Selection of Appropriate Forward Speed and Tillage Depth Based on the Energy Consumption Factors of Primary Tillage Tools using TOPSIS Method

Tillage is one of the most important field operations in agriculture. For this operation, it is essential to determine suitable working conditions. According to the results of researches on tillage, this operation is always associated with high energy consumption. For this reason, it is necessary to choose the appropriate forward speed and plowing depth of tillage tools in terms of optimal energy consumption. In this research, by using the management method TOPSIS, the appropriate speed-advancement and plowing depth have been investigated according to the parameters of energy consumption. In this research, three types of primary tillage machines (Moldboard plow, disc plow and chisel plow) at 3 different forward speeds (3, 4.5, 6 km/h) and different depths (15, 20 and 25 cm) was selected and performed in loamy clay soil with a moisture content of 7%. The parameters of energy consumption include drawbar power (kW), fuel consumption (l.ha-1), traction efficiency (%) and energy efficiency (OEE) (%), mechanization capacity (kW.h.ha-1) and specific traction (kN.m-1) was measured. The results showed that for the moldboard plow and disc plow 4.5 km/h forward speed and 25 cm depth and for the chisel plow, 6 km/h forward speed and 15 cm depth were the best conditions in terms of energy consumption. In most of different working speeds and depths, chisel plow was advantageous in terms of energy consumption, compared to disc plow and Moldboard plow, according to TOPSIS analyses.