPS PILOT” on certain indicators, in particular agrotechnical, technical-operational and economic indicators of their functioning. The conditions of comparative tests are typical for farms located in the areas of Northern Kazakhstan producing grain crops. The results of tests demonstrated that the application of automatic driving system “Claas GPS PILOT” on main tillage, disc ripper “John Deere” (model 2720) in combination with a tractor “Claas” (model AXION 950) allows to increase the working width of the machine by 24 cm, increase the shift productivity of the machine by 4.8%, reduce specific fuel consumption by 4.9%, specific energy costs by 2.9-6.1%, total cash outlay by 521.0 tenge/ hectare and get annual savings of total cash outlay of 294.5 thousand tenge.

Evaluating maize (Zea mays L.) management practices implementing sensitivity analysis of vegetation indices

Conservation agriculture and sustainable agronomic principles include several management practices such as cover cropping, no-till, and alternative fertilization rates. Each of these practices can result in changes among agricultural productivity, sustainability for future farming, and protections for the environment. These management practices are important concepts that can be applied in the production of maize (Zea mays L., corn). The aim of this three-year study (2018–2020) was to compare maize health across two fields located in Riesel, TX under varying management approaches and precipitation conditions. The first field utilized ‘business as usual’ operations characterized by the implementation of tillage, fertilization at a maximum rate (10.06 Mg/ha), and no cover crops. The second field utilized ‘aspirational’ cultivation techniques categorized by no tillage, cover crops, and an alternative method for rate of fertilization. Each field was subject to satellite-based remote sensing methods incorporating Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI), and Normalized Difference Red Edge (NDRE). Indices were subject to sensitivity analyses to determine the most sensitive index for maize under various managements and precipitation conditions. The most sensitive index (EVI) served as a proxy for time series analysis for maize health under the varying managements and rainfall conditions. The results suggest improvements to maize health are experienced over time when aspirational managements are employed, even though business as usual management resulted in higher yields. However, studies with greater duration could point to these perceived benefits over a long-term implementation. Nevertheless, productivity comparisons considering amount of input (i.e. fertilizer) suggests an increase in efficiency each year for the aspirational management. These findings suggest factors such as improved soil health from implementation of no-till and cover crops contribute to field health, efficiencies, and resiliency across varying precipitation conditions.

Effects of Conservation Tillage on Agricultural Green Total Factor Productivity in Black Soil Region: Evidence from Heilongjiang Province, China

The implementation of conservation tillage is crucial for the preservation and utilization of black soil. This study examined 297 new agricultural management entities in five pilot counties in the black soil region of northeast China. Using the SBM-Undesirable model, this study measured and evaluated the agricultural green total factor productivity (AGTFP) of these entities. We further employed the Tobit model to explore the impact of conservation tillage on the AGTFP. The findings revealed that the average AGTFP value of the sample entities was 0.4364, indicating a generally low degree of AGTFP that exhibited significant variation. Improvement in input indicators (such as machinery) and undesirable output indicators (such as net carbon emissions) was particularly needed. Additionally, conservation tillage had a significant positive impact on AGTFP, with a higher number of applied technologies correlating with increased productivity. Material subsidies for conservation tillage offered greater direct cost relief and had a stronger positive effect on AGTFP in comparison with cash subsidies. Furthermore, apart from policy factors, key production and operation characteristics—such as access to agricultural materials—also significantly influenced AGTFP. The results of this study offer a valuable decision-making framework and scientific reference for countries in black soil regions worldwide, enabling them to enhance the conservation and sustainable utilization of this vital resource.

Fuel Consumption Pattern for Disc Plough and Cultivator Tillage Implement

This study evaluated the effects of different (Disc plough and Cultivator) tillage implements on soil physical properties and operational cost under loam soil. Different (Disc plough and Cultivator) tillage implements were used in a field under separate plots. The fuel consumed by the tractor during the Disc plough and Cultivator tillage operations was measured by the field to determine the cost of both tillage operations. Results showed that the soil moisture content (MC) was 25.31%, while soil bulk density (BD) 1.3 under the plot (field) tilled with cultivator followed by disc plough compared to that tilled with cultivator only. The fuel consumed by the tractor during different tillage operations was 16.08 and 7.53 lit/ha for Disc plough and cultivator respectively. It is concluded that Cultivator can prepare better seedbed under loam soil as compared to Disc Plough only at almost same operational cost.

