Developing a Planting Operation Scheduling Model Based on Timeliness Cost Optimization

Upon determination of field machines, ownership and operating costs of agricultural machines are readily computed. However, timeliness cost is also influenced by field operations scheduling. If planting operation is performed in the smallest possible period around optimum planting time, timeliness cost is minimized. But in some conditions, planting operation cannot be completed in such period and for optimum scheduling of operations, a method is required to determine the best time for commencing planting operation. In this study, by definition of a parameter namely timeliness index (TI), a model based on a numerical method was developed to determine optimum planting start date (opls), in which total timeliness cost is minimized. After running the model by use of input data available from a real farm, opls was determined. By comparing, the TI resulted from opls with TI values resulted from deviated planting start dates from opls, the accuracy of the model was verified. increasing rate of TI value Also had a quadratic relationship with difference between planting start day and opls. Therefore, accurate determination of opls has an important role in decreasing timeliness cost.