The Effect of Plough Modernization on Fuel Consumption During Ploughing and Subsoil Bulk Density

This study attempts to address the problem of excessive soil compaction in the subsoil layer caused by the movement and operation of agricultural machinery by modernizing the plough design to combine two operations with high energy requirements, ploughing and subsoiling. The aim of this study was to modernize and develop the design of the share plough by adding an additional frame (heavy-duty tines) on which the mounted working elements (straight type chisel spike, two-heart type chisel spike, duck foot type chisel spike). The effect of the plough modernization was to destroy the plough pan, leading to a decrease in the bulk density of the soil in the subsoil layer. However, when tines with a duck foot (sweep) type chisel spike were used, an increase in soil bulk density was observed in the layer below the working depth of the tool. The modernization of the plough resulted in the increase in fuel consumption per units' area during ploughing related to the area cultivated. Using a modernized plough allows two energy-intensive operations – ploughing and subsoiling – to be combined in a single pass.