DRAFT FORCE AND EFFICIENCY OF SOIL LOOSENING FOR DIFFERENT DESIGNS OF SUBSOILER PLOW SHANKS

Many farmers resort to using subsoiler plows with a straight shank to alleviate soil compaction, but require a high draft. To process these problems subsoilers with bent and curved shanks have been designed and manufactured . In the current study, the efficiency of soil loosening (cm2. kN-1), draft force (kN), wasted power due to slippage (kW), fuel consumption (L.ha.-1), and disturbed area (m2) was investigated for two soil textures (silty clay and silty loam), three types of shanks (straight, curved, and bent), and three tillage depths (35,45, and 55) cm. The results show the superiority of the bent shank at a tillage depth (35) cm in both soil types registered less draft force, fuel consumption, and wasted power due to slippage compared to straight and curved shanks. Also, the bent shank recorded the highest efficiency of soil loosening at a tillage depth (35) cm in both soil types. Besides that, the bent shank at a depth of (35) cm in both soil types achieved the highest disturbed area. Moreover, at all tillage depths in both soil types, the bent shank reduced the draft force, fuel consumption, and wasted power by slippage by (30%, 19%), (19%, 10%), and (30%,15%) compared to the straight and curved shanks, respectively. While, at all tillage depths in both soil types, the bent shank increased the disturbance area and efficiency of soil loosing by (7%, 4%) and (15%, 5%) compared to the straight and curved shanks, respectively.