Evaluating the Performance of a Planting and Reservoir tillage Machine at Different Tractor Forward Speeds under Rainfed Conditions for Wheat Crop in Northwestern Coastal, Egypt

Emara, Eman; Meselhy, Adil; Ashour, Taha; El-Haddad, Zakaria

doi:10.21608/bjas.2023.196521.1101

Evaluating the Performance of a Planting and Reservoir tillage Machine at Different Tractor Forward Speeds under Rainfed Conditions for Wheat Crop in Northwestern Coastal, Egypt

Document Type : Original Research Papers

Authors

¹ Agricultural and Bio systems Engineering Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Behan University, Egypt.

² Agricultural Mechanization Unit, Soil, and Water Conservation Department , Desert Research Center, Cairo, Egypt.

³ Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Department, Faculty of Agriculture at Moshtohor, Benha University, Egypt.

10.21608/bjas.2023.196521.1101

Abstract

Northwestern Coastal of Egypt is located within arid and semi-arid zone. Whereas soil topography is characterized by large slopes which cause high surface rainwater runoff. This makes this region more vulnerable to soil erosion hazards that threaten the sustainable development of rainfed agriculture. Therefore, this research aims to evaluate the performance of a manufactured planting and reservoir tillage machine (PRT) used to harvest rainwater and planting of wheat crop at one pass on sloping area of a sandy loam soil in Wadi El Raml during winter cultivation season of 2021-2022. Field experiment was conducted to maximize efficiency of using limited rainwater unit and wheat yield productivity under rainfed conditions with lowest operating costs and lower negative impact of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions on environment. The statistical design was a split plot with three replicates for each treatment. Main plots included three of tractor forward speeds of 3,5 and 7km/h. Sub main plots included three types of pits’ dimensions of 0.50×0.14×0.20 m(PD1), 0.60×0.17×0.14 m(PD2) and 0.70×0.20×0.10 m(PD3) for length×width×depth m, respectively with same volume of 10.35 liters, in addition to traditional cultivation. The results revealed that using PRT machine at forward speed of 3km/h and pit dimensions of PD1 achieved the most efficient performance. Whereas it recorded the greatest values of soil moisture storage, wheat grain and straw yields and net profit by about 105.77%, 60.25%, 53.62% and 61.55%, respectively compared to traditional cultivated. While the least CO2 emissions achieved at forward speed 3 km/h and at pit dimensions of PD3.

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