Construction of the working surfaces of the tillage screw body from the compartments of the developable helicoid

Improvement of the screw working bodies for surface tillage is important for increasing the efficiency and quality of agricultural work. The purpose of the work was to calculate the design of the screw a working body for the surface cultivation of the soil from the compartment of the developable helicoid, which would perform the technological process with minimal resistance to plunging in the soil. The surface theory, analytical, and differential geometry were used to design the working body. It is shown in the paper that through a given spiral line, which is the cutting edge of the surface (blade), it is possible to draw developable helicoids with different inclinations of rectilinear generators. Designing the surface for the best plunging into the soil is important. It is established that the proposed working body is an alternative to the existing disc-type tools. It has been proven that for a long time, spherical discs for surface cultivation of the soil were fixed on a common shaft, which was installed on the unit with a certain angle between its axis and the direction of movement of the unit, which contributed to the plunging of the discs in the soil. It is confirmed that the disc-type tillage implements were improved, but this complicated the design of the unit since each disc received an individual axis of rotation. Studies have shown that this made it possible to additionally set the roll angle, that is, the deviation of the plane of the disc blade from the vertical direction, which improved the plunging of the disc in the soil and ensured more effective turning and mixing of plant residues. The proposed screw working body combines the simplicity of the design of the common shaft and the presence of the angle of attack and roll, which confirms its effectiveness in comparison with existing analogs. The necessary calculations were made, and the surfaces of the right and left courses were constructed with the designation of the necessary structural parameters. The application of the obtained results can simplify the design of the soil processing unit

Substantiating the rational shape of a drum-type working tool for surface soil treatment

The working bodies of agricultural implements should minimize resistance to movement. The shape of a curved tooth, which is fixed between two cylindrical disks, has been considered in this paper. Several such sections on the shaft form a drum similar to a harrow roller or a needle harrow. When rolling, the tooth sinks into the soil, followed by its loosening. The task was to find such a shape of the tooth, which at the first stage of immersion in the soil would slide over it as much as possible with minimal deformation, and at the second stage would balance it and turn it over. The object of the study is a drum-type working body. The work of a straight tooth with its transformation into a curved tooth was analyzed. As a result of such an analysis and subsequent search, a rational shape of a drum-type tillage working body was obtained for the purpose of reducing resistance when it is buried in the soil. The involute of a circle turned out to be such a curve. A tooth in the form of an involute of a circle has a peculiarity: at the moment of contact of the tooth with the ground, the absolute velocity vector is directed perpendicular to it. The result is explained by the fact that as the disks roll, the tooth sinks into the soil, and the point of entry remains unchanged, and the tooth itself slides practically along itself, especially in the upper layers of the soil. In known working bodies, their curvilinear form was selected experimentally. The proposed shape of the working body was obtained analytically. To reduce the resistance of the teeth entering the soil, the ratio of the tillage depth to the radius of the drum is important. The immersion of the blade to the full depth should correspond to a 30° rotation of the drum. After diving to the maximum depth, it begins to weigh the soil to the surface or loosen it. The field of application of such a tooth shape can be the improvement of the working bodies of tillage implements

Is using combined tillage implements the solution?

The fuel consumption, The energy requirement, the time of prepare seedbed, the tractor wheel slippage and the number of passes in the field, all of this factors make farmer choose more efficient method of plowing. Compound tillage is the solve and the method means that two, three or more different plowing tools are work at one time for plowing soil, pulverization, seeding and fertilize, the aid of this way, reduce the drudgery, number and saving time of the field operation. The primary (conventional) and secondary tillage implements are becoming expensive time, fuel and cost, additional, need several passes to prepare seedbed, which increase compaction and damage of the soil and leads to formation the hard pan in the soil due to tractor and machines movement. The farmer size of the field holdings in Iraq is middle or usually small, the way of increase the the width of tools or speed is less useful and effective, therefore, reduce and shorten the number of traffic or passes by use a combination tillage implements consider better solution. Compound tillage saving cost of 44-55%, time of 50-55% and enable the farmers to reduce the number of trips over the field, also, shortage of farm labor. Carrying out the tillage process by compound tillage with two or more equipment to reduce time, fuel consumption and power requirement foe prepare the best seedbed. In this review, various paper researches on combination tillage implement will be discussion.

