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| Tillage Implements Management and Selection Using Computer Programming
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Osama Elhabeeb Adam, Abdalla N. O. Kheiry,, Mohamed Hassan Dahab and Adam Bush Adam
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Abstract:
The study aimed to develop a computer program for Managing and selecting tillage implements. The required input data included machine initial purchase prices (SDG), expected No. of working days, working hours per day, repair and maintenance costs for each machine as (%) of initial purchase prices, machine age (years), area to be covered (ha) machine rent per hour (SDG), percentage of labor wage per hour, fuel unit price (SDG/L) and required tractor power (Kw). The program predicts the effective field capacity (ha/h) of tillage system namely; chisel plow 7 shanks (1.9m), Offset disc harrow 24(2.7m) and offset disc harrow 32 (3.65m), number of tractors and implements required for tillage operations, calculates the total operation cost (SDG) per fed, and finally giving the user an option to hire or own the machine (BEP). The program was successfully verified statistically and validated in comparison to the published data from the ASAE (2003) and proven to be user friendly and efficient. Validation, verification and sensitivity tests indicated that the program could be applied to any real-life case successfully and with confidence for wheat or any multi- crop farm. For technical machine performance, statistical analysis showed very positive strong correlations between predicted and actual field capacity. Moreover, actual field capacity significantly (P ? 0.05) increased (2.1ha/h) as compared to predicted effective filed capacity (1.71ha/h). On the other hand, the lowest predicted total operation costs (155,039SDG/h) was recorded under offset disc harrow24 (2.70m) compared to the actual total operation costs of offset disc harrow 32 (3.65m) which ranked 273,794SDG/h. Therefore, the decision making for the best combination option for land preparation to cover 50, 000ha was 21 tillage systems (size 1.9 m - Efc 1.39 ha/h) with 34 implements (size 3.65 m and field capacity 2.66 ha/h). Hence it becomes evident from this study, computer program can be used for improving farm machinery planning and assist machinery managers in decision making in Northern state of Sudan.
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