Abstract

CADENA ZAPATA, Martín; CAMPOS MAGANA, Santos Gabriel; LOPEZ SANTOS, Armando  and  ZERMENO GONZALEZ, Alejandro. Configuration of vertical tillage tools to reduce energy demand. Terra Latinoam [online]. 2012, vol.30, n.3, pp.279-288. ISSN 2395-8030.

Reducing the demand of energy from tillage operations could contribute to decreasing production costs and use of fossil fuels in crop production systems; this can be made possible by establishing adequate interactions between implement geometry, configuration of components, working depth and soil moisture content. In this study, a field experiment was established under a statistical design of random blocks in order to evaluate six basic configurations of vertical tillage tine tools, to quantify applied energy and draught demand and to assess the quality of the operation. To achieve that, a frame was constructed that permits different layouts of tools; an axial and integral type force transducer was used to avoid error when recording and monitoring the variables. The tractor cabin was modified to adapt the instrumentation and data acquisition equipment. Three replications were carried out for each treatment measuring the draught force (kN), disturbed cross section (m2), fuel consumption (L ha-1) quality of operation in terms of medium diameter of aggregates (mm) and specific soil resistance (kN m-2). The results show significant differences (Tukey, P ≤ 0.05) between treatments in relation to work quality and energy demand, considering both variables, relative to the reference, the best layout was shallow chisel tines at the front at 0.30 m working depth and 0.60 m apart, combined with a rear tine working at 0.40m depth, obtaining a reduction of energy of 10.50%. Considering just work quality in terms of aggregate size, a reduction of 28% was obtained with the layout of shallow tines at the front and a deep winged rear tine.

Keywords : implement evaluation; fuel consumption; soil specific strength; size of soil aggregates.

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