Draft measurement of five tyne duck foot plough in clay soil

In the present study, the draft requirement of five tyne duck foot plough was studied on clay soil for different soil moisture content, depth of operation and forward speed of tractor using a specially designed three-point hitch dynamometer. The designed dynamometer was matched with the tractors having category II or III hitch systems. The data acquisition system adopted for the dynamometer had NI WSN-3214 Strain Nodes, NI 9792 WSN real-time Gateway and NI LAB View 2013 software. A data logger program was developed for the three-point hitch dynamometer. The investigation was carried out at that three levels soil moisture content (10-13%, 14-16% and 17-20%), at three different depth of operation (15, 20 and 25 cm) and three levels of the forward speed of tractor (3, 5 and 7 km h-1). The designed dynamometer performed well in all the levels of the experiment. The results showed that draft force required for five tyne duck foot plough was increased (408 kg) with an increase in soil moisture content (17-20%), whereas it was increased (408 kg) with an increase in depth of operation (25 cm) and forward speed of tractor (7 km h-1). The suitable sweep, the forward speed of operation, depth of operation and soil moisture content that influenced the draft force and energy consumption for tillage operation of duck foot type plough were identified and developed duck foot plough was better coverage with better soil operation.

Nitrous oxide emissions and maize yield as influenced by nitrogen fertilization and tillage operations in upland soil

Previous studies simply focused on determining nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from the soil under different tillage operations and nitrogen (N) fertilizations without considering crop yield. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the effects of different tillage operations and N fertilizations on N2O emissions and crop yield from upland soil. Two different tillage operations [conventional tillage (CT) and no-tillage (NT)] and N fertilizations [without urea (WOU) and with 186 kg N ha−1 of urea (WU)] were established in a randomized block design with three replications on upland soil. Maize (Zea mays) was cultivated from 6th July to 4th October, 2018 (year 1), and from 15th April to 26th July, 2019 (year 2). The daily N2O flux did not peak soon after tillage operation and N fertilization, but it was more related to the change in water-filled pore space (WFPS). The mean value of WFPS across N fertilizations and seasons (years) was higher in CT than in NT. The changes of nitrification and denitrification rates could be attributed to the differences in WFPS between CT and NT. Nitrification was the predominant process producing N2O with CT, but denitrification was with NT. The application of urea increased cumulative N2O emissions, while CT also increased it compared with NT. The order of the mean values of cumulative N2O emissions across seasons from the highest to the lowest was as follows: CT + WU (7.12 kg N2O ha−1 year−1) > NT + WU (5.69 kg N2O ha−1 year−1) ≥ CT + WOU (5.02 kg N2O ha−1 year−1) > NT + WOU (4.24 kg N2O ha−1 year−1). Tillage operation did not affect the grain yield of maize or yield-scaled N2O emissions (YSNE). However, the application of urea increased the grain yield of maize and decreased YSNE, implying it could reduce N2O emission per unit of maize grain production. No-tillage management did not decrease YSNE value compared to CT operation, but N fertilization significantly decreased YSNE in the current study.

Optimization of the design and technological parameters of an active ripper of a combined working body

The research objective is to improve the quality of soil loosening using combined working bodies for surface moisture-retaining soil cultivation. The efficiency of accumulation and conservation of precipitation in the autumn-winter period depends on the method of post-harvest soil cultivation. One of them is the autumn surface water-retaining treatment, which makes it possible to increase the efficiency of the processes of accumulation and conservation of moisture due to the deeper loosening of the cultivated soil layer. During loosening and mulching, the top layer of the soil contributes to the accumulation and preservation of moisture not only in the upper but also in deeper soil horizons. However, the used tillage tools do not fully solve the problem of the high-quality performance of surface moisture-retaining soil cultivation. The article presents the results of studies of the degree of influence of geometric and technological parameters of the additional active cultivator on the quality of surface tillage. Based on the results of the research carried out, the technological process of performing the surface tillage operation has been improved and combined working bodies have been developed for its implementation.

