Measurement of tensile force at the fundamental tillage using tractor’s build-in sensor and external sensor connected between machines and their comparison

M. Kroulík*, J. Chyba and V. Brant

Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, Prague 6 – Suchdol, 165 21, Czech Republic; *Correspondence: kroulik@tf.czu.cz

Abstract:

The value of tensile force during soil tillage is crucial for estimating the energy performance of trailed machines. For tensile force measurements, a mouldboard plough with working width of 4 m was used. The ploughing speed was approximately 7 km h-1. Measurements were carried out on two plots with different soil texture. Loam-sandy soil dominated on the first plot, whereas clay soil dominated on the second one. The slopes of the plots are 1.1° and 2.4° respectively. Both plots have been left without stubble modification after harvest. The dynamometer LUKAS type S-38 was used for measuring tensile force. The dynamometer was placed on a hinge, which was positioned between two tractors. As a second method of tensile force measurement, electro-hydraulic hitch sensors were used, from which the values were recorded. The obtained values of tensile force were approximately 30 kN on the first plot and 54.3 kN on the second plot. The interdependence values of tensile forces between internal and external sensors showed a high coefficient of determination R2 = 0.91 in regression data analysis. The comparison of tensile force measurements using a special dynamometer and electro-hydraulic tractor sensor proved that the outputs of serial sensors can be used for the continuous monitoring of tensile forces during operating the machine. The automated storage of data collected from tractor sensors during tillage can greatly simplify this work, while no additional expenses are incurred to obtain data. Thus, the findings can be used to determine the variability of the land.

Key words:

force sensing, soil mapping., soil tillage, soil variability, tensile force