Development of a Method for Soil Tilth Quality Evaluation from Crumbling Roller Baskets Using Deep Machine Learning Models.

A combination tillage with disks, rippers, and roller baskets allows the loosening of compacted soils and the crumbling of soil clods. Statistical methods for evaluating the soil tilth quality of combination tillage are limited. Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) data and machine learning models (Random Forest (RF), Support Vector Machine (SVM), and Neural Network (NN)) are proposed to investigate roller basket pressure settings on soil tilth quality. Soil profiles were measured using LiDAR (stop and go and on-the-go) and RGB visual images from a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) tillage experiment on clay loam soil with treatments of roller basket down, roller basket up, and no-till in three replicates. Utilizing RF, SVM, and NN methods on the LiDAR data set identified median, mean, maximum, and standard deviation as the top features of importance variables that were statistically affected by the roller settings. Applying multivariate discriminatory analysis on the four statistical measures, three soil tilth classes were predicted with mean prediction rates of 77% (Roller-basket down), 64% (Roller-basket up), and 90% (No till). The LiDAR data analytics-inspired soil tilth classes correlated well with the RGB image discriminatory analysis. Soil tilth machine learning models were shown to be successful in classifying soil tilth with regard to onboard operator pressure control settings on the roller basket of the combination tillage implement.

An Assessment of Some Mechanical Properties of Harvested Potato Tubers cv. Spunta

Mechanical properties of vegetables or crop materials play a noteworthy part in designing new related implements. These properties can be extracted from force–deformation curves. Several factors, such as soil preparation, irrigation, and pre- and post-harvest treatments influence them. The core objective of this investigation work was to analyze force–deformation curves obtained from compression, penetration, and shear tests of potatoes (Spunta cv.) produced with three tillage implements. The potatoes cv. Spunta were cultivated in loamy sand soil under the center-pivot irrigation system. The tillage implements used were a disc harrow plow, chisel plow, and moldboard plow. The trials were performed at a constant planting depth (15 cm) below the soil and a single plowing speed of 5.4 km/h. All data were expressed as an average of five replicates ± standard deviation. The force–deformation curves analysis showed that the modulus of elasticity for potatoes cv. Spunta ranged from 4.32 to 5.8 N/mm, the bioyield force ranged from 84.25 to 114.12 N, and rupture forces ranged from 100.90 to 139.78 N. Furthermore, the results showed that the average values of the elastic and plastic ranges were 3.0 and 2.1 mm, respectively. The mean value of hardness was 1671.53 N·mm. No significant differences were observed with respect to the two planting seasons, but tillage implements had a significant impact on the characteristics extracted from the compression tests. The mean of the maximum forces required to penetrate the potato during the penetration stage were 41.24 N, 44.86 N, and 47.16 N for potatoes produced with the disc harrow plow, chisel plow, and moldboard plow, respectively. Similarly, the means of the maximum forces required to cut the potato in the shear stage were 724.38 N, 761 N, and 773.43 N for the disc harrow plow, chisel plow, and moldboard plow, respectively. The force–deformation curves showed that additional information might be required to obtain a complete description of the potato quality necessary to harvest potatoes cv. Spunta using harvesting and handling equipment with reduced economic loss. An extensive study of the soil characteristics and the above-mentioned properties is also recommended. The results obtained about the mechanical characteristics of potatoes cv. Spunta can be useful in providing information that aids in designing potato harvesting machines and in potato products factories.

