English (United Kingdom)

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/featured_content/oa?rat=en

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/highlighted_journal/

Global: Zendy Plus annual

Presents the access of premium content as premium feature

Premium Content

Presents the keyphrase highlighting as premium feature

Keyphrase Highlighting

Presents the summarisation as premium feature

Summarisation

Insights

Presents the pdf analysis as premium feature

PDF Analysis

Presents the zaia usage as premium feature

ZAIA

Global: Zendy Tools annual

Global: Zendy Free Plan

Global: Zendy Tools monthly

Global: Zendy Plus monthly

The aim of this investigation was to find out the optimum tractor power requirement under Libyan agricultural conditions in order to suggest the most suitable tractor power for the majority of Libyan farmers. A comparison was carried out between two tractor power level, 47HP and 75HP, for the sake of locating the optimum power that could provide the farmer' with his basic needs for a progressive mechanized operations under specific condition. The tested parameters were drawbar pull, slip percentage, fuel consumption, and maneuverability. The lowest wheel slip percentage was recorded with tractor 47HP when operating all implements except with the chisel plough 2st pass. Also it was clear that, there was significance different between the mechanical elements with different types of power that the lowest wheel slip percent was obtained by chisel plough first pass and land leveler. It was clear that the tractor 75HP when currying different equipment, that the fuel consumption (measured in l/h) was higher than the tractor 47 HP. The actual field capacity of tractor 75HP was significantly higher than that of tractor 47HP with different implements. Also it was evident that the field efficiency when tractor 47HP is executing the 1st pass with chisel plough was higher than the efficiency with implemented. Also it was evident that the efficiency when tractor 75hp is executing others the chisel plough 2nd pass is higher than the efficiency with other implements. Also it was evident that the efficiency of tractor 47HP is greater than the efficiency of tractor 75HP in deferent operations. Prof., Agric. Eng. Dept., Fac. of Agric., Cairo Univ., Giza, Egypt. Prof., Agric. Eng. Dept., and Vice Dean for Education and Students affairs Fac. of Agric., Cairo Univ., Giza, Egypt. M. Sc. Student, Agric. Eng. Dept., Fac. of Agric., Cairo Univ., Giza, Egypt. Misr J. Ag. Eng., 31 (2): 341 358 FARM MACHINERY AND POWER Misr J. Ag. Eng., April 2014 342 The higher efficiency obtained by 47HP, where the lowest efficiency was recorded with disc plough. The 47HP rating tractor provided the higher value of efficiency in all the tested operations. Consequently it is more suitable for the tested mechanized operations. Keyword: Agricultural tractors, mouldboard plough, chisel plough, disc plough and leveler. INTRODUCTION n recent years the agricultural sector has increasingly focused on the ability of farmers to make their available resources as productive as possible within market, environmental and other regulatory constraints. In this regard, labour and machinery are important input factors dominating all other cost categories and, potentially, it should be possible to make reductions in machinery costs by adapting and operating the machines optimally within the boundaries of the actual needs arising from farm size, crop plan, and other factors. Since the developing countries mostly depend on agricultural practices as the main source in private and national incomes, this will be activated by the use of agricultural mechanized operations. Producers are searching for ways to improve machinery fuel economy in order to minimize input costs and remain competitive in today’s global agricultural economy. According to the deficit of petroleum products through few future decades, therefore, it's necessary to rationalize the fuel consumption in agricultural practices such as ploughing operation. The present state of agricultural conditions in Libya characterized by midget plots, and narrow agricultural lanes present two main restrictions in mechanization, namely: 1The low operating speed of the implement (due to short trips in the field) 2The limited width of implement (due to narrow lanes or paths). Tillage is known to have a wide range of effects on soil physical properties, especially moisture availability and conductivity. There have been contrasts in results from tillage research due to different soils, climate and experimental designs. These inconsistencies further necessitate a review of all tillage systems as practiced across most parts I FARM MACHINERY AND POWER Misr J. Ag. Eng., April 2014 343 of the world in order to be able to make quantitative assessment of their needs (Johnson and Jose, 2011). Hanna (1978) mentioned that there were many ploughs used in Egypt such as chisel, mouldboard, disc and rotary ploughs. They also added that the prevailed tillage system in Egypt are; chiseling tillage by using chisel plough, turning tillage by using mouldboard or disc plough, and mixed tillage by using rotary plough. Hadas (1997) reported that tillage implements exert an external stress the soil, causing it to fail in several different modes (brittle, shear, plastic, compressive), depending on initial soil conditions (bulk density, water content and existing fractures or cracks). The extent, mode and fineness of soil failure determine the quality of the soil structure produced. Although tillage implements have been in use for generations, their mode of operation in soil is only partly understood. The operation mode of tined implements, in contrast to that of mouldboard ploughs, is theoretically predictable with respect to the energy required and the form of the general failure planes produced. Historically, the efficient use of energy in agriculture did not have a high priority. However, taking into consideration the diminishing supply of fossil fuels, efficiency was taken more seriously. Fuel is the source of energy for the tractor providing for the performance of work and propelling the tractor to overcome implement draught. Fuel consumption generally is a function of the tractor size, tillage implement, tractor/implement match, depth and speed of operation, and the soil type and soil physical condition (Smith, 1993). Soil-working operations in conventional farming systems involving the use of the tractor are some of the operations that incur the highest levels of energy cost. The sustainability of such systems requires a strictly controlled management of resources leading to a significant reduction of crop-production costs derived from savings in fuel consumption (Serrano et al., 2007). Sahu and Raheman (2008) reported that the matching and performance prediction of a tractor implement system involves many decision-making FARM MACHINERY AND POWER Misr J. Ag. Eng., April 2014 344 processes that depend on a host of factors. Some factors, like tractor, tire and implement specifications; soil conditions, etc. are inherent to the tractor-implement system and cannot be altered or controlled. Others, like hitching characteristics (mounted, semi-mounted and trailed), operating conditions (depth and speed of operation), types of field operation (primary or secondary), etc. can be adjusted for the purpose of achieving maximum performance. A correct matching of tractorimplement system would result in decreased power losses, improved efficiency of operation, reduced operating costs and optimum utilization of capital on fixed costs. Due to the global demand for food items, the increased costs of mechanization on the farm and the current disposition of financial institutions towards agricultural credits, it became very critical for existing farmers, farm managers and agricultural investors to make informed decisions based on figures, and improve the management of mechanization operations. Bamigboye and Ojolo (2002) opine that the cost of operating farm tractors can be reduced if the right tractor is used for the right operation as well as manufacturers’ recommended annual use. The formulation of appropriate agricultural mechanization strategy that provides the basic conditions for largely self-sustaining developments might not be effective without critical assessment of the economic implication of the requisite investment. Profit making is critical to the success and sustainability of any business venture and it is pertinent that agricultural mechanization follow the same trend for a meaningful economic and environmental impact. The tractor is the main unit of farm machinery and ensures better quality of farm operations, timely completion of farm activities, better management supervision and dignity of labour (Sandeep and Kumar, 2006). The aim of this investigation was to recommend the optimum tractor power requirement under Libyan agricultural conditions in order to suggest the most suitable tractor power for the majority of Libyan farmers. This will definitely be a great help to the Libyan agricultural sectors for the selection and the manufacturing the most needed level of power. FARM MACHINERY AND POWER Misr J. Ag. Eng., April 2014 345 MATERIAL AND METHODS A field experiment was carried out during growing season of 2012 on a clay and sand loamy soils at the Experimental Center, Faculty of Agriculture, Tripoli University. Three different primary tillage equipment, chisel, mouldboard and disc were used, in addition to land leveler in this work was also used for land leveling. These implements were chosen according to the following criteria:  Very popular among farmers as primary and secondary tillage equipment.  Important implement within the strategy for reduced cultivations.  Well represented within the local farm machinery industry. Two tractors of different powers 47HP and 75HP were used to execute the common mechanized operations in Libya .These different powers were compared technically. 1Materials The two tractors 47HP and 75HP were used in the present study and their specifications are. 1. Tractor Massey Ferguson ( Elgedh) 275 type made in Libya four cylinders, four strokes, two wheel drive, diesel engine 55kW (75HP) weight 2800kg . 2. Tractor Massey Ferguson (Elgedh) 240type made in Libya four cylinders, four strokes, two wheel drive, diesel engine (47 HP)weight5334kg. To evaluate the different capacities of these tractors the following implements were used: a. Primary tillage equipment: three different types and models of ploughs were used namely

TECHNICAL ANALYSIS OF DIFFERENT POWER RATING OF AGRICULTURAL TRACTORS IN LIBYA