Integrated Hoeing Machine Suitable for Using Rice Straw

This study was conducted to develop a mechanical hoeing machine with an improved shear containing a unit for adding straw pieces after the hoeing process to eliminate weeds and improve soil properties between the planting rows and a wheel for reformation of the inter-row. The machine hung to the tractor for experiments and taking measurements. The integrated hoeing machine was tested on the sugar beet crop for the 2023 planting season. After 10 days of planting the field experiments were conducted and measurements were taken, were conducted in Tanah village, Dakahlia Governorate. The hoeing machine was tested under four study parameters, as follows: three tractor speeds (3, 5, and 7 km/h), three straw cutting lengths (3, 5, and 7 cm), three wheel press weights (17.2, 33.2, and 49.2 kg), and three wings shear widths (50, 55, and 60 cm). To evaluate the hoeing machine performance, the following measurements were taken: weed removal efficiency (We%), weed growth efficiency (Wc%), plant damage percentage (Dp%), and row gap shape (Fp). The best results were achieved at an average tractor speed of 5 km/h, straw cutting lengths of 3 cm, average wheel weight of 33.2 kg and shear wings width of 55 cm, due to the results obtained in weed removal efficiency (We = 98%) and weed control efficiency (We = 96.4%) with the lowest percentage of plant damage (Dp = 0%) and the best regularity of line belly re-formation..