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ABSTRACT
1. INTRODUCTION
In Nigeria, agricultural mechanization is one of the greatest contributions of technological
advancements to agricultural production (Adewoyin and Ajav, 2013). The use of tractors plays
a vital role in agriculture, both in developed and developing nations (Mahmood and Gee-
Clough, 1989). The application of machines to agricultural production has been one of the
outstanding developments in agriculture. With the increasing use of farm machinery, farm
tractors play an important role in enhancing agricultural productivity (Kazmi and Ahmad,
1996). Tractors and farm machinery are important sources of modern technology (Singh,
2000; Xinan et al., 2005). According to Panam et al. (2010), tractors are one of the fastest
farm machines used by farmers for tillage operations instead of human tools and animal-drawn
implements. Machinery contributes a major capital input cost in most farm businesses.
Singh (2006) observed that the effect of tractor power on agriculture is considerable. The
primary purpose of agricultural tractors, particularly those in the middle to high power range,
is to perform drawbar work (Zoz and Grisso, 2003). Land preparation is one of the most
energy consuming operations in the field. Energy utilized in tillage is governed by such factors
as soil type and condition, depth of cut, operating speed and hitch geometry. Field practices
have shown that land preparation constitutes the major cost of farm operation due to the high
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level of energy expended during tillage. Fuel consumption plays a significant role in the
selection and management of tractors and equipment. Two of the common tillage implements
widely used by farmers in the southern part of Nigeria are the disc plough and disc harrow.
Tillage operations require the most energy and power spent on farms (Al-Suhaibani and
Ghaly, 2010).
Soil tilling, according to Oni (1991), is the most intensive of all processes involved in crop
production. Tillage of soil is considered to be one of the biggest farm operations (Al-Suhaibani
and Ghaly, 2010). There are several tillage implements used by farmers to prepare seedbed.
However, the selection of tillage implements for seedbed preparation and weed control
depends on soil type and condition, type of crop, previous soil treatments, crop residues and
weed type (Upadyaya et al., 2009). The demand for tractor power generally increases with
farm size. Tractor fuel consumption is an important factor in farm machinery management.
The study aims at identifying factors influencing fuel consumption in diesel operated tractors.
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The proceedings 12th CIGR Section VI International Symposium 22 25 October, 2018
where, (1)
X9 = Duration of operation (h/ha)
X5 = Effective field capacity (ha/h)
(2)
where,
Vs = Speed of operation (km/h)
t1 = Time taken to cover 20 m (sec)
where,
G = Theoretical field capacity (ha/h)
E = Area of field (ha)
Ta = Actual time taken in doing the main tillage work (sec)
where,
X5 = Effective field capacity (ha/h)
E = Area of field (ha)
Tt = Total time taken in completing the whole tillage operation (sec)
2.3.7 Field efficiency
Field efficiency is the ratio of effective field capacity to theoretical field capacity, expressed
in percent. It was expressed mathematically as:
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The proceedings 12th CIGR Section VI International Symposium 22 25 October, 2018
X5
H x100% (5)
G
where,
H = Field efficiency (%)
X5 = Effective field capacity (ha/h)
G = Theoretical field capacity (ha/h)
Fuel consumption measured in either L/ha or L/h was expressed mathematically as:
J
I (6)
E
K X5 x I (7)
where,
I = Fuel consumption (L/ha)
J = Volume of fuel consumed (L)
E = Area of field (ha)
K = Fuel consumption (L/h)
X5 = Effective field capacity (ha/h)
where,
Qt = Tractive efficiency (%)
Dp = Drawbar power (kW)
Qw= Wheel power (kW), power losses in the transmission from engine to the
wheels of, say 10% is assumed, it can be written as:
where,
Qe = Engine power (kW)
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M 2 - M1
L x 100% (10)
M2
where,
L = Travel reduction (wheel slip) (%)
M2 = Distance covered at every 10 revs of the wheel at no-load condition (m)
M1 = Distance covered at every 10 revs of the wheel at load condition (m)
where,
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were provided with 14, 19 and 4 replicates, respectively. The year each tractor was tested
serves as a replicate in each of the tractor horsepower group.
Using version 3.1.1 of the R software package (R Development Core Team, 2014) for
statistical computing and graphics, the One-Way Repeated Measures ANOVA was used to
study the effects of tractor horsepower groups on tractor fuel consumption in litres per hectare
due to harrowing operation parameters. It was also used to study the effects of harrowing
operation parameters on tractor fuel consumption. As a result of this, the following hypotheses
were drawn.
