DRAUGHT FORCE REQUIREMENTS OF A DISC PLOUGH AT VARIOUS TRACTOR FORWARD SPEEDS IN LOAMY SAND SOIL, DURING PLOUGHING

Tillage operation in loamy sand soil for disc ploughing on an experimental plot of twenty different soil moisture levels at tractor forward speeds of 1.94 m/s, 2.2 m/s and 2.5 m/s were conducted using trace tractor techniques. The variables: draw-bar pull force, moisture content, cone index, tractor forward speeds, widths of cut and depths of cut were measured. In determining the effect of moisture content and forward speeds on draught forces, results revealed that at lowest moisture content of 1.53% draught forces of 4688.33 N, 5708.33 N and 6758.33 N at tractor forward speeds of 1.94 m/s, 2.2 m/s and 2.5 m/s, were obtained. The draught forces of 3008.32 N, 4018.66 N and 5068.os33 N were obtained at highest moisture content of 24.14% with tractor forward speeds of 1.94 m/s, 2.2 m/s and 2.5 m/s. The tractor forward speeds of 2.5 m/s recorded the highest draught force of 6758.33 N. The lowest draught forces at respective moisture levels were obtained at tractor forward speed of 1.94 m/s. It is clear that, draught forces increase with increase in tractor forward speeds. This result indicates that the best tractor forward speed for ploughing operation is 2.5 m/s which took place within the range of the optimum soil moisture of 2.5?25% for soil under consideration