How much fuel does a 12-hull plow need?

Every farmer is aware that tillage, and in particular plowing, is among the operations that give the highest fuel consumption. On the one hand, as the arable area increases, fuel consumption also increases. On the other hand, however, the quality of the plowing depends on the subsequent treatments and the development of the crops.

A farmer from North-West Bulgaria shares his experience during plowing and how the fuel costs he and his colleagues have with the different plows.

SEE THE COMPARISON BETWEEN THE TWO PLOWS ON THE FARM!

To tell us how productive it is and provide accurate data, it makes a comparison on a 12-hour plowing basis, during which it monitors fuel consumption in three independent ways — using the tractor's computer, manually by measuring the amount of fuel loaded and cultivated area, and through an online system that tracks its performance at all times and gives data on consumption, cultivated area and crop. the load of the engine.

• How much is burning?
• What's the speed?
• What is the load on the engine?
• All this at a depth of 35 cm!

The experience that the mechanizer shares with us was carried out with a John Deere tractor with 620 hp and a 12-hull Kverneland RW plow, which consists of two parts that work together.

The final result of a 12-hour working day working at a depth of 35 cm is 412 decares of cultivated area and consumed fuel for the cultivated area — 785 liters.

That makes a consumption of 1.9 liters per acre, which he says is the lowest expense farm plows of this size have ever given. The operating speed during these 12 hours was 10.1 km/h and the engine load 75%, with the gear being 10 and 11 in different parts of the field.

These results are mainly due to the reduced friction and the low weight that the plow has — 5700 kg. The low weight in combination with the powerful tractor give an extremely good opportunity to increase productivity with relatively low fuel consumption and comfort for the operator.

Typical of Kverneland, he tells us, the plow is made of heat-treated steel, which is both strong and light.It works smoothly, but also more economically.

The lower cost comes first of all from the special treatment (carbonization) of the steel and then from the lower weight.

The engine load is 75% with this type of heavy tillage not only saves fuel resources, but is also favorable for the life of the engine itself. '

How does this affect work productivity?

The higher gear and speed at which the tractor moves with this plow (compared to other machines and plows on the farm) gives 7% more productivity, which is 26 acres per day more. Thus, with this combination of tractor and plow, the plowing is completed faster. For his part, the mechanic shares that he is more productive and manages to accumulate more acres per shift.

Why in North-West Bulgaria?

The soils in the Northwest are varied and the fields extensive. This makes it possible to make good experiments there, which are both in perfect working conditions and in challenging ones.

What else the experiments show you can find out at Facebook pageof the mechanizer from the Northwest”Precision Farming”, where you can also share your plowing results!