AI-based engine performance prediction cum advisory system to maximise fuel efficiency and field performance of the tractor for optimum tillage

Tractor engine performance is critical for optimizing energy efficiency in tillage operations across various soil conditions. This study introduces an artificial neural network (ANN) based novel approach for predicting and optimizing specific fuel consumption (SFC) and fuel consumption per tilled area (FCA), during tillage operations. Field tests were conducted to collect the data on rear axle torque, forward velocity, fuel consumption, throttle position, engine speed, and depth of operation under soft, medium, and hard soil conditions while using a reversible MB plough, offset disc harrow, and rigid tyne cultivator. Tractor engine performance was predicted using ANN and optimized by matching the required rear axle power with the available rear axle power. Optimal operating parameters for three distinct tillage implements, each associated with varying soil types and tillage depths, were determined based on minimizing SFC and FCA. An integrated ANN-based user advisory system was developed to provide tractor engine performance predictions and recommendations for optimal operating parameters to maximize fuel efficiency. The recommendations were validated with actual field data, resulting in Mean Absolute Percentage Errors of 7.56% and 8.98% for MB plough, 11.19% and 9.36% for offset disc Harrow, and 10.90% and 10.57% for cultivator, respectively, for SFC and FCA. Highlights ANN-based novel approach is proposed to optimize fuel efficiency during tillage Advisory system is developed to recommend parameters for optimum tillage Suggestions for minimum SFC and FCA are provided in soft, medium and hard soil The accuracy and reliability of advisory system are proven by field validation

Experimental Evaluation of Nano Coating on the Draft Force of Tillage Implements and Its Prediction Using an Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS)

The effect of coating a flat blade surface with titanium nitride nano coatings (TiN), nano tantalum carbide (TaC), Fiberglass (Glass Fiber-Reinforced Polymer) (GFRP), Galvanized Steel (GAS), and St37 (SST37) was investigated in order to decrease the adhesion of soil on tilling tools, external friction and, ultimately, the draft force. The soil tank, which was filled with soil of the desired conditions, was pulled on the bearing on the rail. A S-shaped load cell was used to measure the draft force. Tests were conducted at a distance of 2 m and speeds of 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3 m·s−1 at a depth of 10 cm. A model based on input factors, including blade travel speed, rake angle, and cohesion and adhesion of soil–blade, was developed in an adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS), and draft force was the output parameter. To verify the performance of the developed model using ANFIS, a relative error(ε) of 6.1% and coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.956 were computed. It was found that blades coated with Nano (TiN-TaC), due to its hydrophobic surface, flatness, and self-cleaning properties, have considerable ability to decrease adhesion in wet soils and showed a linear relationship with draft force reduction.

Short‐term conservation tillage degrades soil infiltration properties in the black soil region of Northeast China

AbstractSoil infiltration properties (SIPs) are crucial soil hydraulic parameters for hydrological and erosion models as they regulate the movement of water and nutrients within the soil. Tillage practice can significantly impact the hydrological and erosional processes of sloping farmland by changing SIPs through altering soil structure. Nevertheless, knowledge regarding the effects of short‐term conservation tillage on SIPs is unclear, which greatly limits the management of soil and water resources of sloping farmland. This study aimed to clarify the potential impact and underlying mechanisms of short‐term implementation of conservation tillage on SIPs under three typical tillage management types: conventional downslope tillage (DT), conservation contour tillage (CT), and no‐tillage (NT) in the black soil region of Northeast China. SIPs of initial infiltration rate (IIR), steady infiltration (SIR), and hydraulic conductivity (Ks) were determined by a field disc infiltration experiment under pressure heads (h) of −3, −1.5, and 0 cm. The results revealed that short‐term implementation of conservation tillage management degraded SIPs, with a significant difference observed between DT and NT. In comparison to DT, the mean SIPs of IIR, SIR, and Ks of CT decreased by 27.5%, 31.2%, and 28.6%, and the corresponding reduced values of NT were 54.1%, 65.0%, and 65.5%, respectively. SIPs were significantly correlated with soil texture, bulk density (BD), capillary porosity (CP), total porosity (TP), field capacity (FC), saturated water content (SSWC), and organic matter content (SOM). Among these influencing factors, the variations in SIPs among different tillage management and soil layers were primarily influenced by differences in clay and gravel contents, FC, and SSWC and SSWC played the most critical role. These results highlight the substantial impacts and clarify the mechanisms of short‐term conservation tillage on SIPs, which is helpful for understanding the potential effect of short‐term conservation tillage management on hydrology and erosional processes, thereby improving the sustainable utilization of arable land.

