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Subject: Farm Machinery and Power Engineering × Author: Dhiman, Mankaran × End date: 2018 × Start date: 2013 × Type: Thesis ×
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    Performance evaluation of tractor operated spading machine
    (Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2016) Dhiman, Mankaran; Dogra, Ritu
    Spading machine is an agricultural machine designed for loosening and breaking up soil. It is hitched to tractor using the standard 3-point linkages and is PTO driven. It does not form a compact layer at the bottom of the tilled soil. It can incorporate large amount of organic matter in soil. The aerobic quality and drainage of the soil are improved. Spading machine penetrates deeper than conventional rotary tillage. It can be conveniently used on slopes. The spading machine worked land has flat surface and clods are regular in size and sowing can be done immediately. It can be operated in wet soil where other implements cannot be used. Spading machines are commercially available in other parts of the world but not in India. Information on tillage performance of spading machine under regional conditions is not available and due to its many advantages over conventional tillage machines, this study was carried out to evaluate its performance and to suggest suitable operational parameters. The spading machine used in the present study has been manufactured by an Italian company ‘Selvatici’. The study involved soil type (2 levels: S1: sandy loam and S2: silty clay loam), forward speed (2 levels: F1: 2.26 km/h and F2: 3.37 km/h), and depth of cut (3 levels: D1: 20 cm, D2: 24 cm and D3: 28 cm) as independent parameters. Their effects were studied on dependent parameters like soil bulk density, PTO torque, soil strength (cone index) and pulverization index (weighted mean clod diameter). Bulk density was found to be significantly higher in sandy loam (S1) than silty clay loam (S2). Bulk density was significantly lower in case of lower forward speed (F1) than higher forward speed (F2). Bulk density increased significantly with increase in depth of cut. PTO torque was significantly lower in sandy loam (S1) than silty clay loam (S2).PTO torque was significantly lower for lower forward speed (F1) than higher forward speed (F2).PTO torque increased significantly with increase in depth of cut. Soil strength was significantly lower insandy loam (S1) than silty clay loam (S2). Soil strength increased significantly with increase in forward speed. Soil strength increased significantly with increase in depth of cut. Pulverisation index (MCD) was significantly lower in sandy loam (S1) than silty clay loam (S2).MCD increased significantly with increase in forward speed in both sandy loam and silty clay loam. MCD increased with increase in depth of cut non significantly in sandy loam and significantly in silty clay loam. The best operational parameters for this machine were found to be lower forward speed (F1: 2.26 km/h) and lowest depth of cut (C1: 20 cm) in sandy loam. The study has generated data on tillage characteristics of spading machine. This will help in further improvement or modification of the machine to suit the regional conditions.