Telemetry-Based Optimization of Fuel Consumption and Energy Efficiency of Tractor–Machine Combinations for Sustainable Agricultural Operations

Accurate operation-specific assessment of fuel consumption is essential for energy planning, machinery management, and direct emission accounting in mechanized agriculture. However, generalized reference-based fuel consumption values may not adequately represent variations in machinery load, operating conditions, and field characteristics. This study developed and evaluated a telemetry-based framework for quantifying fuel consumption and energy performance of tractor–machine combinations under real agricultural production conditions and for supporting the future development of adaptive regional fuel-consumption standards. Field experiments were conducted using DFM electronic fuel-flow meters integrated with Controller Area Network (CAN) communication and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) wireless data transmission. Continuous telemetry measurements were used to evaluate major mechanized agricultural operations and to compare conventional and minimum-tillage production systems under actual field conditions. For the monitored production cycles, cumulative measured fuel consumption decreased from 108.82 kg/ha under conventional tillage to 93.40 kg/ha under minimum tillage, corresponding to a 14.2% reduction. Useful specific energy consumption decreased from 576.55 to 543.50 kWh/ha (5.7%), while total specific energy consumption decreased from 1300.36 to 1078.30 kWh/ha (17.1%). Based directly on measured cumulative diesel consumption and an emission factor of 3.14 kg CO2/kg fuel, direct fuel-related CO2 emissions decreased from approximately 341.7 to 293.3 kg CO2/ha. A second-order polynomial model showed a close relationship between operating speed and specific energy consumption within the investigated experimental range (R2 = 0.985). The results demonstrate that continuous telemetry provides an objective basis for operation-specific fuel assessment, energy-performance analysis, and comparison of resource-saving production systems. The proposed framework can support the future development and refinement of regionally adaptive fuel-consumption standards; however, additional validation under different soil, machinery, and operating conditions is required before broader application.