Tillage Technology Research Articles

Predicting energy efficiency and greenhouse gases reduction potential under different tillage management and farm size scenarios for winter wheat production

Winter wheat is the most popular crop in Europe and at the same time a major contributor to environmental pollution, as its production process is energy-intensive and emits high levels of greenhouse gas (GHG). Therefore, tackling the pollution of agroecosystems requires development of cleaner production technologies by integrating sustainable agricultural production practices that reduce the use of machinery, diesel and chemicals. The aim of this study was to determine the main indicators of energy and carbon emissions in winter wheat production taking into account different scenarios based on tillage technologies and farm sizes. Three sizes of farms (<10 ha, 10–100 ha, and >100 ha) and three different tillage systems (conventional (CT), minimal (MT) and no tillage (NT)) were used in this study in order to build up different scenarios.The cost of fuel, time, energy and carbon emissions for the size of the farm, the area of wheat and the amount of crop harvested were analysed based on the developed scenarios. The lowest total cost of fuel and working time for the total area of winter wheat (621 032 ha) were needed under the scenario SC 3 – 65.37 million L and 3.05 million h or 105.26 L ha−1 and 4.90 h ha−1, respectively. The best energy efficiency ratio (3.84), energy productivity ratio (0.26 kg MJ−1) and specific energy ratio (3.80 MJ kg−1) for winter wheat production were found in large farms (>100 ha) under no tillage. A comparison of the tillage and the farm size scenarios showed that by applying the scenario SC 3, where CT is 30–70%, MT is 20–50%, and NT is 10–20%, the carbon emissions for the total area of winter wheat could be reduced by 12.6 kilotonnes carbon emission, compared to the scenario SC 1, where CT is 50–100%, MT is 0–40%, and NT 0–10%. In conclusion, the modelled scenarios results suggested that implementation of NT and MT technologies using instead of carbon emission more efficiently mitigate environment pollution, decreasing fuel and energy consumption and working time in winter wheat production.

Tractor vs. animal: Rural reforms and technology adoption in China

Better institutions do not always advance technologies. China’s rural reforms during the early 1980s secured land tenure for peasants and dismantled large collective farms into small household farms, which transformed tillage technology. Using a novel data set of 1755 counties from 1976 to 1988, our event study exploits the county-by-county rollout of the reform. We find that the use of tractors plummeted after the reform, while the use of draft animals surged. Post-reform tractor use was more suitable to local factor endowments and farm size. Small tractors became more popular while the number of large tractors declined.

Parameters-adapters of wheeled tractors

The article considers the rationale for the adapter parameters of wheeled tractors using high-speed tillage units. Models and an algorithm for optimizing the traction-speed regime and the specific gravity of wheeled tractors for operational tillage technologies were proposed. As the basic factors of influence, we used the characteristics of the towing and coupling properties of tractors and the resistivity of serial and high-speed working machines in tillage operations, which were established based on the results of modeling and experiments. The maximum speed mode of the units was established from the condition of a minimum of energy costs attributed to the product of specific productivity and speed, and minimum with a minimum value of the ratio of specific energy consumption and productivity. The rational value of the specific gravity of the tractor for an individual operation or a group of related tillage operations in terms of energy intensity corresponds to the nominal traction and speed mode with maximum traction efficiency and nominal speed, which ensures an increase in specific energy consumption of no more than 10-12%. The specific gravity was 66-69 kg/kW for moldboard plowing by high-speed plows at 2.5 m/s (9.0 km/h), which is achieved by installing on the tractor, depending on the basic configuration, removable ballast with a specific gravity of 7-13 kg/kW. In operations of the second and third energy-intensive groups, the mass of ballast must be reduced to 0-5 kg/W. When working with serial mounted plows in the speed range of 7-9 km/h, to increase the specific gravity to 71-74 kg/kW, it is advisable to use a tractor hydraulic loader.