Modeling of tillage operation parameters for draft and power requirement for three tillage implements in a loamy soil

Tillage is the basic operation in agriculture and its energy requirements represent a considerable portion of the energy utilized in crop production. 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 loamy soil. The design of the experiment used were two factors, five levels factorial of Central Composite Rotatable Design of Response Surface Method. Selected models were analyzed using ANOVA at ao. 05 and also validated. The high values of the coefficient of determination for all the selected models and the reasonable agreement between the predicted and actual values of draft and power requirement for all the tested implements show that the generated model equations can be used for predictive purposes for draft and power requirement.

Assessment of Durability and Service Life of Two-Layer Hardened Earth Cutters in Various Soil Conditions

Introduction. The earth cutter resource depends on the characteristics of the materials they are made from. In particular, the important parameters that directly affect the tillage tool parts efficiency and durability are the values and ratios of the coefficients of relative wear resistance of the two-layer parts materials, as a rule of the hardened deposited layer and the base material (steel). It is established that the characteristics of the relative wear resistance of the materials for earth cutter parts vary depending on the treated soil properties. The objectives of the study are to consider the influence of soil conditions on the values of the relative wear resistance coefficients of two-layer earth cutter part materials and to carry out a comparative assessment of their resource and use efficiency. Materials and Methods. The authors gave a generalized dependence of the wear proportionality to the existing specific pressures values. The characteristics of soil abrasion were given. The scientific substantiation of the changes in the characteristics of the materials wear resistance at various values of specific pressures was given. Results. The results of the operational resource tests and the studies of two-layer and monometallic earth cutters are presented. The influences of the values of the operating specific pressures on the coefficients of the relative wear resistance of the materials for the tillage machine parts are determined. Discussion and Conclusion. The authors have found out that the coefficients of relative wear resistance of materials are not constant, but vary depending on the current surface specific pressures. The correlation of the specific pressure values with the parameters of the tillage operation, in particular with the furrow slice hardness was established. It has been found that while increasing the cultivated soil hardness, the coefficients of various materials relative wear resistance get closer to each other. The difference varies from 1.80 to1.85 times.

Mechanization Status, Promotional Activities and Government Strategies of Thailand and Vietnam in Comparison to Bangladesh

Reasonable use of agricultural machinery has an extraordinary potential for poverty alleviation by increasing land and labor productivity in Thailand, Vietnam, and even in Bangladesh. This study was conducted under a program entitled “Agriculture Mechanization, Agro-Processing, Value addition and Export Market Development in Thailand and Vietnam from 1–14 November, 20I9” from the Ministry of Agriculture, Bangladesh. In all three distinct nations, farming activities represent a significant area of activity and remains the biggest wellspring of agricultural business. About 10.5% of Thailand’s, 21.5% of Vietnam’s, and 14.23% of Bangladesh’s GDP come from agriculture. For sustainable development, it is essential to modernize agriculture through the mechanization of its operations, which is therefore inevitable in the studied countries. Thailand’s government started mechanization in 1891 with the import of steam-powered tractor and rotary hoes. Since then the country has witnessed several milestones in the course of mechanization development. The focal plain agro-ecological zone of the state is the maximum and almost fully modernized area. As of now, there are two methods of practicing farming apparatus use: as a proprietor and/or through custom renting provision which coincides with Vietnam and Bangladesh. Historically, mechanization patterns in Vietnam can been described by tillage machinery with associated implement equipment use preceding 1975. This was non-linear, followed by a decreasing trend during the 80s prior to recovery during the 90s, with significant disparities in implementation status across the areas. In 2018, the number of tillage implements and harvesters was boosted about 1.6 and 25.6 times, respectively compared with 2006. The percentage of machinery use in soil tillage operation is 80% of the whole territory of cultivable land in Vietnam, compared to about 90% in Bangladesh and 100% in Thailand. Mechanization in Bangladesh started before independence with the importation of 2-wheel tractors and irrigation pumps in the last part of the 1960s as part of ‘Green Revolution’ activities. To continue this momentum, the Bangladesh Government permitted the continuation of agricultural machinery importation after later autonomy. Machinery use in different agricultural activities has increased in recent years in the areas of irrigation, land preparation, intercultural operation, and threshing. Though its degree of advancement is by and large still quite low contrasted with other South Asian nations, it is noticeable that the most recent two decades, the pace of mechanization has increased rapidly with the increase of mechanical power use in farm activities. The use of farm machinery in rice cultivation has been the most amazing when contrasted with different crops in these three nations. A clear comparison has been given in the paper, which aims to help researchers and policymakers take necessary measures.

