EVALUATION OF THE PERFORMANCE OF NEW ROTARY PLOW BLADES (T-SHAPE) UNDER DIFFERENT LEVELS OF SOIL MOISTURE AND PLOWING DEPTHS AT SOME FIELD INDICATORS

Abstract

The study evaluates the performance of a new design of blades (T-shape) rotary plow. The field experiment was carried out on the farm of Al-Quba village, Nineveh, Iraq. In the present research, draft force (Df), energy requirement (RE), fuel consumption (FC), soil disturbed volume (SDV), and percentage of the soil clods which have a diameter of less than 5 cm (PSCD) were tested during three soil moisture content levels (10-12, 13-15, and 16-18) %, and two tillage depth levels (5-10, and 10-20) cm. and three rotation speeds of the blade’s axis (140, 180, and 220) rpm. The results showed the superiority of soil moisture content (16-18) % with a rotation speed of (140) rpm and tillage depth (5-10) cm were recorded less Df (5.11) kN. The soil moisture content (16-18) % with a rotation speed of (140) rpm and tillage depth of (5-10) cm has recorded less ER (10.20) kw. hr./ha. The soil moisture content (16-18) % with a rotation speed of (220) rpm and tillage depth of (5-10) cm has recorded less FC (4.10) L/ha. The soil moisture content (16-18) % with a rotation speed of (220) rpm and tillage depth of (10-20) cm has recorded the highest SDV (1237.77) m3/hr. The soil moisture content (10-12) % with a rotation speed of (220) rpm and tillage depth of (5-10) cm has recorded less PSCD (67.30) %.