Results of comparative studies of tillage technologies when sowing repeated crops

The article presents the main results of comparative experimental studies of traditional (plowing, chisel-growing) and energy-saving (strip) tillage in Uzbekistan when sowing re-crops after harvesting winter cereals

Application of Mechanized Conservation Tillage Technology in Dry Land

Application of Mechanized Conservation Tillage Technology in Dry Land

Distribution of root system of hop plants in hop gardens with regular rows cultivation

Spatial distribution of the root system of hop (Humulus lupulus L.) in the soil profile is a less explored issue. However, it is known that it can play an important role in the development of new tillage technologies, fertilisation and irrigation, including the use of precision farming principles. In the period from 2015 to 2018, the distribution of the hop root system was evaluated on twelve hop plants of five Czech hop cultivars. The age of the plants ranged from 3 to 15 years. The evaluation took place in the Saaz region at regularly cultivated hop gardens. As part of the evaluation, the root systems of hop plants were removed from the soil profile and subsequently spatially reconstructed. With the help of infrared image analysis, the root intensity in the soil profile and the morphology of the root systems were determined. The root depth of the plants ranged from 1 m to 2.25 m. The lateral width of the hop root system ranged from 0.6 m to 1.5 m. As a result of the rows cultivation, the lateral development of the roots in the upper soil layers was limited. The results were confirmed using the infrared image analysis method to specify the distribution of the root system and the root density of hop plants in the soil profile.

Sustainable efficiencies in small scale cassava farmers in Oruk Anam Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

This study derived sustainable technical, economic and allocative efficiencies from a set of efficiencies generated from the maximum likelihood estimation of stochastic production and profit functions fitted with data collected from small scale cassava farmers. The study was conducted in Oruk Anam Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. A three-stage sampling method was employed to select choose respondents’ to which structured questionnaire was administered to obtain the necessary information for the study. The result revealed an average sustainable technical efficiency of 81.60%, 30.40% for profit efficiency and 38.40% for allocative efficiency. Results further showed that farming experience, membership in social organization, years of formal education, farm capital and farm size were the positive determinants of sustainable technical efficiency while household size, number of female cultivating cassava, poor farming households and the use of organic manure were negative. In the same Vein, farming experience, education farm size, gender and the use of tillage technology were identified as positive determinants of sustainable economic or profit efficiency while household size and quantity of fertilizer use had negative impacts. Similarly, cassava farmers’ farm size, age, educational level, farming experience, gender and the use of tillage technology impacted positively on sustainable allocative efficiency while household size and the quantity of fertilizer have negative relationships. In order to achieve sustainability of small scale cassava farms, it is recommended that social capital formation should be intensified among cassava farmers. Also, adult education and family planning programmes for farmers should be fine-tuned in the state for effective delivery among others.&#x0D; Keywords: Cassava, Technical efficiency, economic efficiency, allocative efficiency, sustainability.

Effects of conventional and reduced tillage technologies on basic soil chemical properties

Effects of conventional and reduced tillage technologies on basic soil chemical properties

Sugarcane Yield Using Minimum Tillage Technology Through Subsoiling: Beneficial Impact on Soil Compaction, Carbon Conservation and Activity of Soil Enzymes

Adverse effect of intensive tillage practices on soil chemical and biological properties is already known. Soil organic carbon maintains porosity, releases nutrients for crop growth and also provides shelters to microbes. However, maintaining soil organic carbon at higher level and increasing crop productivity have become two faces of a single coin. Without addressing both issues simultaneously, the sustainability of production system will be far away. Strategic tillage intervention in no-tillage plots for sustaining long-term productivity is gaining importance. Strategic tillage through subsoiling/ripping of soil up to 45 cm depth at about 1 m spacing before sugarcane planting is feasible in sugarcane-based system. Thus, keeping the above points in view, the experiment was conducted during 2015–2017 with hypotheses of (i) whether the minimum tillage (once subsoiling) could maintain soil physical, chemical and biological parameters to sustain sugarcane productivity for longer period and (ii) how the mouldboard ploughing and/or conventional tillage practice affects these parameters and crop yields. The experiment was laid out in four preplant tillage treatments, i.e., one subsoiling (SS) and two harrowings, minimum tillage through subsoiling and direct planting of sugarcane through IISR Cutter Planter (SS), one ploughing through mouldboard plough and two harrowings (MBP + H) and conventional practice (CP—two ploughings through cultivator and one through rotavator) with six replications in randomized block design. The effect of these treatments was recorded on various soil physical, chemical and biological parameters vis-a-vis infiltration rate, cumulative infiltration and optimizing sugarcane yield in subtropical India. The results concluded that minimum tillage and direct planting of sugarcane through Sugarcane Cutter Planter could break hard impervious layer and improve soil physical, chemical and biological parameters besides improving sugarcane and sugar yields. Minimum tillage favoured build-up of soil organic carbon (SOC) and also release of nutrients for crop growth, which optimized rhizospheric environment as compared to conventional practice. Minimum tillage through subsoiling had shown major effect in reducing soil compaction in subsurface layers (bulk density—1.52 Mg m−3 (SS) vs 1.61 Mg m−3 through MBP + H). During tillering period, basic infiltration rate could reach the level of 7.5 mm/hr in SS plots compared to 5.5 mm/hr in conventional practice (CP). Minimum tillage recorded the highest SOC at all the crop growth stages. The highest mean SOC was recorded during grand growth phase (13.51 Mg ha−1). Minimum tillage altered lower amount of soil and showed the highest population of soil bacteria (log10 6.90x 105). Thus, the minimum tillage through subsoiling significantly improved sugarcane (96.32 t ha−1) and sugar yields (12.14 t ha−1) as compared to conventional tillage/mouldboard ploughing.

Effects of Conservation Tillage Technology Adoption on Wheat Yield, Water Use and Household Poverty

Effects of Conservation Tillage Technology Adoption on Wheat Yield, Water Use and Household Poverty

Impact of the Technical Means and Technologies on Mechanical Soil Erosion on Slopes

The article presents the influence of used tillage machines and technologies of agricultural crops cultivation on mechanical soil erosion on slope agricultural landscapes. Under the action of tillage and sowing machines working bodies, the soil is systematically shifted down the slope. ( Research purpose ) Identify ways to reduce mechanical soil erosion on the slopes in the cultivation of grain and row crops by improving technology and technical means. ( Materials and methods ) The authors established that the mechanical soil erosion that occurred when processing slopes working bodies in the form of a triangular wedge depended on the parameters of the working body, the steepness of the slope and the movement direction of the unit relative to the horizontal field. Mechanical soil erosion in one field per season varied depending on the technology of cultivation, as it depended on the number and depth of treatments. ( Results and discussion ) The authors showed that the transition from traditional technologies of cultivating grain and row crops to conservation, energy-saving and Strip-till technologies led to a corresponding reduction in erosion, and the transition to zero technology eliminated the occurrence of mechanical erosion. It was determined that during the cultivation of crops on slopes of 6 degrees there was no mechanical erosion per season by zero technology, by energy-saving technology did not exceed 15 millimeters, by soil protection technology – 35 millimeters, and by traditional – reached 145 millimeters. The authors noted that when cultivating corn by traditional technology on 6-degree slopes, mechanical soil erosion reached 87 millimeters per season. Therefore, to preserve the soil during the corn cultivation, they considered the transition to Strip-till technology. ( Conclusions ) To reduce the mechanical soil erosion, the authors proposed to switch from traditional technologies for cultivating crops to soil-protective, energy-saving, zero technologies and Strip-till technologies.

