Investigated of disc plow during tow tractor speeds and depths

• Saad Gheni Yaqoob Alkhoury

  Author

Factorial experiment was conducted in Telkaif District, located northeast of the city of Mosul, Nineveh Governorate, during the agricultural season (2025 – 2026). The study aimed to investigate the effects of tow speeds and tillage depths on bulk density, porosity, wheel slip, and the number of soil clods. And determine the optimal operational combination that achieves the highest tillage quality and enhances agricultural productivity. The results revealed significant differences for the studied factors and their interactions across all measured parameters. Tillage speed showed a statistically significant effect on bulk density, where the speed of                 2.08 Km.hr^-1 recorded the lowest value 0.93 g.cm^-3, compared to 6.17 Km.hr^-1, which recorded the highest value 1.05 g.cm^-3. The interaction between operating speed and tillage depth indicated that the best bulk density        0.91 g.cm^-3 was obtained at a depth of 10 – 15 cm and a speed of 2.08 km.hr^-1. Regarding porosity, the speed of 2.08 km.hr^-1 achieved the value 65.33%. Similarly, the interaction between speed and depth produced the best porosity value 66.0% at 2.08 km.hr^-1 and depth of 10 – 15 cm. For wheel slip, the results demonstrated a significant effect of both speed and tillage depth. Slip increased from 11.40% at a depth of 10 – 15 cm to 23.65% at 15 – 20 cm. The speed of 2.08 Km.hr^-1 resulted in the lowest slip value 8.50%, whereas the highest slip 28.55% was recorded at 6.17 km.hr^-1. The interaction between the two factors showed that the highest slip 37.50% occurred at 6.17 Km.hr^-1 and a depth of 15 – 20 cm, while the lowest value 8.20% was observed at 2.08 km.hr^-1 and a depth of 10 – 15 cm. As for the number of soil clods (tillage quality indicator). The results indicated a significant effect of both speed and depth. The interaction between two factors produced the best tillage quality (lowest number of clods), reaching 3.66 clods.m^-2 at a speed of 2.08 Km.hr^-1 and a depth of 15 – 20 cm, compared with the higher speed 6.17 Km.hr^-1. All interactions among the factors were significant difference. Concluded the tractor speeds were more effectively on the characteristics of the study comparing with the depth of tillage.                     

• pdf