H. FANG1,2 , Q. ZHANG2 , S. JIAN1 , C. JI2 , A. A. TAGAR3 , C. ARSLAN2,4 and M. S. MIEMON2,3
1 Shandong Academy of Agricultural Machinery Sciences, Jinan 250100, China
2 Nanjing Agricultural University, College of Engineering, Nanjing 210031, China
3 Sindh Agriculture University, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering, Tandojam 70060, Pakistan
4 University of Agriculture, Department of Structures and Environmental Engineering, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan
FANG, H., Q. ZHANG, S. JIAN, C. JI, A. A. TAGAR, C. ARSLAN and M. S. MIEMON, 2016. Field investigation of the performance of rotavator under heavy straw condition. Bulg. J. Agric. Sci., 22: 1036–1042
The incorporation of straw into the soil increases soil organic carbon storage and reduces soil erosion. Straw is rich in organic material and soil nutrients, thus it is increasingly considered as an important natural organic fertilizer. The present study investigated the physio-mechanical properties of soil, displacement and burial of straw under heavy straw conditions at three rotational speeds (180, 230 and 280 rpm). Soil and straw displacement were measured using tracer technology, soil shear properties were determined by direct shear box, penetration resistance was measured with a hand-held penetrometer (OK-JS1, Zhengzhou Oukeqi Instrument Manufacturing Co., Ltd). Results revealed that the lateral and forward displacements of both straw and soil increased with the rotational speeds. Forward displacement of both soil and straw was signifi cantly larger than that of lateral displacement. The addition of straw increased the cohesion and internal friction angle of soil, thus strengthened the soil. The penetration resistance of soil decreased with the increasing rotational speeds. The mean clod diameter was smaller at higher rotational speeds, while the rate of soil breakage increased with increasing rotational speeds. The rate of straw burial increased with the increasing rotational speeds. It is concluded that the fi elds should be cultivated at the rotational speed of 280 rpm to achieve the better soil conditions, displacement and burial of straw.