Evaluación de la intensidad del tráfico de tractores e implementos en un suelo agrícola

Diversos autores, establecen que la compactación del suelo se considera como el mayor problema ambiental originado por la agricultura convencional, es el tipo de degradación más difícil de localizar y entender, porque no muestra marcas evidentes en la superficie del suelo. Para conocer la intensidad de las pasadas y su efecto sobre la compactación o índice de cono del conjunto máquina tractor durante el ciclo agrícola del maíz, con las tecnologías de labranza convencional y mínima, se equipó a cada tractor con un receptor DGPS de señales al entrar al campo de cultivo, para monitorear el tránsito en todas las labores, y los datos se registraron con una frecuencia de 2 s. Se midió el ancho de los neumáticos observando la huella reflejada en el suelo con una presión de aire de 140 kPa. En labranza tradicional con arado de discos se cubrió 91.15% y en total fue 384.83% de la superficie. En la tecnología de labranza mínima con el multiarado se cubrió 36.95% y en total fue de 170.08%. Siendo ostensiblemente menor en esta tecnología que en la labranza tradicional. En lo referente a Índice de cono (Ic) en la labranza con arado de discos después de la siembra el Ic supero los 3 MPa después de la profundidad de 12.5 cm mientras que con multiarado en 80% de los datos están por debajo de los mismos 3 MPa, coincidiendo con el Ic después de la cosecha en ambos casos.

Mathematical model for choosing grain crops cultivation technologies

Research has been conducted to improve the efficiency of agricultural production by choosing technology and technical equipment based on a mathematical model, taking into account the peculiarities of location and production conditions of a farm. The limiting factors of the development of grain production are highlighted such as moisture content and the sum of temperatures during the growing season, frost-free period, etc. Basic soil tillage technologies that minimize the impact of limiting factors on the yield are considered. A generalized block diagramme of the selection process of technologies and technical means for the crop cultivation is presented. Constraints are formed that affect the choice of agricultural technology such as soil and climatic conditions, phytosanitary conditions, crop rotation, availability of seeds and equipment, etc. Optimization criteria have been substantiated that allow to choose technologies and technical means, ensuring cost reduction, energy saving and labor saving while following the specified agrotechnical deadlines of technological operations. A mathematical model has been developed with optimality criteria: consumption of fuels and lubricants, the number of machine operators and production cost. The model includes the following restrictions: the agroclimatic location of the farm, personnel potential, and fulfilment of a given amount of work. The model allows to evaluate agricultural technology and technical means according to the following parameters: the minimum amount of direct costs, the minimum consumption of fuel and lubricants and the necessary number of machine operators for the implementation of agricultural technology. This model will become the basis of the software, which will be used to test the results and data obtained on a specific farm. The use of this software will increase the efficiency of agricultural production by making informed management decisions for agricultural producers in the selection and implementation of technologies.

Zonal Tillage as Innovative Element of the Technology of Growing Winter Wheat: A Field Experiment under Low Rainfall Conditions

Zonal tillage, including strip-till, can have a positive effect on soil properties, seed germination, plant emergence, growth, and yield of crops. The aim of this two-factor field experiment was to compare different technologies of basic soil tillage, fertilisation, and sowing of winter wheat carried out after two post-harvest agrotechnical practises in a region with low rainfall. The three treatments of the first factor were: conventional technology (CT)—plough tillage, pre-sowing fertilisation, seedbed preparation and sowing; reduced technology (RT)—plough tillage replaced with deep loosening and (ST)—one pass strip-till technology using a hybrid machine. Agrotechnical practises carried out after the harvest of the previous crop were the second factor treatments, i.e., crushed straw and shallow tillage (TS), mulch from crushed straw (MS). The measurement of the treatment effects included changes in soil moisture, plant emergence, yield components and their correlation, grain yield, and the dependence of the yield components on soil moisture. Wheat growing in ST technology resulted in a higher soil moisture than in RT and CT. Only immediately after winter was the soil moisture similar. Grain yield in ST was similar as in CT and significantly, up to 10.4%, higher than in RT. The higher ST grain yield resulted from uniform plant emergence, greater ear density, and grain weight per ear. The correlation between yield components was weaker in ST than in CT and RT. The positive dependence of the size of the crop components on soil moisture was also weaker. The agrotechnical practises performed right after the previous crop harvest affected neither the soil moisture during the growing season of winter wheat, nor the grain yield and its components.

