Importance of measuring tillage implement forces for reduced fuel consumption and increased efficiency without affecting tillage depth

Abstract

Tillage and especially ploughing is the most energy and cost demanding field operation. The cost of tillage operations in arable farming sometimes exceeds 50% of the total fuel costs for completing all field operations during the growing season. The objective of this study was to investigate the importance of measuring tillage implement forces at spatial scale for reducing fuel consumption and increasing efficiency without affecting the tillage depth. The results showed a reduction of 60% of fuel consumption in shallow tillage compared to deep tillage. Working with a heavy duty cultivator, up to 15% fuel consumption decrease was recorded by increasing working velocity from 5 to 7 km/h and up to 65% fuel consumption reduction was recorded by reducing engine speed from 2,200 rpm to 1,300 rpm, driving at 5 km/h.