1. Introduction Animal draught use in agriculture concerns about 50% of worldwide cultivated soils, almost the 100% in developing countries [10] . Draught animals are a major source of farm power in the drier rain-fed farms of sub-Saharan Africa especially among small-scale farmers; anyway in the tropical forest countries ani- mal traction is not in use, because of bovine sickness and buffalo fear. Several researchers underlined the socioeconomic impacts of animal traction technology in the West African sub-region as well as in other de- veloping countries [3, 6-8, 12, 16]. Moreover, Starkey [12] indicated that in South Africa some commercial farmers as well as a substantial number of small scale farmers are using, or would like to use, draught ani- mals on their farms. However, the current lack of spe- cific implements for this type of mechanized agricul- ture significantly limits any animal use as alternative power [5]. Indeed, the in-use equipment comprises an anti- quated range of implements that often are not suitable for the local conditions or for the animals use. Be- cause of this, farmers experience frequent equipment breakdown and malfunction; the implements are rarely found in working order and usually need major repair. In industrialized countries traction animals have been almost completely eliminated apart from exceptional or ideological use. However, a recently renewed interest for environmentally safe techniques as practiced in biological agriculture has been seen; particularly in biodynamic agriculture - an ecological and sustainable farming system based on the “anthro- posophical” teachings of Rudolf Steiner [14, 15], that includes many of the ideas of organic farming - the tractor use is limited, preferring animal labor force when possible. As a consequence, recent research in the United Kingdom as well as in the United States of America has resulted in the development of a modern range of wheeled tool-carriers (often referred as hitch- carts), a multipurpose implement that can be used for various agricultural operations; this tool-carrier may have various designs and its use is in expansion in particular agricultural situations [2, 9]. As reviewed by Joubert [5], two hitch-carts basic models are usual- ly available: “the standard hitch-cart” and the “cate- gory one hitch-cart”. The first is the simpler model generally designed with two wheel and a simple hitch both to allow transport and cultivation by pulling trailed implements. The second category comprises more sophisticated models with three or four wheels, a three point linkage system and a power take off (PTO); this cart is capable of using some small tractor mounted implements [5]. Examples of implement cart categories are available on the web [1]. Despite animal traction technology and hitch-carts utilization are gaining popularity among the above mentioned industrialized countries, Starkey [11, 13] stated the broad failure of this implements in the de- veloping countries. It has been rejected because of its high cost, heavy weight and lack of maneuverability. However, the typical agricultural tractors and drawn implements used for large scale farming in develop- ing countries are often large, powerful and not eco- nomically sustainable for the majority of small-scale farmers. For them, draught animals remain the main and best alternative power source as an intermediate technology to attain a sustainable situation and en- hance the economic development. This work aimed to assess the field performance of a handcrafted two wheel hitch cart equipped with a three point linkage and a ground wheel driven PTO. The cart is characterized by simplicity and construc- tive inexpensiveness, due to the use of second hand materials, by lightness and by high maneuverability. The limits within which the sole animal force could be used with PTO driven implements have also been evaluated. J. of Ag. Eng. - Riv. di Ing. Agr. (2008), 2, 1-5 TEST OFAN ANIMAL DRAWN FIELD IMPLEMENT CART Paolo Spugnoli, Alessandro Parenti, Piernicola Masella, Esteban Melani ___________ Paper received 26.02.2007; accepted 10.01.2008 Prof. Ing. PAOLO SPUGNOLI, Professore Ordinario; Prof. ALESSAN- DRO PARENTI, Professore Associato; Dott. PIERNICOLA MASELLA, Dotto- re di Ricerca; Ing. ESTEBAN MELANI, Dottore di Ricerca; DIAF, Uni- versità degli Studi di Firenze. 001_Spugnoli(505)_01 30-07-2008 9:37 Pagina 1