Prediction of Specific Fuel Consumption of a Tractor during the Tillage Process Using an Artificial Neural Network Method

In mechanized agricultural activities, fuel is particularly important for tillage operations. In this study, the impact of seven distinct parameters on fuel usage per unit of draft power was examined. The parameters are tractor power, soil texture index, plowing speed, plowing depth, width of implement, and both initial soil moisture content and soil bulk density. This study investigated the construction of an artificial neural network (ANN) model for tractor-specific fuel consumption predictions for two tillage implements: chisel and moldboard plows. The ANN model was created based on the collection of related data from previous research studies, and the validation was performed using actual field experiments in clay soil using a chisel plow. The developed ANN model (9-22-1) was confirmed by graphical assessment; additionally, the root-mean-square error (RMSE) was computed. Based on the RMSE, the results demonstrated a good agreement for specific fuel consumption per draft power between the observed and predicted values, with corresponding RMSE values of 0.08 L/kWh and 0.075 L/kWh for the training and testing datasets, respectively. The novelty of the work presented in this paper is that, for the first time, a farm machinery manager can optimize tractor fuel consumption per draft power by carefully controlling certain parameters, such as initial soil moisture content, tractor power, plowing speed, implement width, and depth of plowing. The results show that the input parameters make a significant contribution to the output over the used data with different percentages. Accordingly, the contribution analysis showed that the implement width had a high impact on tractor-specific fuel consumption for both plows at 30.13%; additionally, the chisel and moldboard plows contributed 4.19% and 4.25% in predicting tractor fuel consumption per draft power. This study concluded that practical useful advice for agricultural production can be achieved through optimizing fuel consumption rate by selecting the proper levels of affecting parameters to reduce fuel costs. Moreover, an ANN model could be used to develop future tractor fuel-planning schemes for tillage operations.

Evaluation of BMPs in Flatland Watershed with Pumped Outlet

The effectiveness of existing and potential best management practices (BMPs) to cropped lands in the Jeannette Creek watershed (Thames River basin, Ontario, Canada) in reducing P loads at its pumped outlets was assessed using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT). Existing BMPs consisted of banded, incorporated, and variable phosphorus (P)-rate application, conservation tillage, cover crops, and vegetative buffer strips. Potential BMPs consisted of banded P application, no-till, and a cover crop following winter wheat. Two separately delineated sub-watersheds, J1 and J2, characterized by a flat topography and distinct pumped outlets, were selected for analysis. Despite challenges in delineation, the SWAT model was successfully set up to assess the impact of BMPs in reducing P loads in these sub-watersheds. Each BMP was systematically removed, and the resulting simulated P loads were compared with the baseline scenario. Compared to cover crops or vegetative buffer strips, the implementation of conservation tillage and no-till, along with altering the mode of P application, offered superior effectiveness in reducing the P load. On average, the annual reduction in total P (Ptot) loads under existing BMPs was 9.2% in J1 and 11.3% in J2, whereas, under potential BMPs, this reduction exceeded 60% in both watersheds.

Regulation of tillage on grain matter accumulation in maize.

