Analysis of plowing patterns and effect on the efficiency of land preparation following rice harvest
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Abstract
This study aimed to examine the effect of different plowing patterns on land preparation efficiency. Three plowing patterns were tested: left-handed plowing, right-handed plowing, and headland plowing. A 90-horsepower tractor fitted with a 7-disc harrow was utilized for the experiments. The analysis of soil properties across all nine plots revealed no significant differences. The average soil moisture content ranged from 15% to 18% (dry basis), while the bulk density of the soil was measured between 1.18 and 1.23 g/cm³. Puncture resistance increased with greater depth. After plowing, the physical properties of the soil, including the average width of the plow furrow and soil depth, were approximately equal, with the width measuring around 127 cm. The depth varied slightly, but both the left-handed and right-handed plowing patterns achieved similar and greater depths compared to the headland plowing pattern. Due to the nature of skip-row plowing, it was necessary to lift and lower the plowshare when beginning a new row. The efficiency of the three methods of land preparation was assessed, with the left-handed plowing pattern demonstrating the highest efficiency, followed by the right-handed pattern, and then the skip-row pattern. The actual work capacities were measured at 2.57, 2.44, and 2.23 rai/hr respectively, while the spatial work efficiencies were 43.34%, 41.60%, and 38.20%. Furthermore, the fuel consumption rates for the three tillage methods did not show significant statistical differences (p > 0.05). The left-handed plowing method exhibited the lowest fuel consumption rate, while the skip-row plowing method provided the most consistent working pattern across the field.
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