Abstract

Controlled traffic with conservation tillage can reduce soil compaction, thus to improve operation performance and fuel consumption of agricultural machine. Northern Chinese Plain is one of the main agricultural production bases with high level of agricultural mechanization. To explore the effect of wheel traffic on machine traction force and fuel consumption, three treatments were conducted: zero tillage with Controlled Traffic (NTCN), Compacted Treatment (CT) and traditional tillage system with random traffic (CK). Results showed that wheel traffic increased soil bulk density in the top soil layer in both fully compacted and random compacted plots. Controlled traffic system should certain potential on soil compaction amelioration. Controlled traffic system reduced traction force on winter wheat planting by 9.5 and 6.3%, compared with fully compacted treatment and random compacted treatment. Controlled traffic system reduced fuel consumption in both winter wheat planting and sub soiling (significantly), compared with fully compacted treatment and random compacted treatment. Results indicated that controlled traffic system had certain advantages in soil compaction and fuel consumption in this region and with high application potential.

Keywords:

Controlled traffic, fuel consumption, soil compaction, traction force,

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