To address issues related to shallow soil tillage, low soil nutrient content, and single tillage method in maize production in the Western Inner Mongolia Region, this study implemented various tillage and straw return techniques, including strip cultivation, subsoiling, deep tillage, no-tillage, straw incorporation with strip cultivation, straw incorporation with subsoiling, straw incorporation with deep tillage, and straw incorporation with no tillage, while using conventional shallow spinning by farmers as the control. We employed Xianyu 696 (XY696) and Ximeng 6 (XM6) as experimental materials to assess maize 100-grains weight, grain filling rate parameters, and grain nutrient quality. This investigation aimed to elucidate how tillage and straw return influence the accumulation of grain material in different maize varieties. The results indicated that proper implementation of tillage and straw return had a significant impact on the 100-grains weight of both varieties. In comparison to CK (farmer's rotary rotation), the most notable rise in 100-grains weight was observed under the DPR treatment (straw incorporation with deep tillage), with a maximum increase of 4.84% for XY696 and 6.28% for XM6. The proper implementation of tillage and straw return in the field resulted in discernible differences in the stages of improving the grain filling rates of different maize varieties. Specifically, XY696 showed a predominant increase in the filling rate during the early stage (V1), while XM6 exhibited an increase in the filling rates during the middle and late stages (V2 and V3). In comparison to CK, V1 increased by 1.54% to 27.56% in XY696, and V2 and V3 increased by 0.41% to 10.42% in XM6 under various tillage and straw return practices. The proper implementation of tillage and straw return had a significant impact on the nutritional quality of the grains in each variety. In comparison to CK, the DPR treatment resulted in the most pronounced decrease in the soluble sugar content of grains by 25.43% and the greatest increase in the crude fat content of grains by 9.67%. Ultimately, the proper implementation of soil tillage and straw return facilitated an increase in grain crude fat content and significantly boosted grain weight by improving the grouting rate parameters at all stages for various maize varieties. Additionally, the utilization of DPR treatment proved to be more effective. Overall, DPR is the most promising strategy to improve maize yield and the nutritional quality of grain in the long term in the Western Inner Mongolia Region.

Three-Point Hitch Dynamometer for Measuring Tractor-Implement Forces

Highlights A double-frame dynamometer for the three-point hitch of the tractor was presented. The dynamometer offers three-dimensional force measurement of tractor-implement force up to 400 kN. Dynamometer was tested during the in-field measurement using two tillage implements. Maximum achieved tractor-implement force during the in-field measurement was 164 kN. Abstract. Determination of the traction forces between the tractor and its implement is important due to optimal utilization of tractor power and its connected implement, estimation of soil properties or strength, and fatigue studies. The working width of agriculture implements is increasing, which demands higher traction forces. The article presents the design and test in-field measurement of a double-frame dynamometer for the three-point hitch of the tractors, which can measure forces up to 400 kN. The dynamometer is equipped with six force transducers positioned so that force measurement on all axes is possible. The connection of the dynamometer follows the standard ISO 730. The design of the dynamometer and force calculations are presented. The in-field measurement was performed using disc and chisel tillage implements at different tillage depths. The increasing magnitude of the resultant traction force with increasing tillage depth and the effect of the geometry of tillage machines were found. Keywords: Dynamometer, Force measurement, Soil tillage, Three-point hitch, Traction force, Tractor.

TILLAGE PRACTICES AFFECT THE WATER CONSERVATION BENEFITS OF RAINWATER HARVESTING IN SEMI-ARID CONDITIONS

Livelihood in the Pothwar region of Pakistan is largely dependent on rainwater. Therefore, storing and conserving rainwater for its subsequent use when required is crucial. Amongst various means of in-field moisture conservation, tillage practices play a dynamic role, especially in loose soils of Pothwar area. Under this study, the efficiency of commonly used tillage implements i.e., mould board (MB) plough, disc plough and cultivator, was evaluated for moisture conservation and improvement in wheat (Triticum aestivum L) yield. The three years’ study showed that maximum soil moisture and grain yield were obtained in the field tilled with MB plough followed by disc plough. It has been observed that soil water was improved by 11.3, 10.6, 9.9 and 11.5 % in the treatment of MB plough, while this increase was recorded as 5.7, 9.0, 5.2 and 6.8 % in disc plough as compared to cultivator at sowing, 02 months & 04 months after sowing and harvesting stage, respectively. In the treatment of MB plough, improvements were observed as a wheat grain yield 16%, wheat straw yield 19%, productive tillers 6% and plant height by 2%. Furthermore, MB plough enhanced its productivity and profitability with the highest benefit-cost ratio of 1.83. The role of disc plough in soil water conservation and crop productivity enhancement was observed less than MB plough. The current study observed that use of MB plough is beneficial in soil water conservation and improvement of crop yield.

