Evaluation of the energy requirements in tractor-disc harrow systems

Abstract

A three years research project was developed to study tractor-implement dynamics in tillage operations. This paper reports the results of field tests performed under real working conditions, using four wheel drive tractors and trailed disc harrows combinations, under different soils conditions. The data show a linear relationship between the drawbar pull per unit of implement width and the fuel consumption ha-1. The results give evidence of the benefits of the “gear up, throttle down” approach.