Compactive Performance Evaluation of Agricultural Machinery Fleets

A 6 year comparative study was conducted to evaluate the performance of agricultural machinery fleets with rubber belt tracks and pneumatic rubber tires from a soil compaction stand point. Crop and soil response were used as indicators to compare the compaction performance of the two machinery fleets. Average winter wheat yields in the track treatment subplots were 6% higher in the first cycle of the crop rotation scheme. However, there was no difference in the average winter wheat yields between the two treatments in the second cycle. Average grain sorghum yields were 5% higher in the track treatment subplots in both the cycles. Cone penetration resistance profiles over the years indicated that fallow treatment reduced soil cone penetration resistance except during an extremely wet season. Yield comparisons between the treatment plots and the county average revealed cumulative effect of subsoil compaction. Results of the field and lab experiments suggest that machinery with rubber belt track type mobility device compact soil less than comparable machinery with pneumatic rubber tire type mobility device.