Modification of Values for the Horizontal Force of Tillage Implements Estimated from the ASABE Form Using an Artificial Neural Network

The famous empirical model for the horizontal force estimation of farm implements was issued by the American Society of Agricultural Biological Engineers (ASABE). It relies on information on soil texture through its soil texture adjustment parameter, which is called the Fi -parameter. The Fi-parameter is not measurable, and the geometry of the plow through the machine parameter values are not measurable; however, the tillage speed, implement width, and tillage depth are measurable. In this study, the Fi-parameter was calibrated using a regression technique based on a soil texture norm that combines the sand, silt, and clay contents of a soil with R2 of 0.703. A feed-forward artificial neural network (ANN) with a backpropagation algorithm for training purposes was established to estimate the modified values of the horizontal force based on four inputs: working field criterion, soil texture norm, initial soil moisture content, and the horizontal force (which was estimated by the ASABE standard using the new—Fi-parameter). Our developed ANN model had high values for the coefficient of determination (R2) and their values in the training, testing, and validation stages were 0.8286, 0.8175, and 0.8515, respectively that demonstrated the applicability for the prediction of the modified horizontal forces. An Excel spreadsheet was created using the weights of the established ANN model to estimate the values of the horizontal force of specific tillage implements, such as a disk, chisel, or moldboard plows. The Excel spreadsheet was tested using data for a moldboard plow; in addition, a good prediction of the required horizontal force with a percentage error of 10% was achieved. The developed Excel spreadsheet contributed toward a numerical method that can be used by agricultural engineers in the future. Furthermore, we also concluded that the equations presented in this study can be formulated by any of computer language to create a simulation program to predict the horizontal force requirements of a tillage implement.

Effects of Tillage Depth and Tractor Speed on Implement Speed for Three Tillage Implements on a Clay Loam Soil

The utilization of agricultural machinery represents the main aspect contributing to the total energy input in the agricultural system. The trials were achieved using five tractor speeds(3.6, 5.4, 7.2, 9.0 and 10.8 km/hr) and five tillage depths(10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 cm) to determine implement speed at different tillage depths for 3-bottom disc plough, spring tine cultivator and offset disc harrow on a clay loam soil. The design of the experiment used were two factors, five levels factorial of Central Composite Rotatable Design of Response Surface Method. The implement speed for 3-bottom disc plough, spring tine cultivator and offset disc harrow ranged from 0.78 to 1.95, 0.67 to 2.19 and 0.70 to 2.11 m/s, respectively. The effects of tillage depths and tractor speeds on implement speed for the three tillage implements were assessed. The results indicated that increasing the tillage depth decreased the implement speed for all the tested implements but increasing the tractor speed increased the implement speed. The tractor speed had more pronounced effect on the implement speed than the tillage depth. This study therefore recommends that the availability of time and implement width should be used in determining the speed required to finish the work on time.

Performance evaluation of tractor drawn power harrow

Power harrow is the tillage implement, now being projected as important implement that results in production of fine tilth soil. The study was conducted to compare the performance of rotavator and power harrow taking forward speed (2, 2.5, 3 and 3.5 km/h) and operating depth (50, 80, 110 and140 mm) as independent parameters and theoretical field capacity (ha/h), effective field capacity (ha/h), field efficiency (per cent), fuel consumption (l/h), soil pulverization (mm) as dependent parameters.The maximum theoretical field capacity (0.42 ha/h), effective field capacity (0.36 ha/h) and field efficiency (85.71%) was found at forward speed of 3.5 km/h. Also, the results of this study proved that the fuel consumption and soil pulverization was greatly affected by tractor speed and working depth. Increase in forward speed and operating depth increases the fuel consumptionand decreases the soil pulverization.The minimum fuel consumption (4.33 l/h) and mean mass diameter of soil (5.80 mm) was recorded at 2 km/h forward speed at 50 mm operating depth of the power harrow.The cost of operation of the power harrow was found to be Rs. 3870per hectare.