OPERATIONAL COSTS OF GIANT BAMBOO CULTIVATION IN DIFFERENT SOIL PREPARATION SYSTEMS

OPERATIONAL COSTS OF GIANT BAMBOO CULTIVATION IN DIFFERENT SOIL PREPARATION SYSTEMS TIAGO PEREIRA DA SILVA CORREIA1, JOÃO LUCAS COTRIM FONTANA2, ARTHUR GABRIEL CALDAS LOPES2, REGINALDO SÉRGIO PEREIRA1, PAULO ROBERTO ARBEX SILVA3 1 Faculdade de Agronomia e Med. Veterinária, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Distrito Federal, CEP70910-900, Brasil, [email protected], [email protected] 2 Faculdade de Agronomia e Med. Veterinária, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brasil, [email protected], [email protected] 3 Faculdade de Ciências Agronômicas, Universidade Estadual Paulista “Julio de Mesquita Filho”, Botucatu, São Paulo, CEP18610-034, Brasil, [email protected] ABSTRACT: One of the bottlenecks for expanding commercial bamboo farming in Brazil is agricultural mechanization. The aim of this work was to evaluate the operational performance and to estimate the mechanized cost of soil preparation and planting of giant bamboo in four cultivation systems. The case study of mechanized systems for giant bamboo cultivation was carried out in: area of degraded pasture with conventional soil preparation (PC1); area of eucalyptus regrowth with conventional soil preparation (PC2); area of degraded pasture and no-tillage (PD1) and area of eucalyptus regrowth and no-tillage (PD2). Evaluations of operational field capacity (Cco) were performed to determine the amount of work performed per machine per hour, and total cost (COT) to economically estimate hourly and per hectare costs of operations. The methodology used was proposed by Mialhe (1974) and ASABE (2006). Except for PC2, the planting operation represents a larger share of total costs; direct planting in PD1 and PD2 allows fewer activities in the soil tillage operation and consequent cost reduction. PD1 is recommended. Keywords: Dendrocalamus asper, soil preparation, planting, mechanization; agricultural operations. CUSTOS OPERACIONAIS DO CULTIVO DE BAMBU GIGANTE EM DIFERENTES SISTEMAS DE PREPARO DO SOLO RESUMO: Um dos gargalos para expandir o cultivo comercial de bambu no Brasil é a mecanização agrícola. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o desempenho operacional e estimar o custo mecanizado do preparo do solo e plantio de bambu gigante em quatro sistemas de cultivo. Foi realizado o estudo de caso de sistemas mecanizados de cultivo de bambu gigante em: Área de pastagem degrada com preparo convencional do solo (PC1); área de rebrota de eucalipto com preparo convencional do solo (PC2); área de pastagem degradada e plantio direto (PD1) e área de rebrota de eucalipto e plantio direto (PD2). Foram avaliadas: capacidade de campo operacional (Cco) para determinar a quantidade de trabalho realizado por máquina por hora; custo operacional (CO) e custo total (COT) para estimar economicamente os gastos por hora e por hectare nas operações. A metodologia utilizada foi a proposta por Mialhe (1974) and ASABE (2006). Exceto o PC2, a operação de plantio representa maior participação nos custos totais; o plantio direto em PD1 e PD2 possibilita menor número de atividades na operação de preparo do solo e consequente redução dos custos. Recomenda-se o PD1. Palavras-chave: Dendrocalamus asper, preparo do solo, plantio, mecanização, operações agrícolas.