Performance Evaluation of Field Efficiencies of Some Tractor Drawn Implements in Ebonyi State

摘要

The field performances of some selected tractor coupled or drawn implements which will guide the farmers in the selection of various makes and models of farm implements to optimize agricultural productivities in Ebonyi state were evaluated. The various implements studied include disc plough,3 gang tandem disc harrow,2-row ridger and 4-row combine seed planter. The capacitive performances evaluated against these implements are operation speed, operation depth, field efficiency, effective field capacity, theoretical field capacity and fuel consumption rate. The massey fagunson tractor of model MF 375E and capacity of 58.5KW with three point hitch system was used to power the implements. The experiment was conducted at EBADEP farm Ezillo at a land area of 7650m2 (0.765ha). Results revealed that the plough operated at average speed of 5.54±0.40km/hr, harrow operated at average speed of 6.66±0.11km/hr while the ridger and seed planter operated at average speeds of 5.98±0.18km/hr and 4.68±0.33km/hr respectively. The field efficiencies of the implements were 75.73±i1.50% for the disc plough, 82.11±6.98% for the harrow, 79.94±1.75% and 77.92±1.49% for the ridger and the combine planter respectively. For the fuel consumption rate during operation, 22.87±0.63L/ha was consumed during ploughing while harrowing, ridging and planting operations respectively consumed 21.71±1.43L/ha, 18.41±0.33L/ha and 17.42±0.38L/ha of fuel. The implements operated at average depths of 0.24m, 0.22m, 0.275m and 0.025m for ploughing, harrowing, ridging and planting operations respectively. Due to variations in ecological soil conditions, it is therefore recommended that detailed time studies for each operation should be carried out to provide data of field efficiency of machines in different geographical zones; to enable farmers select the appropriate equipment for their farm works.