Effects of Speed on Draft for Selected Tractor-Driven Tillage Implements in Samaru Soil, Zaria, Nigeria

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of speed on drafts of some selected tractordriven tillage implements in Samaru soil in order to address the problem of inadequacy of local design data, inappropriateness and inadaptability of such imported implements. Three tillage implements were used at three tractor  speeds on the field at three tillage depths using two Eicher tractors (5660). The draft forces replicated, three times, were measured using dynamometer. Soil samples collected from different points in the field were analyzed for moisture content (MC), humus content and bulk density (BD). The results showed that draft of the three implements were related to the speed of the tractor. Result obtained also showed MC varies from 8.40-15.11%, BD varies from 1.62-1.77g/cm³ and humus  content from 4.207-0.625% down the soil profile. At the lowest MC of 8.40%, drafts of 3.07, 5.13 and 9.33kN at speed  2.5 m/s were obtained for the selected implements. Drafts of 2.00, 2.80 and 4.03kN were obtained at the highest MC of  15.11% at 2.5m/s speed. It is clear from the experiment that draft increases with increase in speed for disc plough, disc  harrow, tillage depths and BD, while draft decreases with increase in MC and speed of mouldboard ridger. The best speed  for tillage is 2.5 m/s obtained at optimum MC 10.67–15.11% for soil under consideration. Disc plough requires highest  draft 2.8-9.33kN followed by mouldboard ridger 4.03-5.83kN and disc harrow requires least draft 2.0-3.57kN at each of  the three speeds considered.