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Table 2. ANOVA Table for Effects of Tractor Horsepower Groups on Harrowing Operation
Parameters
Table 3. ANOVA Table for Effects of Harrowing Operation Parameters on Tractor Fuel
Consumption
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0.76 - - - - - - - - - - -
0
0.00 0.86 - - - - - - - - - -
4* 5
0.19 0.76 0.003 - - - - - - - - -
6 0 *
0.05 1.00 0.159 0.050 - - - - - - - -
1 0
0.13 0.76 0.053 0.123 0.04 - - - - - - -
3 0 3*
0.75 0.76 0.012 1.000 0.04 0.03 - - - - - -
5 0 * 0* 4*
0.00 0.24 0.006 0.004 0.00 0.00 0.004 - - - - -
5* 1 * * 3* 4* *
0.76 0.86 0.760 0.760 0.76 0.76 0.760 1.000 - - - -
0 5 0 0
0.12 0.86 0.755 0.131 0.15 0.25 0.131 0.011 0.760 - - -
8 5 6 2 *
0.76 0.86 0.865 0.760 1.00 0.76 0.760 0.150 0.865 0.86 - -
0 5 0 0 5
0.41 0.86 1.000 0.392 0.76 0.76 0.414 0.034 0.760 0.86 0.865 -
4 5 0 0 * 5
0.13 0.22 0.138 0.134 0.13 0.13 0.134 0.236 0.158 0.13 0.196 0.15
4 5 8 4 8 0
* Significant at p < 0.05
Key:
X1 = Tractor power rating (hp),X2 = Width of cut (cm),X3 = Depth of cut (cm),X4 = Draught force
(kN), X5 = Effective field capacity (ha/h), X6 = Tractive efficiency (%), X7 = Field efficiency
Harrowing (%),X 8 = Wheel
operation slip (%),inXTable
parameters 9 = Duration
4with of operation
p-values less(h/ha), X10 =are
than 0.05 Speed of parameters
set of operation (km/h),
3
X Average soil moisture
that are observed to be having
11 = content (%), X Average soil bulk density (g/cm )andX
significantly different effects. This is to say that the effects
12 = Average
13 =of
2
soil cone index (N/cm ).
speed of operation and field efficiency, average soil moisture content and average soil bulk
density, average soil moisture content and effective field capacity, average soil moisture
content and field efficiency, average soil moisture content and duration of operation, average
soil bulk density and field efficiency, depth of cut and draught force, depth of cut and effective
field capacity, depth of cut and field efficiency, draught force and effective field capacity,
draught force and field efficiency, effective field capacity and field efficiency, wheel slip and
field efficiency, and duration of operation and field efficiency within a particular tractor
horsepower group are significantly different. This implies that within that particular tractor
horsepower group they have different impact on tractor fuel consumption i.e. one cannot use
one treatment to replace another.
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5. CONCLUSION
A study was carried out to investigate the factors influencing tractor fuel consumption during
harrowing operation in a sandy loam soil using information gathered from NCAM Tractor
Test Reports. The tractors involved were categorized into 39 60, 61 80 and 81 100
horsepower groups. The One-Way Repeated Measures ANOVA was used to study the effects
of tractor horsepower groups on tractor fuel consumption in litres per hectare due to harrowing
operation parameters. Likewise, it was used to study the effects of harrowing operation
parameters on tractor fuel consumption.
It is safe to conclude from the results obtained from the One-Way Repeated Measures
ANOVA for harrowing operation that tractor fuel consumption in the three tractor horsepower
groups used in this study were statistically significantly the same. Likewise, the same
ANOVA result showed that harrowing operation parameters had an effect on tractor fuel
consumption.
6. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We want to thank members of NCAM tractor testing team for the tremendous work they have
been doing over the years in the testing of agricultural tractors imported into the country for
use in Nigerian agriculture.
7. REFERENCES
Adewoyin, A. O. and E. A. Ajav. 2013. Fuel consumption of some tractor models for
ploughing operations in the sandy-loam soil of Nigeria at various speeds and
ploughing depths. CIGR Journal, 15(3): 67-74.
Ajav, E. A. and A. O. Adewoyin. 2011. The effects of ploughing depth and speed on the fuel
consumption of some commonly used farm tractors in selected states of south western
Nigeria. Proceedings of the Nigerian Institution of Agricultural Engineers (NIAE),
32: 114 122.
Al-Suhaibani, S.A and A. E. Ghaly. 2010. Effect of plowing depth of tillage and forward speed
on the performance of a medium size chisel plough operating in a sandy soil.
American Journal of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, 5(3):247 255.
Anwanane, N. B. 2014. Modeling of soil water retention characteristics (SWRCs) from basic
properties on a typical Alfisols in Unilorin Teaching and Research Farm. Unpublished
M.Sc. Report of the Department of Agronomy, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria.
Methods of Soil Analysis Part 4, SSSA. Book Series No.5. Soil Sci. Society of Am.,
Madison, Wi, USA pp. 255-293.
Ikpo, C. and J. L. C. Ifem. 2005. Fuel consumption of tractors Steyr 768 & 8075 during
tillage operations in Makurdi, Benue State. Proceedings of the Nigerian Institution of
Agricultural Engineers, 27: 60 63.
Kazmi, R. H. and T. Ahmad. 1996. Mathematical model for diesel consumption for farm
tractors in Allahabad District, India. J. AMA., 27(3): 73 76.
Klenin, N. I., Popov, I. F. and V. A. Sakun. 1985. Agricultural machines: theory of operation,
computation of controlling parameters and condition of operation. America
Publication. New Delhi. Pp 15 18; 54 58.
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