Masters Theses

Date of Award

3-1977

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Major

Biosystems Engineering

Major Professor

B. L. Bledsoe

Committee Members

C. H. Shelton, John I. Sewell

Abstract

The choice of a tillage pattern is an important contributor to the effective and economic utilization of a particular agricultural field machine. One important consideration in the choice of a tillage pattern is the effect of that pattern on soil and water conservation. While a particular pattern might be more efficient, its use might be restricted because of excessive soil loss due to surface runoff. Likewise, the optimal tillage pattern, from the standpoint of soil conservation, might result in a much less efficient operation. The relative efficiency of a particular tillage pattern, the pattern efficiency, takes into account time losses which are directly attributed to the pattern. These losses are the result of such nonproductive work as turning at the end of rows. The overall efficiency of a particular field operation, often called the field efficiency, considers the effect of the pattern efficiency and of losses which are associated with the acreage processed and with the particular operation. Examples of such losses are refueling, repair of machinery, and the filling of seed hoppers. This particular study involved the development of a computer program which, when given the particular tillage pattern and field configuration, will predict the pattern efficiency and the resulting soil loss. Several patterns, within the constraints of the given land management program, can be proposed and an optimal solution found. This study was undertaken in conjunction with The University of Tennessee Agricultural Experiment Station research project Hatch-379, "Development of Compatible Erosion-Control Practices and Machinery Systems." This project is administered by The University of Tennessee Agricultural Engineering Department with Professor Curtis Shelton as the project leader. The study is being conducted at watersheds located on the Milan Field Station and the Middle Tennessee Experiment Station. Various land management practices are being applied to the watersheds, and both the efficiency of machine operations and sediment discharge are monitored. The resulting data were used to corroborate the computer results.

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