THE EFFECT OF SPEED AND DEPTH OF OPERATION ON DRAUGHT OUTPUT OF OX-DRAWN MOULDBOARD RIDGER IN SANDY LOAM SOIL IN YOLA, ADAMAWA STATE, NIGERIA
Tool speed and soil depth are the most prominent operational parameters that influence the draught of tillage tools and implements. A study to investigate the effect of speed and depth of operation on draught requirements of mouldboard ridger tillage implement was conducted on the upland sandy loam soils of the Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola under draught animal power situation. Soil physical properties were also analyzed to determine their effects on draught output. A 1 x 3 x 3 factorial experimental design was arranged in a Randomized Complete Design (RCD) for the study using mouldboard ridger implement at different speed of S1, S2, S3 (0.67, 0.97 and 1.25 ms-1) and depths of d1, d2, d3 (8, 12, and 18 cm). Results show that the highest and lowest mean draught values of 362.62 N and 305.17 N were obtained in treatments T9 the combination (S3d3) of 1.25 ms-1 and 0.183m depth and T1 (S1d1) of 0.67 ms-1 and 0.083m depth respectively for the mouldboard ridger. A general regression equation to predict the draught output of the mouldboard ridger implement was developed. It was also found that, draught increased with increased in tillage speed and depth of operation. The analysis showed that tillage depth and speed of operation significantly affected the draught output of the mouldboard ridger with the depth of operation having greater influence than the set tillage speed. It was also found that the highest draught value (362.62 N) fall within the animals’ draught ability of 12 percent of their body weight. It is therefore useful in maintaining an optimum desire tillage depth through the hitch assembly, to achieve a larger water and nutrients extraction zone for the plant.
Authors : Kabri, H.U.
Category : Open Access Volume (Issue) : 6(2) Date Uploaded : 21st May 2021