Performance optimization of draft and power requirement for some tillage implements ina loamy soil: A response surface approach

Abstract

Tillage is the basic operation in agriculture and its energy requirements represent a considerable portion of the energy utilized in crop production. A field experimental data were optimized using central composite rotatable design of response surface method for draft and power requirement for 3-bottom disc plough, spring tine cultivator and offset disc harrow in a loamy soil. Optimum draft for 3-bottomdisc plough, spring tine cultivator and offset disc harrow on a loamy soil were 2.80; 0.20 and 1.82kN, respectively while optimum power requirements for 3-bottom disc plough, spring tine cultivator and offset disc harrow were 3.93; 0.30 and 2.42 kW, respectively. Optimum tillage depth and tractor speed for 3-bottom disc plough, spring tine cultivator and offset disc harrow were 22.03 cm and 10.84 km/hr, 14.07 cm and 10.80 km/hr, 17.70 cm and 10.24 km/hr, respectively. It is therefore recommended that tillage operation should be carried out at the specified optimum values at the study location in order to increase the efficiency of the operation.