EVALUATION AND MODELING OF ENERGY INPUT AND FIELD EFFICIENCY OF PLOUGH ON LOAMY SAND SOIL IN ABIA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

A research was conducted to evaluate and model the energy intake rate and field efficiency of plough on loamy sand soil in Abia State, Nigeria to assist farmers in the area scrutinize and select appropriate ploughing implement for efficacious and increased production. The tractor model of MF430E and capacity of 55.2 kw made by Massey Ferguson Company and a disc plough with operating units of 3 bottom discs was used for the study. The operational speed and depth of cut were adopted as factors for the study of the energy intake and field efficiency of the plough. Results revealed that the highest fuel intake of 31.25 lha^-1 was recorded when the plough was operated at the depth of 30 cm for the different speeds and that the highest field efficiency of 80.0% was recorded at the cutting depth of 30 cm and speed of 5 kmh^-1 while the least efficiency of 68.1% was achieved at speed of 9 kmh-1 and depth of 10cm. A quadratic model was statistically significant (P ˂ 0.05) for the prediction of field efficiency with coefficient of determination, R² of 0.9767 while a linear model was significant (P < 0.05) for the evaluation of energy requirements of the disc plough with coefficient of determination, R² of 0.6500, which indicated good correlations between the variables. The optimum field efficiency and the desirability of 77.50% and 1.00 were respectively achieved at optimum speed of 7 kmh^-1 and ploughing depth of 30 cm. While the optimum fuel consumption rate and the desirability of 20.51 lha^-1 and 1.00 were respectively gotten at optimal operational speed of 6.7 kmh^-1 and ploughing depth of 18.56cm. Finally, results of simulation revealed that the fuel consumption rate and field efficiency obtained from the generated models fall within the experimental range. Farmers can therefore, evaluate and chose the implements using the developed model as a guide.