A comparative study on tillage performance of rota-cultivator (a passive – active combination tillage implement) with rotavator (an active tillage implement)

In the present study, a rota-cultivator; a passive-active combination tillage implement (cultivator in the front and rotavator in the rear) was designed and developed. Tillage performance of rota-cultivator and rotavator alone (pure active tillage implement) was evaluated in sandy clay loam soil at a moisture content of 11 ± 0.89 % (db) and compared in terms of tillage performance index (TPI) and soil compaction below the tillage depth by varying the peripheral to forward speed ratios and depth of operation during field tests. The power take off (PTO) torque requirement to operate the rota-cultivator was found to be 28 % lesser as compared to rotavator alone but an opposite trend was found for draft, total power and fuel consumption at all experimental conditions. For both the implements, overall performance was expressed in terms of TPI comprising volume of soil tilled, reduction in soil strength and fuel energy input. The highest TPI (1.62) was found at a velocity ratio of 5.87 and 120 mm depth of operation for rota-cultivator and it was found to be higher than the TPI of rotavator at all operating conditions. Soil compaction below the tillage depth due to tractor traffic with rota-cultivator was measured to be 27 % lesser as compared to rotavator alone. The developed rota-cultivator was successfully operated with a 34 kW two wheel-drive tractor in the test soil up to a depth of 120 mm, with improved tillage performance and reduction in soil compaction due to lesser number of passes required to obtain a desired titlth as compared to the rotavator alone.