The agricultural traffic effects on soil and maize (Zea mays L.) yields under two different tillage systems

G.F Botta¹*, A. Ezquerra-Canalejo², C. Romay³, D. Rivero⁴ and R.J. Hidalgo⁵

¹Universidad Nacional de Lujan, Departamento de Tecnología, Ruta 5 y Avenida Constitución, AR6700 Luján, Argentina
²Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería de Monte, Forestal y del Medio Natural, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, ES28040 Madrid, Spain
³Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Agronomía, Av. San Martín 4453, C1417DSE Buenos Aires, Argentina
⁴Universidad Nacional de La Pampa, Facultad de Agronomía, Ruta 35 (km 334), AR6300 Santa Rosa, Argentina
⁵Universidad Nacional del Nordeste, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Juan Bautista Cabral 2131, W3402BKG Corrientes, Argentina
*Correspondence: gfbotta@agro.uba.ar

Abstract:

This study investigated the agricultural traffic effects on soil and maize (Zea mays L.) yields under No-tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) during three cropping seasons on an Entic Haplustoll soil. Cone index (CI), dry bulk density (DBD), soil water content (SWC), root dry matter per plant (RDM), seed emergence (SE) and maize yields (MY) were measured. The highest average RDM values were found in CT (60.6 g plant^-1), while the highest value in NT was 48.0 g plant^-1). After traffic, for the two tillage systems, the obtained CI results followed a similar trend to those of DBD up to 150 mm. From this depth, the values of both parameters increased sharply up to the 450 mm depth level. At 150 to 450 mm average CI and DBD values were higher than 1,680 kPa and 1,472 kg m^-3, and 2,610 kPa and 1,677 kg m^-3 for CT and NT, respectively. The average yields for the 3 cropping seasons were 9.93 ton ha^-1 and 8.26 ton ha^-1 for CT and NT, respectively. It was demonstrated that even using medium-weight equipment (479.8 kN), subsoil compaction could not be avoided.

Key words:

cone index, conventional tillage, crop yields, dry bulk density, no-tillage

Theoretical analysis of interaction of disc coulters and straw residues under no-tillage conditions

E. Šarauskis¹,*, K. Romaneckas², A. Sakalauskas¹, E. Vaiciukevičius¹,K. Vaitauskiene¹, D. Karayel³ and R. Petrauskas¹

¹Institute of Agricultural Engineering and Safety, Aleksandras StulginskisUniversity, Studentu 15A, LT-53361 Akademija, Kauno distr., Lithuania;
*Correcpondence: egidijus.sarauskis@asu.lt
²Institute of Agroecosystems and Soil Science, Aleksandras StulginskisUniversity, Studentu 11, LT-53361 Akademija, Kauno distr., Lithuania;
³Department of Agricultural Machinery, Faculty of Agriculture, AkdenizUniversity, TR-07058 Antalya, Turkey

Abstract:

The article presents the theoretical aspects of disc coulters working process under no-tillage conditions. Under no-tillage conditions, effective operation of disc coulters is impededby plant residues. In the interaction of a disc coulter, plant residues and soil surface, the disccoulter may cut the plant residues, roll over them or press them into the furrow being formed inthe soil. The objective of the research is to theoretically study the process of straw cutting bydisc coulters under no-tillage conditions and to substantiate the main parameters acting upon thecutting force. Theoretical studies established the dependency according to each the extent of thestraw cutting force depends on the disc coulter blade sharpening angle, blade thickness and disccoulter blade length, straw normal stresses, friction coefficient, elastic modulus, straw diameter,its compression path, and other parameters. On the basis of calculations, it was found that if thedisc coulter blade sharpening angle is increased by one degree, the cutting force sufficient to cutwheat straw can be reduced by 6.5 N, and reducing the disc coulter blade thickness by onemillimetre would allow reducing the cutting force by 12.5 N.

Key words: