The aim of the project was to compare the performance and the costs of alternative tillage systems and machinery, in both energy and economic terms. To determine the energy requirements of tillage implements, experimentation ...

This thesis reports on the development of a double inclined plane (DIP) transducer system based upon the principles of force reaction. This transducer had a design specification to measure the true mass of “free” flowing ...

Conventional methods for soil compaction mapping, such as penetrometers, although accurate, work as stop-and-go providing point measurements. This process is both time consuming and labour intensive. On-the-go electrical ...

Organically managed land has increased to 4 % of the total area of agricultural land in the UK. Changing land management can impact upon the rural environment (soils, hydrology and biodiversity) and rural community ...

High value crops such as peas for the frozen vegetable market have to be harvested at the optimum point for quality, regardless of field conditions. Six wheeled pea harvesters with a gross weight of 27 t, giving a wheel ...

Introducing loads onto the soil via pneumatic tyred equipment is the major cause of compaction of agricultural soils, which causes damage to the soil-water-air-plant system. The degree of soil compaction is largely ...

A literature review was conducted on several models which have been developed, based on Terzaghi's passive earth pressure theory, to describe the forces acting upon tillage implements during tillage operations. These models ...

In agricultural production, disturbance of the soil by cultivation occurs regularly. Mechanical energy applied in this way can have a adverse effect on soil stability, a lowering of soil organic matter (S_OM), and a ...

The aim of this study was to investigate the factors that influence the design of soil engaging systems to mechanically control weeds between plants within the crop row in widely spaced field vegetables. A mass flow soil ...

The use of the trenchless plough drainage implement has increased in the past few years due to its efficiency and cost advantages over other methods. However, the performance of these machines when working in fields with ...