Farm Size, Technology Adoption and Agricultural Trade Reform: Evidence from Canada

AbstractUsing detailed census data covering over 30,000 farms in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, Canada, we document the vast and increasing farm size heterogeneity, and analyse the role of farm size in adapting to the removal of an export subsidy in 1995. Consistent with the Alchian‐Allen hypothesis, the increase in per‐unit trade costs due to the reform was associated with farms of all sizes shifting their production of crops from low value wheat to higher value canola. We find that switching to new labour‐saving tillage technologies and away from summerfallow in response to the large negative shock to grain prices caused by the reform varied across the farm size distribution. We develop a theory of heterogenous farms and technology adoption that can explain our findings.

Wheeled tractors adaptation to zonal tillage technologies

The purpose of the work is the substantiation of experimental assessment methods of parameter adaptation and operating modes of 4x4 wheeled tractors to zonal tillage technologies. The adaptation of wheeled tractors to zonal technologies of soil cultivation is based on the scientific structure and laboratory-field and operational and technological tests that determine the effectiveness of their functioning as part of soil cultivating units when changing adapter parameters that are controlled before the start of the technological process and during the working stroke. The information technology system for recording impact factors and optimized parameters was justified during traction and production tests. An algorithm and mathematical models of practical adaptation of tractors to zonal tillage technologies in terms of net productivity, specific energy costs and fuel consumption per unit of work performed are formulated in current paper.

PROVISION OF SOIL TREATMENT TECHNOLOGIES WITH INTELLIGENT TOOLS AND CONTROL METHODS

Increasing productivity in agriculture is unthinkable without the use of digital technologies based on the Internet and advanced technologies. Analysis of agrotechnical and environmental requirements for various technologies of tillage, both traditional and promising means of mechanization, shows that the timely registration, preservation and transmission of this data to the head computer requires using the most modern instruments and equipment. Devices designed for testing and operation of tillage machines and software for calculating operational and technological indicators, currently produced in small batches, meet the tasks set for them, meet the current domestic industry standards, but their high cost and narrow specialization limits their use . The use of devices is carried out during the tests of tillage equipment during technical expertise, agrotechnical and operational - technological types of assessments, during energy assessment, reliability assessment, safety and economic assessment of the structure, the use of universal controls, also used in testing almost all agricultural machinery and tractors. Similar equipment of foreign production requires knowledge of a foreign language, necessary experience with foreign computing equipment and software. Creating favorable conditions for growing crops during the entire growing season, observing all the necessary tillage techniques, including tools with elements of digital control and regulation, taking into account the physical properties of the soil, its debris, mechanical composition and erosion, predecessors and features of new technologies of cultivation, will allow to achieve high results without additional investment.

Impact of Zero Tillage and Tillage Practice in Chickpea Production

The study was carried out at the field of Regional Pulses Research Station, Madaripur under Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) during Rabi season (winter) to evaluate the effect of different tillage practices on growth, yield attributes, nutrient uptake and yield of chickpea, and to compare between the zero tillage and tillage practice.The experiment was planned with five different tillage practices viz. Zero tillage (T1), Single tillage (T2), Two tillage (T3), Three tillage (T4) and Four tillage (T5), and it was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Blanket dose of fertilizers of N, P, K, S, Zn and B at 20, 21, 30, 10, 3 and 1.5 kg ha-1, respectively were used in all tillage treatments. The highest mean seed yield achieved (1395 kg ha-1) in zero tillage (T1) followed by four tillage (T5) practice. The maximum number of branches plant-1 and more number of pods plant-1 was recorded in zero tillage treatment. Nutrient content showed non-significant effect across most of the treatment. The highest nodulation and nutrient (N, P, K and S) uptake was also obtained from T1 treatment. Tillage practices exhibited positive effects on soil properties. The highest soil organic carbon, total N, available P, K, S, Ca, Mg, Zn and B were found in zero tillage (T1). Based on profitability, the zero tillage was economically viable with compared to tillage practice. Although this practice (T1) saves the money about 3.8% to 13.7% and time also saves minimum 8 days for succeeding crops. So, the present study suggests that zero tillage practice could be implemented in the high and medium high land for chickpea cultivation. Low income farmers may practice the zero tillage technology. Future research should be carried out to evaluate the suitable rate of nutrient in zero tillage (conservative tillage) practice for yield maximization of chickpea and sustaining soil fertility.

