Traction force demand of soybean planting in compacted Oxisol

Abstract

The heavy traffic of machinery and implements in no-tillage areas leads to surface compaction, especially when the managed soil contains high levels of moisture. This problem is one of the main causes of increased power demand in seeding operations. The aim of this paper was to assess the performance of two furrow opener mechanisms for planting soybean in clay soil with different levels of compaction and assess their relationship with traction demand. A random blocks experimental design with subdivided plots was used. The plots had four levels of soil compaction (1.16, 1.20, 1.22, and 1.26 Mg m-3), and the subplots consisted of furrow openers (double-disc opener and shank-type opener) with four replications. Soybean sowing was carried out with a no-tillage seed with five lines. Seed deposition depth; cross-sectional area of mobilized soil; depth and width of the groove and the power demand measured by a load cell coupled between the tractor and the seeder were analyzed. The shank-type furrow opener increased the depth and width of the furrows, the planting depth and the disturbed area, and required greater power demand as the density of the soil increased. The contrary was observed with the double disc opener as this furrower presents low capability to reach deeper layers in compacted soil, as a result of its design characteristics.