SOIL COMPACTION AND ENERGETIC DEMAND OF A PARATILL PLOW AT THREE DEPTHS AND TWO WORKING WIDTHS

Abstract

The south soils of the Pampas Region were cultivated with discs tools, but the repeated and improper use produced the formation of hardpans. This study aimed to determine the compaction alleviation of the soil and evaluate the energetic demand with a paratill plow at different depths and configuration
of tines. A tractor with 88.3 KW and a drag paratill plow was used in the configuration of the tines: maximum working widths with maximum (C1), intermediate (C2) and minimum depth (C3); and for a minimum working width at a maximum depth (C4). Forward speed, draft, cross sectional area,
penetrometer resistence (RP), mean depth of tillage were measured and tractor slip, power demand, and specific resistance (RE) were calculated. Results showed that draft was higher for C1 (23868 N), followed by C4 (18445 N), C2 (15384 N) y C3 (8404 N). Variation of draft caused sliding and different speed among treatments. The RE was lower for C3 (3,42 N cm-2) followed by C4 (3,84 N cm-2), C2 (4,38 N kg-2), y C1 (5,32 N cm-2). The profile cross section of disturbed soil did not vary between C1 and C4. Significantly lower values for RP were observed for C4 and C1 compared to the control value. It was concluded that the paratill plow is a useful tool to produce compaction allevation of the subsurface level of the soil, and that the highest energy efficiency was achieved with C4.