International Journal of Academic Information Systems Research (IJAISR) ISSN: 2643-9026 Vol. 4, Issue 8, August – 2020, Pages: 57-63 www.ijeais.org/ijaisr 57 Assessment of Tractor Fuel Consumption as Influence by Tractor Forward Speed and Depth during Harrowing Operation Ekemube, Raymond Alex 1 , Nkakini, Silas Ovua 2 , Igoni, Asinyetogha Hilkiah 3 Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering, Rivers State University Port Harcourt, Nigeria Email: raymond.ekemube@ust.edu.ng 1 , nkakini@yahoo.com 2 , ahigoni@yahoo.com3 Abstract: Harrowing has high pulverization effects for optimum crops yield in agricultural mechanization. Mechanization practice involves use of tractors and implements for tillage operations. Tractors and implements depend on fuel as the major sources of energy for its operation. Therefore, with tractor application in all farm operations fuel plays an active role. Fuel consumption field tests were conducted to assess the influence of speed and depth of cut on tractor fuel consumption during harrowing operation. The experimental field layout for the study was 160m by 32.5m (5200m 2 ) area, which was divided into three blocks of nine sub-blocks. Each of the blocks was marked out in 50 m by 5 m for different treatments. The alleys dimensions of 50 m by 2 m to the plot were provided. The equipment and tractor used for the tillage operations were Swaraj 978FE (tractor) model mounted with disc harrow. The parameters measured were moisture content, bulk density, tractor forward speed, harrow width, harrow depth, time and amount of fuel used during harrowing operation were measured and employed for the evaluation of the fuel consumption. The fuel consumption was estimated by amount of fuel used per unit time to complete each treatment. The experimental data obtained were analysed statistically using analysis of variance (ANOVA), coefficient Variation (CV) and Duncan multiple range test (DMRT). Results showed coefficient of determination R 2 = 0.9939; 0.9952 and 0.9454 for speed of 1.39, 1.94 and 2.50 m/s respectively and also, coefficient of determination R 2 = 0.9976; 0.9984 and 0.9996 for depths of 10, 13 and 16 cm. ANOVA and DMRT showed significant difference with 95 confidence levels on effect of speed, depth and their combined effects of speed and depth. In addition, coefficient of variation (CV) of 0.42 % confirmed that the experiment was reliable due to negligible experimental error. Therefore, suggested that forward speed and harrowing depth should be a determining factor to curtail expense on fuel consumption. Keywords: Harrowing depth; forward speed; fuel consumption; percentage composition of fuel consumption 1. INTRODUCTION Harrowing is a secondary tillage operation projected to create a refined soil condition. This tillage process is achieved with the aid of secondary tillage implement known as disc harrow [1]. In conventional field operations, harrows are mostly used implement for tillage operation during land preparation for planting [2] and they are functional in both primary and secondary soil preparation. Studies have shown that, it is the most frequently used validations for soil preparation in terms of weed control, plant residues management, soil aeration and porosity improvement, a good seedbed preparation and making physical conditions of the soil better [2]. Peça et al. [3] revealed that the disc implement with larger width and higher number of discs performed better than the one smaller with and lesser number of discs in terms of work rate and fuel consumption per unit of worked area. By this reason of difference in work rate and fuel consumption, the larger implement has become better choice for harrowing operations [3]. Correia et al. [4] assumed that the rotation speed of the engine and the effectiveness of the rate of work may be decision tools in the harrowing operation. Serrano and Peça [5] assessed that the field tests carried out under real situations of work demonstrates that the draught necessary for trailed disc harrows tends to increase to some extent with forward speeds between 3 and 9 kmh-1. Shah et al. [6] reported that the overall performance of cultivator with disc harrow is satisfactory and can be more effective for tillage operations in clay loam soils. Nkakini and Douglas [7] indicated that the sensitivity coefficient of 0.2331 for drawbar pull at 2.22 ms-1 tillage speed, is recommended as the best speed for harrowing in loamy sand soil. The study by Shah et al. [6] revealed that fuel consumption and cost of operation was found more by disc harrow as compare to cultivator + disc harrow. In the light of Shah et al. [6] findings, they suggested that the use of cultivator + disc harrow followed by disc harrow can make better seedbed in clay loam soil. Abbouda et al. [8] observed that combinations of wider track widths and higher water ballast levels have no influence on fuel consumption with trailed disc harrow during operation. This could be caused due to lack of transfer of dynamic load to the rear wheels in the course of work by the floating disc harrow without obstruction. Disc harrow operating performance in clay soil when using 220 rad s-1 (2100 rpm) engine rotation speed aided reduction in fuel consumption and higher effective field capacity [4]. They reported that the variance is that, depth of work was reduced and the required power on the bar improved and lower the rotation speed of the engine which provides higher working depth and a reduced amount of power in the traction bar.