EFFECT OF SPEED ON TRAJECTORY OF PENETRATION OF A TRAILED MOLDBOARD PLOW

The effect of variation of ploughing speed on the penetration path of a trailed three-furrow mouldboard plough was studied. Experiments were made in two fields of different soil conditions (loosened and moderately compacted). The range of speed used was 0.15-1.6 m s-1. Continuous and simultaneous measurements of speed and depth were performed using a fifth wheel and a linear potentiometer equipped with a wheel running very near the plough bottom, respectively. Results of several field test series revealed that ploughing speed influences appreciably the path of penetration of this type of plough. The penetration curve was found to be described using an exponentially decaying form of equation. The constant which accounts for the penetration trajectory was proportional to ploughing speed. An appreciable effect of variation of soil conditions was also observed.