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| Assessment of Tractor Fuel Consumption as Influence by Tractor Forward Speed and Depth during Harrowing Operation |
Ekemube, Raymond Alex, Nkakini, Silas Ovua, Igoni, Asinyetogha Hilkiah
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Abstract:
Harrowing has high pulverization effects for optimum crops yield in agricultural mechanization. Mechanization practice involves use of tractors and implements for tillage operations. Tractors and implements depend on fuel as the major sources of energy for its operation. Therefore, with tractor application in all farm operations fuel plays an active role. Fuel consumption field tests were conducted to assess the influence of speed and depth of cut on tractor fuel consumption during harrowing operation. The experimental field layout for the study was 160m by 32.5m (5200m2) area, which was divided into three blocks of nine sub-blocks. Each of the blocks was marked out in 50 m by 5 m for different treatments. The alleys dimensions of 50 m by 2 m to the plot were provided. The equipment and tractor used for the tillage operations were Swaraj 978FE (tractor) model mounted with disc harrow. The parameters measured were moisture content, bulk density, tractor forward speed, harrow width, harrow depth, time and amount of fuel used during harrowing operation were measured and employed for the evaluation of the fuel consumption. The fuel consumption was estimated by amount of fuel used per unit time to complete each treatment. The experimental data obtained were analysed statistically using analysis of variance (ANOVA), coefficient Variation (CV) and Duncan multiple range test (DMRT). Results showed coefficient of determination R2 = 0.9939; 0.9952 and 0.9454 for speed of 1.39, 1.94 and 2.50 m/s respectively and also, coefficient of determination R2 = 0.9976; 0.9984 and 0.9996 for depths of 10, 13 and 16 cm. ANOVA and DMRT showed significant difference with 95 confidence levels on effect of speed, depth and their combined effects of speed and depth. In addition, coefficient of variation (CV) of 0.42 % confirmed that the experiment was reliable due to negligible experimental error. Therefore, suggested that forward speed and harrowing depth should be a determining factor to curtail expense on fuel consumption.
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