Climate Change Impact on Agriculture and Related Sustainable Land Management Practices in Bangladesh – A Review

Sustainable land management (SLM) is an effective climate adaptation technique in the present world. Bangladesh is listed in long-term Climate Risk Index 2019 due to its unicorn geographic features (e.g. low-lying riparian lands, big rivers, dense population and coastal settings). The livelihoods of Bangladesh are directly or indirectly linked to agricultural practices and or agribusiness. Many studies revealed that climate change-induced natural calamities (e.g. rainfall and temperature variability, sea level rise, flood, cyclone, drought, groundwater depletion, salt intrusion) unfavorably effect on agricultural production and livelihood activities and these are making critical food insecurity situation. Thus, identification and implementation of SLM practices to maintain food security of the bursting population are a prerequisite in Bangladesh. In this study, we have compiled the prospective SLM practices based on land management objective, land user requirements, crop and land suitability by reviewing peer-reviewed articles and grey literature. The potential SLM identified includes land resource conservation, erosion control, tillage technology, soil fertility management, vegetation management, efficient groundwater use, salinity-drought adaptations, land zoning and site-specific climate-smart agriculture. Among these SLM practices, the cultivation of suitable crop based on land quality and resource availability requires knowledge of decision support components involving the stakeholders for meaningful implementation of SLM. We proposed conceptual decision support components (e.g. land user, land quality, crop suitability, site-specific management, capital and governance) that would be the basis for the development and implementation of SLM towards land users and or farmers. The motivation of farmers through efficient extension activity and agri-governance for optimized land management can lead to minimizing the climate-induced vulnerability in agriculture. We concluded that the identified SLM practices, if implemented by adequate decision supports, SLM will help to achieve agricultural production as required by the sustainable Millennium Development Goals in Bangladesh.

Review on the Crop Straw Utilization Technology of China

China is an large agricultural country, which grain output has been among the highest in the world. In recent years, agricultural waste caused by high grain yield has attracted more and more attention. As one of the main agricultural waste, the total straw amount of China has reached 870 million tons by year of 2019, and the straw utilization amount has reached 730 million tons, which indicates enormous strains on the environment. In China, straw burning is strictly forbidden by local governments, so it is mostly utilized by returning the field, making manure, fodder, fuel, base stock or raw material. The five utilization ways separately make up 61.3%, 5.3%, 14.9%, 10.3%, 0.8%, 1.0% of the total share. To promote better utilization of straw, this paper made a comprehensive review of the main utilization technologies in China by the method of literature research. According to the research, the utilization technologies of straw mainly include corn straw deep tillage technology, cotton straw deep-turning technology, wheat straw mulching-corn straw rotating tillage technology, less no-tillage straw mulching technology, rice-wheat (or rape) straw crushing returning rotary tillage technology, straw rapid maturing, straw-forage-fertilizer planting and raising combination technology, straw-biogas-fertilizer energy ecological technology, straw-bacteria-fertilizer substrate utilization technology, straw-carbon-fertilizer returning and soil improvement technology. All these utilization have promoted the rapid development of the comprehensive utilization of straw in China, and enlightened further development of straw utilization.